The Journey and Ordeal of Cabeza de Vaca: His Account of the Disastrous First European Exploration of the American Southwest
by Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca
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Book Summary Information
Author: Alvar Nunez Cabeza de VacaEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2011-11-02
ISBN: 0486431800
Number of pages: 160
Publisher: Dover Publications
Book Reviews of The Journey and Ordeal of Cabeza de Vaca: His Account of the Disastrous First European Exploration of the American Southwest
Book Review: First Hand Accounts are the most Fascinating
Summary: 5 Stars
This report of the 1528 to 1536 "journey" of Cabeza de Vaca is in his own words and that is really what makes this book so interesting, even to this day. The expedition was doomed by greed and stupid decisions from the start and then we follow the story of de Vaca as he survives for 8 years without even the clothes on his back as he travels 6000 miles through unknown geography before returning to "civilization". And although this story itself is interesting enough, it is to my mind most fascinating because it is a first hand account from that time. You can read about his changing attitudes towards the "Indians" who help him survive, yet enslave him. Ironically there is a slave among his small band of survivors. His attitude towards the Indians changes with time and when he is found by a group of Spanish Conquistadors he is digusted by how these treat the Indians that helped him. Yet de Vaca never seems to really consider that these savages are really as human as "Christians". He's constantly referring to himself and other members of his group as "Christians" although religious distinctions are hardly what he's referring to by this.
It is not just an interesting adventure story, it is also a look inside the mind of that age - something to make you wonder how 500 years from now others will read our memoirs and marvel at our superstitions and misinformed judgements.
The translation is easy to read and contains enough parenthetical additions that allow you to easily follow the journey on the modern map that is included.
Enjoy a "real" story for a change.
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