History of the Conquest of Mexico [Box set]

Track Listings
Disc: 1

1. Introduction: View of the Aztec Civilization

2. Succession to the Crown

3. Mexican Mythology the Sacerdotal Order - The Temples - Human Sacrifices

4. Mexican Hieroglyphics - Manuscripts - Chronology

5. Aztec Agriculture - The Mechanical Arts - Merchants - Domestic Manners

See all 14 tracks on this disc
Disc: 2

1. March to Mexico: Proceedings at Cempoalla - The Spaniards Climb the Tab

2. Republic of Tlascala - The Discussions in the Senate - Desperate Battle

3. Decisive Victory - Indian Council - Night Attack - Negotiations With th

4. Tlascalan Spies - Peace With the Republic - Embassy from Montezuma

5. Spaniards Enter Tlascala - A Description of the Capital - Attempted Con

See all 14 tracks on this disc
Disc: 3

1. Proceedings in the Castilian Court - Preparations of Velasquez - Narvae

2. Cortés Descends from the Tableland - Negotiates With Narvaez - Prepares

3. Discontent of the Troops - Insurrection in the Capital - Return of Cort

4. Expulsion from Mexico: Desperate Assault on the Quarters - Fury of the

5. Storming of the Great Temple - Spirit of the Aztecs - Distresses of the

See all 7 tracks on this disc
Disc: 4

1. Arrival in Tlascala - Friendly Reception - Discontents of the Army - Je

2. War With the Surrounding Tribes - Successes of the Spaniards

3. Guatemozin, New Emperor of the Aztecs - Preparations for the March - Sp

4. Siege and Surrender of Mexico: Arrangements at Tezcuco - Sack of Iztapa

5. Cortés Reconnoitres the Capital - Occupies Tacuba - Skirmishes With the

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Tracks:

Introduction: View of the Aztec Civilization
Succession to the Crown
Mexican Mythology the Sacerdotal Order - The Temples - Human ...
Mexican Hieroglyphics - Manuscripts - Chronology
Aztec Agriculture - The Mechanical Arts - Merchants - Domestic Manners
Tezcucans - Their Golden Age - Decline of Their Monarchy
Discovery of Mexico: 1516-1518: Spain Under Charles V - Progress ...
Hernando Cort- His Early Life - Visits the New World - His ...
Jealousy of Velasquez - CortEmbarks - Equipment of His Fleet - ...
Voyage to Cozumel - Conversion of the Natives
Voyage Along the Coast - Dona Marina - Spaniards Land in Mexico - ...
Account of Montezuma - State of His Empire - Strange Prognostics - ...
Troubles in the Camp - Plan for a Colony - Management of Cort- ...
Another Aztec Embassy - Destruction of Idols - Despatches Sent to ...

Tracks:

March to Mexico: Proceedings at Cempoalla - The Spaniards Climb ...
Republic of Tlascala - The Discussions in the Senate - Desperate ...
Decisive Victory - Indian Council - Night Attack - Negotiations ...
Tlascalan Spies - Peace With the Republic - Embassy from Montezuma
Spaniards Enter Tlascala - A Description of the Capital - ...
City of Cholula - March to Cholula - Reception Accorded the ...
Terrible Massacre - Tranquillity Restored - Envoys from Montezuma
March Resumed - Valley of Mexico - Impression on the Spaniards - ...
Environs of Mexico - Interview With Montezuma - Entrance into the ...
Residence in Mexico
Great Temple - Interior Sanctuaries - Spanish Quarters
Anxiety of Cort- Seizure of Montezuma - His Treatment by the ...
Montezuma's Deportment - His Life in the Spanish Quarters - ...
Montezuma Swears Allegiance to Spain - Royal Treasures - Their ...

