Conquistador: Hernan Cortes, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs

Buddy Levy

Jul 2008 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Patrick Lawlor

About this audiobook

It was a moment unique in human history, the face-to-face meeting between two men from civilizations a world apart. In 1519, Hernán Cortes arrived on the shores of Mexico, determined not only to expand the Spanish expire but to convert the natives to Catholicism and carry off a fortune in gold. That he saw nothing paradoxical in his intentions is one of the most remarkable and tragic aspects of this unforgettable story. In Tenochtitlán, Cortes met his Aztec counterpart, Montezuma: king, divinity, and commander of the most powerful military in the Americas. Yet in less than two years, Cortes defeated the entire Aztec nation in one of the most astounding battles ever waged. The story of a lost kingdom, a relentless conqueror, and a doomed warrior, Conquistador is history at its most riveting.

Ratings and reviews

Fascinating story. It could have gone wrong for Cortes so many times but he always seemed to come out on top against all odds...no doubt the smallpox helped. Still, there is no denying his military and political prowess. All the cannabalism and the sheer scale of the human sacrifice that was carried out by the Aztecs was just terrible when you think about it.

About the author

Buddy Levy is the author of the recent books No Barriers (with Erik Weihenmayer) and Geronimo (with Mike Leach). His other titles include Conquistador, which was a finalist for the 2009 Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award, American Legend, and Echoes on Rimrock.

Patrick Lawlor has recorded over three hundred audiobooks in just about every genre. He has been an Audie Award finalist multiple times and has garnered several AudioFile Earphones Awards, a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award, and many Library Journal and Kirkus starred audio reviews.