This version of the book has been reviewed in English(14) by readers.
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What are readers saying about The Narrative of Cabeza de Vaca?
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A reader posted a review at 2009-07-05 22:44:20.
(Language: English)
  
This is the first-hand account of Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, one of four men to survive out of the six hundred that embarked with Panfilo de Narvaez in 1527 on his ill-fated conquest of La Florida. Had those four men not survived, the fate of the Narvaez expedition would have been unknown. It would have just disappeared from history, swallowed up by the jungle. Since Narvaez had been on an official mission, the survivors had to prepare a report of their journey for the emperor, Charles V.They survived by walking all the way from Florida to Mexico, becoming the first Europeans to cross the North American continent. It was a brutal eight-year journey, filled with hardships and encounters with numerous native groups, some helpful, some hostile. Many of those groups were gone within 50 years, having fallen victim to European diseases. Cabeza de Vaca's Relacion is the only written account of some of them, and he writes about the peoples he encounters and their customs with a sensitivity unusual in a conquistador. This slim volume is edited, translated and annotated by Rolena Adorno and Patrick Charles Pautz, reproduced for the general reader from their award-winning three-volume set. It is a gripping read, and a must for students of the history of the Spanish in the New World. 
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A reader posted a review at 2009-03-26 13:18:02.
(Language: English)
This is the first book written about traveling in what is now the U.S. Cabeza de Vaca was ship wrecked in Florida in the 1520s with over 100 men, traveled throughout the southeast and Texas, was enslaved by Indians in Texas, lived among cannibals near present day San Antonio, traveled across southern New Mexico and Arizona where he was revered as a shaman, and showed up eight years later at a Spanish mission in western Mexico, the sole survivor of the ship wreck in Florida. He displayed great compassion for the Indians and recorded many bizarre and even supernatural events. Outstanding book.
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Jennifer posted a review at 2009-02-12 19:49:25.
(Language: English)
Great real-life account of early Spanish exploration of America
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A reader posted a review at 2008-11-26 15:46:08.
(Language: English)
good account of early anthropology.
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A reader posted a review at 2008-11-14 12:46:43.
(Language: English)
Not as action packed as Bernal Diaz's conquest of mexico but still boggles the mind. It is a fast read.
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A reader posted a review at 2008-10-03 01:24:26.
(Language: English)
I was teaching myself Spanish when I first came across this. I tried to read it in Spanish, but wasn't really getting more than the gist. I was nonetheless fascinated enough to find it in English and am glad I did. This guy was totally amazing. What a tale! Absolutely fascinating.
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A reader posted a review at 2008-08-28 11:43:26.
(Language: English)
Rather enjoyable for a history book! Its a strong source for how things were in our country before there was any settlement and only Indians. It paints a good picture for the reader to see.
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A reader posted a review at 2008-08-15 16:23:49.
(Language: English)
i hate school books
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Patrick posted a review at 2008-04-23 07:29:19.
(Language: English)
When 300 Spanish conquistadores were shipwrecked off Florida in 1527, only four survived and this is the account written by one of them. Their return to civilization took eight years, and this story is thus not only fascinating because of the fact that these 4 men were the first white men ever encountered by any of the Indians they met, but also because they walked over 6,000 miles and suffered almost unbelievable hardships on their journey. They began their odyssey on the west coast of Florida, & wandered around that area and into Georgia for quite some time. Eventually, they travelled through what are now the southern states, across Texas, and finally managed to be found by another Spanish party that was coming in from the Pacific! All of this trip was done on foot, most under conditions of near starvation, and total nakedness. The author describes their encounters with various native Indian groups they encountered along the way – some who tried to kill them, some who were mildly curious, and others who actively aided them. This book is one of the very earliest and most extensive looks at the moments of first contact on the American continent. The Spaniards wandered through Texas battling hunger and disease, and took part in Native wars on the side of one tribe, against others. They hunted, and tried to interact as best they could, all of which deVaca set down on paper once he was finally rescued. The book is part adventure story, part anthropological sourcebook. It certainly gives lie to the myth that Pre-contact natives lived in some garden of eden where all their needs were met by mother nature. Gathering in central Texas to await an expected animal migration, and in another circumstance a fruit blossom season, both failed, and entire tribes died in agony from starvation – the author being forced to eat dirt to survive. I found this book a real eye-opener, on top of being an exploration & adventure story I didn’t want to put down. deVaca seems to have been pretty respectful of the different native groups he was travelling with – he clearly knew his life depended on them in this strange yet fascinating country.
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| Reviews of The Narrative of Cabeza de Vaca - Page 1 of 2 |
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