Tracks:

Proceedings in the Castilian Court - Preparations of Velasquez - ...
CortDescends from the Tableland - Negotiates With Narvaez - ...
Discontent of the Troops - Insurrection in the Capital - Return of ...
Expulsion from Mexico: Desperate Assault on the Quarters - Fury of the
Storming of the Great Temple - Spirit of the Aztecs - Distresses ...
Council of War - Spaniards Evacuate the City - Noche Triste, Or ...
Spaniards Retreat - Distresses of the Army - Great Battle of Otompan

Tracks:

Arrival in Tlascala - Friendly Reception - Discontents of the Army ...
War With the Surrounding Tribes - Successes of the Spaniards
Guatemozin, New Emperor of the Aztecs - Preparations for the March ...
Siege and Surrender of Mexico: Arrangements at Tezcuco - Sack of ...
CortReconnoitres the Capital - Occupies Tacuba - Skirmishes ...
Second Reconnoitring Expedition - The Capture of Cuernavaca - ...
Brigantines Launched - Muster of Forces - Execution of Xicotencatl ...
Indian Flotilla Defeated - The Causeways Occupied - Desperate Assaults
General Assault on the City - Defeat of the Spaniards - Their ...
Success of the Spaniards - Buildings Razed to the Ground - ...
Dreadful Sufferings of the Besieged - Spirit of Guatemozin - Murderous
Postscript

Book Description

=

"It is a magnificent epic," said William H. Prescott after the publication of History of the Conquest of Mexico in 1843. Since then, his sweeping account of Cortés's subjugation of the Aztec people has endured as a landmark work of scholarship and dramatic storytelling. This pioneering study presents a compelling view of the clash of civilizations that reverberates in Latin America to this day.
----"Regarded simply from the standpoint of literary criticism, the Conquest of Mexico is Prescott's masterpiece," judged his biographer Harry Thurston Peck. "More than that, it is one of the most brilliant examples which the English language possesses of literary art applied to historical narration. . . . Here, as nowhere else, has Prescott succeeded in delineating character. All the chief actors of his great historic drama not only live and breathe, but they are as distinctly differentiated as they must have been in life. Cortés and his lieutenants are persons whom we actually come to know in the pages of Pres-cott. . . . Over against these brilliant figures stands the melancholy form of Montezuma, around whom, even from the first, one feels gathering the darkness of his coming fate. He reminds one of some hero of Greek tragedy, doomed to destruction and intensely conscious of it, yet striving in vain against the decree of an inexorable des-
tiny. . . . [Prescott] transmuted the acquisitions of laborious research into an enduring monument of pure literature."

Download Description

Prescott's thrilling and romantic history of "savages" and conquerers

Customer Reviews:

The Wonder of the Spanish Conquests Brought to Life!.......2007-06-14

Prescott was one of the first historians to credit the Native Americans with the founding of the ancient American civilizations; rather than some lost white race or wandering tribe of Hebrews.

Maya explorer John Lloyd Stephens was another famous person from the 1840s who realized that ancient American civilization arose independently in the New World. When it is considered that almost everyone else was pointing to lost white races as the originators of these civilizations, the vision of these two men is remarkable.

Nevertheless, Prescott's "Conquest of Mexico" and "Conquest of Peru" (bound together in the "Modern Library Giant" edition) are stunning as historical narratives based on original sources. What an achievement by a man who was half blind!

I would rank these two volumes as the two most captivating books I ever read. The audacity and bravery (and cruelty) of the Spanish leaves your mouth agape.

Read these two histories and relive the wonder of the Conquests of Mexico and Peru. Ten stars!

One of the great histories written... ever.......2005-10-26

Wow. I studied History and Literature at Harvard... and they never introduced me to this book! Shame on Harvard. Prescott is a true fusion of history and literature. Built on deep reading and comprehensive research of original sources and shot through with critical insights blended with fairness, Prescott's work is so different from much modern history (which is the manipulation of facts to satisfy politcal agendas).
Gosh, I know Prescott is disavowed/not read because of the discrimination against dead white males. But he's just flat-out better than the historian practitioners of today.

