The History Book Club discussion

Here's my review. I wrote it for my GR friends who haven't read the book.

This is a very well-researched, very well-written history book about a period and culture I knew very little about: the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire in South America. Though I would not go so far as to say it read like a novel, certain parts did, especially when the author was creating a “hook” to introduce the next series of events. I understand he’s an Emmy award-winning documentarian, so he knows how to tell a story.

If the author ever decides to adapt this book into film, the protagonist will be Manco Inca. He was just a teenager when Francisco Pizarro and his crew arrived in what is now Peru, and after treacherous dealings that ended in the execution of Manco’s older brother, the ruling emperor, the Spaniards appointed Manco successor, thinking he would make a good puppet. But their treachery continued and when Pizarro’s youngest brother made a demand that went way too far, Manco Inca turned into a real ruler of his people, leading an all-out rebellion.

The Incas’ war against the Spaniards and the in-fighting on both sides makes up the bulk of this book, but it’s sandwiched in between the first and last chapters about the 20th century explorers and historians who discovered the Incan ruins. Their story is not as brutal or violent, but there’s plenty of underhandedness in it. After all, what was at stake for them was pretty much the same thing as what the conquistadors were after: glory and fortune.

This is not a book that will renew your faith in humanity. The conquistadors were absolutely hateful, but the Incas weren’t “noble savages.” They were imperialists, too, having conquered much of the South American continent before the Spanish arrived. And though the Incan emperors did not let their peasants starve, it was still a feudalistic society where the peasants had to pay tribute and provide free labor. Ironically, Pizarro himself had been a peasant in Spain. He left Europe to seek his fortune because he had nothing to lose.

One of the early chapters of the book quotes Thucydides as saying, “Conquer or be conquered.” What I got out of this book is the converse: all conquerors end up conquered themselves. Nobody stays on top forever, and if you become too arrogant while on top, you end up inviting the rebellion that will ultimately lead to your downfall.

Well done Kressel

Learning the details of the acts of the conquistadors, perversely justified by "Christianity", was horrifying. I had known the history in generalities; what happened was worse than I imagined. As for the Incas, I wonder whether had the brothers who successively were emperors banded together, instead of acting competitively, if the outcome would have been different. As Kressel says, Manco Inca would be a compelling protagonist in a film based on this book. I was also very intrigued by the story of his wife and sister Cura Ocllo, and would like to know more about her. Gene Savoy and his sun based religion came right out of left field for me. All told, I found the book to be engagingly written and memorable.

Kathy wrote: "Thanks, Kressel. I appreciate the thought that you put into your reviews. I always enjoy them."

Thanks so much for saying so. Once upon a time, I used to dream of being a paid and published author. Now I just publish reviews for free on Goodreads.

@Katherine - Perhaps Gene Savoy could be the protagonist of a comedy

@ Kressel...comedy, tragedy, intrigue, science fiction...he's got it all!

I learned a great deal about the history of Peru, the Incas, Bingham and a entire host of other Spaniard conquistadors. It was quite the eye opener after what we had been taught in school.

Would love to visit in person and take it all in.

Thank you Kathy for your masterful journey through the land of the Incas and the last chiefs who lived in Peru.

This is one of the best books of narrative history that I have read. It was so engaging that I almost felt that I was there, witnessing the daring military exploits and many, many betrayals.

The subject was fascinating, and one which I knew almost nothing about. I liked that. It made me want to know more, both about the Spanish and the whole area of Latin America. These are areas that teachers and textbooks barely touched on when I was in school many years ago.

The book also led me to think about the similarities and differences between the settlement of our country and that of others in the "New World."

Altogether, this was an excellent reading experience. Thank you, Kathy, for doing such a great job leading the discussion and asking provocative questions. This was a book I never would have found without the History Book Club.

this is a book that is outside my comfort zone, but that I am glad I read. the narrative style really felt like I was experiencing the events rather than reading them hundreds of years later. I appreciated the more modern history of the famous sites being discovered as a way to bring it all back in context for me. historical discoveries are always being made and there are always more to learn.

I wish I could have spent more time participating in the group, though I thoroughly enjoyed everyone’s comments, which enriched my reading experience, and Kathy, thank you for doing such an exceptional job as the moderator.

Like Bentley, the book made me want to go and visit Peru and see these sites firsthand. I can only agree with the majority of comments already posted: the barbarity and unabashed greed of the Spanish, the imperial nature of the Inca Empire, and how little I knew of the history of early Peru before starting the book. I guess also I am saddened by the fact that Spanish instead of preserving the artifacts they plundered from the Incas chose instead to melt them down to ease shipment back to Spain. Who knows what we lost, or what we could have learned, from the study of these works of art. We are, thankfully, left with the remnants of their magnificent cities of stone.

Overall, MacQuarrie did a great job of telling this story. I did get bogged down a bit with all the back and forth between the various explorers, and at times, felt when writing about them, he was redundant. However, His skillful use of primary sources and absorbing descriptions of the clash between these two cultures was excellent, superbly illuminating this short, turbulent period of history.

Steve

I too want to thank Kathy for moderating and staying so engaged, consistent and diplomatic! :). Wonderful experience , and such a great balanced book. Not too hard, not too easy, informative, entertaining and enlightening. I never really knew this chapter of history; how tragic and hard it must of been to see a way of life change with the collision of two cultures. There were no, in my opinion, good sides to take on this one since I think in some respects the Inca Regime was not innocent and the Spanish don't come off well either. I thought the author did a great job in putting us in a position to see as many facets of this event without getting bogged down in unnecessary details and therefore kept the narrative flowing. I wish I had kept pave with the posts more, but just have to add my thanks to the moderator and participants, and say what a pleasure and education I received from this experience. Thank you!

I've greatly enjoyed this book. It's engagingly written, gently raises important general issues about the contact of cultures, and is chock full of historical detail of which I was unaware. The extent of the bibliography and footnotes are a good starting point for future reading, and calm concerns that the author was taking liberties for the sake of a good story.

Thanks from me as well, Kathy. I thought your summaries of the chapters were impressive, and a great job all around. The discussion around the book has been a lot of fun.

Mark wrote: "I too want to thank Kathy for moderating and staying so engaged, consistent and diplomatic! :). Wonderful experience , and such a great balanced book. Not too hard, not too easy, informative, en..."

I agree with Marks comments here. This is a very well balanced treatise. Although as Steve mentioned I also felt some of the discussion of modern explorers to be plodding.

Kathy wrote: "I'm off for vacation until the end of the week. I'll try to check in, but if I am slow to get back to your comments, I will be at the beach."

Enjoy the beach and rest we will be here when you return. :-) Thank you for leading this discussion. This is only the third time I have tried an online book club. This was the best experience of the three Kathy. Thank You! Sincerely, Michael

This experience has also caused greater interest in me for Peru. And while the story would be different this experience has encouraged me to read about the conquest as it relate to Guatemala. This will lead to reading about a different native culture but will add understanding of the culture as I am supposed to lead a team to Guatemala sometime in 2015. I too would now like to visit Peru.