The Adventures of Hernan Cortes, Conqueror of Mexico

What it is

This is a book published by D. Appleton & Co. in New York in 1843, part of a series called "A Library for My Young Countrymen" and written by the author of "Uncle Philip's Conversations." It is Volume IV and is titled The Adventures of Hernan Cortes, Conqueror of Mexico. The book is a popular narrative of Cortés's adventures, written centuries after the events it describes.

Why it matters

Books written for children in the nineteenth century taught young American readers about the conquest of Mexico. This book shows how Cortés was presented to those readers. Because it was written long after his lifetime, it reflects the views of its own time as much as the events themselves.

Look closer

• Who was this book written for, and how can you tell from its title and series name?
• How does a book written in 1843 differ from Cortés's own letters about the same events?
• What does the book leave out about the people Cortés conquered?