History of the Commentary on Selected Writings of Samuel Johnson Book

William Hickling Prescott is one of the world's greatest historians. Years ago, I had read his History of the Conquest of Mexico prior to taking my first vacation in Mexico. Now I have finished History of the Conquest of Peru; with a preliminary view of the civilization of the Incas prior to a projected visit to the Andes. Along with Francis Parkman and John Lothrop Motley (The Rise of the Dutch Republic, Prescott is one of a trio of great American 19th century historians -- all of whom, sadly, are neglected in our time.

Because of his problems with vision, Prescott had actually never visited Mexico nor Peru, but he had visited Spain. With his considerable family wealth, he employed researchers and secretaries who helped him scour the Spanish archives for information about those two masterful conquistadors, Hernan Cortés and Francisco Pizarro.

Unlike Cortés, Pizarro was not only illiterate but illegitimate. He was the creature of a military career and was thus able to destroy the Inca empire with a handful of lowlifes recruited from Spain and Panama. Written in his masterful style, The History of the Conquest of Peru is a page-turner. Prescott takes one not only to the fall of the Incas but beyond, to the civil war between the Pizarros, the Almagros, and various representatives of the Spanish crown. He ends only with the defeat and execution of Gonzalo Pizarro, Francisco's brother, at the hands of Pedro de la Gasca, who held the powers of, but not the title of, viceroy.