A Great History.......2005-07-10

William H. Prescott was nearly blind for most of his life and never visited Mexico. Nevertheless, his work contains vivid, almost cinematic, descriptions of landscapes, cities and battles. It is dramatic and entertaining in the manner of great imaginative literature. Surely there has never been a story like that of Cortes and Montezuma and the destruction of the Aztec empire. Here is the collision of late medieval Europe with a civilization closely resembling that of the ancient Egyptians. This story of one race subjugating another should put the reader in mind of the recent conquest of Iraq. Nothing fundamental has changed in the past five hundred years, except that we have no Prescott to tell the tale.

One of Our Greatest Works of Historical Art.......2003-10-15

This book is one of the greatest works of world literature, but it can be a deeply disturbing read. By turns, the heart races in outrage and sinks in sorrow at the retelling of the events surrounding Cortes's conquest of the Aztec Empire from 1519 to 1521. There has seldom been an event in history with greater drama, greater conflict, greater peril, and greater moral consequence. Though the conquest is not a turning point in world history, its events can help us fathom many of the most pressing and profound moral and political issues we face down to this day. Prescott tells the story of the conquest superbly, with depth, precision, elegance, sympathy, drama, and emotional power. There are few prose stylists as fine as William Hickling Prescott in the history of English literature, and this is not known widely enough. Many a swollen six-volume history from centuries past has become the province of scholars; few are the classic histories that still can command the attention of lay readers. This is one of them. Many lay readers and scholars testify that this book has lost none of its savor or substance. Prescott emulated Gibbon, that marvel of magnificence in English prose, but thankfully Prescott's style isn't quite as magnificently glorious as the historian's who laid out the momentous decline and fall of the Roman Empire. Prescott's prose stands a bit lower on the register than Gibbon's heroic grandeur; yet Prescott achieves a depth of perception, elegance, and insight that is matched by few writers in all of English literature. As with Gibbon, Prescott's sentences and paragraphs stand as works of art; they not are to be hurried through for the story only, but pondered with an expectation of almost unbounded discovery. Also like Gibbon, Prescott was a master of the subtle, sly aside and the telling tangent.

At the center of Prescott's story is the enthralling conquistador Hernan Cortes, that extraordinarily daring captain of the expedition to conquer the Aztecs; in two years, Cortes led a preposterously small band of Spanish soldiers across the Empire and succeeded, highly improbably, in toppling it. Is this one of the key moments of history? For Central America, certainly, but for world history probably not. Nonetheless, it is one of the most riveting stories of early modern times, and you should know it well. Moreover, our evaluations of the actions and ideas of Cortes and his men can help us understand what it means to be good, to toil as servants of the good, and to create a good society. It is easy to get furious with Cortes's band as we read of them fulfilling their audacious mission of conquest. It is easier still to morally condemn them. It could be that they deserve condemnation. But perhaps the matter deserves a very close look, and Prescott can help us examine and judge their actions better than any historian ever. In my view, there are three crucial events that demand our account: (1) the massacre at Cholula, (2) the Noche Triste, an escape of the Spaniards from Tenochtitlan at mid-conquest, and (3) the brutal siege of Tenochtitlan in the final act. Through these and the other events of the conquest, Prescott can guide us in evaluating our principles of morality, government, war, liberty, and religion, as well as the meaning of life and society. This book is a classic now, having been written some 150 years ago. Many histories and studies of the conquest have been written up to the present, but none matches Prescott's in the power and depth of its insights into human nature and society, and none matches it in the beauty and power of its prose. Prescott has much to say about why people behave as they do, about the power of religion, the thirst for gold and glory, the temptations of ambition, the rationalization of crimes and sin, and much, much more. Surely by now you realize that I cannot recommend this great history highly enough. It remains in print in several editions, which is a testament to its enduring appeal both to scholars and readers, and it is most deserving of all the attention it still receives.

