>> In looking back at the episode later, I chuckled to myself realizing that in my mania to get a book out I was following in the footsteps of another indignant Diaz a half millenium ago, one Bernal Diaz del Castillo. Diaz del Castillo had been a foot soldier in the army of Cortez during the conquest of the Mexican Aztec empire in 1519. Many years later, while retired to the good life in Guatemala, he heard of a book that had just been published titled "The History of the Conquest of New Spain (Mexico)". That author was writing from Spain using secondary sources without ever even being to Mexico. Diaz del Castillo read the book and got mad. Although almost 80 years old, he sat down and dictated from memory a book to tell how the events really had unfolded. His book, "The _True_ History of the Conquest of New Spain," is a classic of Latin American history and much of what we know of the era comes from his vivid descriptions and accounts. >> I have read the older Diaz book, and Ralph is right; it is fascinating reading. Chuck Holst *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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