Hernando Cortez

Abbott, John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot), 1805-1877Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.4

Word count: 378K words
Chapters: 38

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Hernando Cortez by John S. C. AbbottAuthor: Abbott, John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot), 1805-1877,Language: English, Class: F1201: North America local history: Mexico, Release Date: May 23, 2010

Editor's review

This biography of Hernando Cortés by the nineteenth-century American writer John S. C. Abbott belongs to his popular series of historical figures. The book narrates in story-driven prose Cortés's course from the expedition in Cuba to the conquest of the Aztec Empire, emphasizing character and dramatic scenes; the language is accessible and the chapters short, making it an introductory read for understanding the Spanish conquest of Mexico. Note that the work was written in the nineteenth century and carries clear period perspectives and value judgments; its account of colonial conquest may not align with contemporary historical stances, so readers should read critically alongside other sources. As a free ebook from Project Gutenberg, it is easy to obtain and suits reading in segments during commutes or spare moments, and can also serve as extensive reading material for English historical originals.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Introductory readers interested in Latin American colonial history and the Spanish conquest
Intermediate and advanced English learners who want to build reading skills through English originals
General readers who like narrative biographies and prefer short chapters

Not a good fit for

Researchers who need rigorous academic verification and contemporary historical perspectives
Readers sensitive to period bias in colonial narratives and unwilling to analyze it
Beginners with weak English who find nineteenth-century English long sentences difficult

Reading tips

Read the table of contents and the first and last chapters first to grasp the narrative framework, then proceed chapter by chapter.
Mark evaluative statements with obvious period stances as you read, then reflect on them together afterward.
Read alongside maps or background material on Aztec civilization to lower the barrier to understanding.
Compare with modern historians' discussions of Cortés to form your own judgment.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable for a beginner learning about Cortés?

It can serve as an introduction. The narrative is coherent and the language accessible, helping readers build a basic timeline of Cortés's expedition. But it was written in the nineteenth century and its perspective is dated; consult modern general histories as well so as not to take the book's evaluations as final.

What English level is needed to read this book?

The sentences are long and the vocabulary has a nineteenth-century English flavor; it suits readers with reading ability at college English Band 4 or above who are used to reading English originals. Beginners can first read a Chinese translation or introductory material, then return to the original.

Is the book's stance objective?

Not entirely. Abbott wrote in the nineteenth century, and his narrative carries moral judgments of the individual explorer and period understandings of colonial expansion. Readers should treat it as a historical text rather than contemporary scholarship and stay analytical while reading.

Comments

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About the author

Abbott, John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot), 1805-1877 Author

John S. C. Abbott (1805–1877) was a nineteenth-century American writer of history known for popular biographies and narrative histories. Our catalog holds thirty of his works, covering subjects such as King Philip, Madame Roland, John Paul Jones, Daniel Boone: The Pioneer of Kentucky, Peter Stuyvesant, George Washington, the French Revolution, and the buccaneers of the Caribbean. He typically presented lives and their historical settings in a lively, readable style, turning history into engaging story, and he had some influence in bringing history to a general readership. His works are often grouped under inspirational and personal-growth reading, suited to readers seeking lessons from the lives of notable figures. Public information about him is limited, and details of his life and scholarly assessment require further verification.