A Historical Masterpiece.......2000-07-05

In his "History of the Conquest of Mexico" and it's companion volume, the "History of the Conquest of Peru", William Prescott achieves the remarkable feat of portraying the action and adventures of the Spanish cavaliers in a highly readable format for those with little prior knowledge of the Conquests. The subject matter for these books is basically the clash of cultures that occurred between the Old World (in the form of Catholic Spain) and the New (in the form of the Aztecs in Mexico and the Incas in Peru). It is interesting to note that these books were written by in the early 19th century by a partially sighted American author who had never visited the countries but who had access to all available historical documents. The style of writing is such that the reader is never overwhelmed by detail and is continually impressed by the heroic feats of the Spanish and at the same time shocked by their cruelty to the indigenous poeples.

In the "History of the Conquest of Mexico", Prescott provides an excellent acount of the origin and nature of Mexican civilization at the time of the conquest, describing how the Aztecs dominated the many races of Mexico with savage brutality, indulging in regular human sacrifices. He then goes on to describe the key player in this adventure, Hernando Cortes, and how he and a small party of cavaliers overcame overwhelming odds to defeat the armies of the Aztecs. While it is impossible not to admire the genius of Cortes, the reader is left in no doubt that the Spaniards were motivated by the promise of Aztec gold and not by the desire to "spread the word of God to the heathen". However, Prescott excuses the means by which Cortes overthrew the Aztec empire as it put an end to the Aztec practice of human sacrifice. In the second book, "History of the Conquest of Peru", Prescott finds no excuse for the manner in which Pizarro and Almagro conquered the relatively peaceful empire of the Incas. As with the first book, an interesting description of the Inca way of life precedes the action. While equally enthralling as the conquest of Mexico, Pizzaro accomplished the overthrow of the Incas by brute force, without the finesse of Cortes. The second half of this book deals with the remarkable events which followed the conquest; the two civil wars and their resolution by Pedro de la Gasca on behalf of the Spanish crown. It is difficult to find fault with Prescott's scientific approach to his writings; all of the events are backed up by references to documents written at the time of, or shortly after the conquests and these are given as valuable footnotes on each page. In addition, at the end of some of the chapters, Prescott writes short essays about his sources, describing which are trustworthy and which are prejudiced. If there were to be a fault with Prescott's approach, then it would his sympathy with the Catholic church during the years of the Conquest and his excusing of the Spanish atrocities as a means of spreading Christianity. But then we should bear in mind that Prescott was writing in the 1840s and was obviously a serious Christian. A second problem is that some of the footnotes are left in their original text, i.e. Spanish, Latin or sometimes Greek which presents problems to non-polyglots. The publishers have obviously not thought to translate these. In conclusion, these two books are essential reading for anyone interested in the empires of the Aztecs and Incas, and their overthrow by the Spanish Conquestadors. I have not read any other books on the subject which compare to Prescott's masterpieces.

Purcell: Theatre Music
Average customer rating:

Fine reissue of a classic set

Purcell: Theatre Music

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Purcell, Henry | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Incidental Music | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Purcell, Henry | Composers | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
Hogwood, Christopher | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Purcell, Henry | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Odes | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
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Lute Music, Vol. 2

ASIN: B0001Y4JHA
Release Date: 2004-10-12

Customer Reviews:

Fine reissue of a classic set.......2006-05-24

Think about the stupidest, most formulaic Hollywood movies you can think of: cheesy action pictures, fluffy, unfunny comedies, big but stiff epics. Now imagine that one of the greatest living composers was working in Hollywood, turning out astonishing, hauntingly beautiful and stirring musical scores for these throwaway movies. That's what you get with this set: music Henry Purcell composed for some two dozen often utterly forgettable plays (trust me--I've read a number of them!) Occasionally, when he teams up with a playwright worthy of his stature, such as John Dryden, Aphra Behn, or William Congreve, the results are even better, but for the most part you can enjoy the music here without knowing anything about the original plays.

This set originally appeared as separate LPs in the 70s and 80s, and has been long out of print. That's a pity, since Purcell spent a good deal of his short professional life in the theatre, either writing the incidental music contained on these CDs, or the music for his larger works, the semi-operas (King Arthur, The Fairy Queen, and the like). Almost all of these works are enjoyable gems; certainly, they represent a pinnacle of English 17th century music. Purcell had a genius for spinning musical gold out of the most leaden lyrics (check out his Odes and Welcome Songs on Hyperion if you don't believe me), and he does the same with the song texts in these plays.

