AskHistorians's Reviews > Rhetorical Conquests: Cortes, Gomara, and Renaissance Imperialism

In work that is long overdue and quite impressive, Literarian Glen Carman magnificently and expertly deconstructs Hernan Cortes' letters to Charles V, exploring the diverse strategies employed by the (in)famous Conquistador and his secretary in their attempt to legitimize the destruction of the Aztec Empire. Carman's background in medieval Spanish language is apparent and greatly aids in this detailed unraveling of the textual subtleties of Cortes' writing. Ultimately readers will come to understand the extent of deceptive narration in Cortes and Gomara's works, a realization which is of paramount importance considering how foundational the impressions of these Spaniards are to past and present impressions of the Aztec Empire.