The True History of The Conquest of New Spain

"Bernal Díaz’s True History of the Conquest of New Spain, the chronicle of an ‘ordinary’ soldier in Hernando Cortés’s army, is the only complete account (other than Cortés’s own) that we have of the Spanish conquest of ancient Mexico. Although it is neither so ‘true’ nor so unassumingly direct as its author would have us believe, it is unmistakably the voice of the often unruly, undisciplined body of untrained freebooters who, in less than three years, succeeded against all apparent odds, in bringing down the once mighty ‘Aztec Empire.’ It makes for consistently fascinating reading, and Ted Humphrey and Janet Burke have provided the best, and the most engaging, translation ever to have appeared in English."
     —Anthony Pagden, UCLA

SKU
27045g

Bernal Diaz Del Castillo
Translated, with an Introduction and Notes, by Janet Burke and Ted Humphrey

2012 - 498 pp.

Ebook edition available for $15.95, see purchasing links below.

Grouped product items
Format ISBN Price Qty
Paper 978-1-60384-290-7
$19.00
Instructor Examination (Review) Copy 978-1-60384-290-7
$3.00

This rugged new translation—the first entirely new English translation in half a century and the only one based on the most recent critical edition of the Guatemalan MS—allows Díaz to recount, in his own battle-weary and often cynical voice, the achievements, stratagems, and frequent cruelty of Hernándo Cortés and his men as they set out to overthrow Moctezuma’s Aztec kingdom and establish a Spanish empire in the New World.

The concise contextual introduction to this volume traces the origins, history, and methods of the Spanish enterprise in the Americas; it also discusses the nature of the conflict between the Spanish and the Aztecs in Mexico, and compares Díaz’s version of events to those of other contemporary chroniclers. Editorial glosses summarize omitted portions, and substantial footnotes explain those terms, names, and cultural references in Díaz’s text that may be unfamiliar to modern readers. A chronology of the Conquest is included, as are a guide to major figures, a select bibliography, and three maps.

 

Reviews:

"Bernal Díaz’s True History of the Conquest of New Spain, the chronicle of an ‘ordinary’ soldier in Hernando Cortés’s army, is the only complete account (other than Cortés’s own) that we have of the Spanish conquest of ancient Mexico. Although it is neither so ‘true’ nor so unassumingly direct as its author would have us believe, it is unmistakably the voice of the often unruly, undisciplined body of untrained freebooters who, in less than three years, succeeded against all apparent odds, in bringing down the once mighty ‘Aztec Empire.’ It makes for consistently fascinating reading, and Ted Humphrey and Janet Burke have provided the best, and the most engaging, translation ever to have appeared in English."
     —Anthony Pagden, UCLA

"Readers interested in the early period of Spanish American history will welcome the publication of this new abridged edition of the classic account by Bernal Díaz del Castillo, True History of the Conquest of New Spain. An observer of and participant in the momentous conquest of central Mexico by the Spaniards and their indigenous allies, Bernal Díaz wrote his chronicle many decades later, at least partially in response to the claims and biases of other writers. This excellent and highly readable translation by Janet Burke and Ted Humphrey remains faithful to the straightforward and unadorned prose that Díaz uses to describe the events as well as his understanding of their significance. The useful introduction, notes and epilogue further enhance the volume’s accessibility. This edition is highly recommended for both students and a more general audience."
     —Ida Altman, University of Florida

“A reliable modern translation of one of the great historical narratives. While faithful to the original text, [Humphrey and Burke’s] translation takes full advantage of the best scholarship of the last fifty years, providing useful context and interpretation for the non-specialist. The result is a highly readable, engaging book that will prove a valuable teaching tool in a variety of classroom settings.”
     —Lyman Johnson, University of North Carolina, Charlotte

"In addition to their outstanding translation, the scholarly duo [of Humphrey and Burke] also brings expert analysis of Diaz del Castillo’s life. Their introduction and epilogue provide deeper analysis of [Diaz's] role in the Spanish conquest of Mexico. They place Diaz del Castillo’s The True History of the Conquest of New Spain in the historical context provided by the latest scholarship. In addition to the historical analysis, the new translation also includes various images such as maps and depictions of Aztec warriors from the Codex Mendoza, which bring a new perspective to the autobiography.
     "Overall, the new translation . . by Burke and Humphrey makes a classic Spanish source accessible and engaging to an English-speaking audience. [It] brings an old story to a new audience and is highly recommended for both scholars and history buffs alike. Additionally, this translation would be a superb primary source to use in classes devoted to Latin American and world history."
     —Timothy C. Hemmis, University of Southern Mississippi, on H-Net Reviews

"In The True History of the Conquest of New Spain, Janet Burke and Ted Humphrey . . .  translate [Bernal Díaz del Castillo's Historia Verdadera de la conquista de la Nueva España] into English and present it to the twenty-first century student of history in a more readable fashion.   
     "Essentially, Burke and Humphrey [have] translated and prepared Díaz's manuscript in such a way that students of history can now learn about the Spanish conquest of Mexico, as well as the advantages and drawbacks of a first-hand account of an event. . .
     "The True History of the Conquest of New Spain is, and will continue to be, an extremely useful source for undergraduate lecturers. . . . Burke and Humphrey's work [offers] . . . a better understanding of how this momentous event in world history affected both the Spanish and the indigenous people of the New World."
     —Itinerario

 

About the Authors:

Janet Burke is Associate Dean in Barrett, the Honors College, and Lincoln Fellow for Ethics and Latin American Intellectual History in the Lincoln Center for Ethics, at Arizona State University.

Ted Humphrey is President’s Professor, Barrett Professor, and Lincoln Professor of Ethics and Latin American Intellectual History at Arizona State University.