Hogwood and the AAM offer clean, listenable performances, and the sound on these old analog discs has been cleaned up and brightened--although they were pretty good, even in the late 70s. As with most Hogwood, emotional extremes are kept to a minimum, so the "otherworldly" nature of late 17th century music, so often emphasised in more recent Baroque performances, doesn't come across here. It would be interesting to see what a group like The King's Consort would do with this music, but this set fills the major gap in the Purcell canon quite nicely.

My only beef with the reissue, as with many reissues, is that the liner notes are rather thin for a 6-cd set--the lyrics to the songs, for example, are especially missed. Still, it's a worthwhile set, and a must for fans of Purcell, English Baroque music, or anyone who just wants to experience a taste of the last days of the Restoration stage.

Purcell: Sweeter Than Roses; Britten: Winter Words

Average customer rating:

Purcell: Sweeter Than Roses; Britten: Winter Words

Manufacturer: Asv Living Era
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Hymns | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Odes | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Sweeter Than Roses
Ah! How Sweet It Is To Love
Oh! Lead Me To Some Peaceful Gloom
Music For A While
If Music Be The Food Of Love
Man, That Is For Woman Made
I Attempt From Love's Sickness To Fly
I See She Flies Me Ev'rywhere
Take Not A Woman's Anger Ill
Since From Dear Astraca's Sight
I'll Sail Upon The Dog Star
A Morning Hymn
Let The Light Perish
Lord, What Is Man, Lost Man
The Earth Trembled
Crown The Altar
An Evening Hymn
A New Ground
Winter Words, Op. 52: At Day Close In November
Winter Words, Op. 52: Midnight On The Great Western
Winter Words, Op. 52: Wagtail And The Baby
Winter Words, Op. 52: The Little Old Table
Winter Words, Op. 52: The Choirmaster's Burial
Winter Words, Op. 52: Proud Songsters
Winter Words, Op. 52: At The Railway Station, Upway
Winter Words, Op. 52: Before Life And After

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

The Moment [Import]

Alleluia Nativitas: Medieval Christmas

Bach: Brandenburgische Konzerte Nos. 1, 2, 3

Angel Sparks

Alpin Hong Piano Debut

Air Mail Special

Alegria [Import]

20 Capo-Corridos [Clean]

Once Again

Journey

1. Introduction: View of the Aztec Civilization
2. Succession to the Crown
3. Mexican Mythology the Sacerdotal Order - The Temples - Human Sacrifices
4. Mexican Hieroglyphics - Manuscripts - Chronology
5. Aztec Agriculture - The Mechanical Arts - Merchants - Domestic Manners

1. March to Mexico: Proceedings at Cempoalla - The Spaniards Climb the Tab
2. Republic of Tlascala - The Discussions in the Senate - Desperate Battle
3. Decisive Victory - Indian Council - Night Attack - Negotiations With th
4. Tlascalan Spies - Peace With the Republic - Embassy from Montezuma
5. Spaniards Enter Tlascala - A Description of the Capital - Attempted Con

1. Proceedings in the Castilian Court - Preparations of Velasquez - Narvae
2. Cortés Descends from the Tableland - Negotiates With Narvaez - Prepares
3. Discontent of the Troops - Insurrection in the Capital - Return of Cort
4. Expulsion from Mexico: Desperate Assault on the Quarters - Fury of the
5. Storming of the Great Temple - Spirit of the Aztecs - Distresses of the

1. Arrival in Tlascala - Friendly Reception - Discontents of the Army - Je
2. War With the Surrounding Tribes - Successes of the Spaniards
3. Guatemozin, New Emperor of the Aztecs - Preparations for the March - Sp
4. Siege and Surrender of Mexico: Arrangements at Tezcuco - Sack of Iztapa
5. Cortés Reconnoitres the Capital - Occupies Tacuba - Skirmishes With the