Some of you may not be aware that Osprey publishes a variety of hardback books as well. Sometimes they are compilations of several of their softbound works and other times they are all new. One thing for sure, they are very well done and a real bargain as books go.

This edition is on the Aztecs and Conquistadores, and the authors have done a superlative job of presenting what is, for many of us, a rather confusing scenario. As you might expect when one gets more information on a subject, things were not quite as cut and dried as one originally thought.

For instance, were it not for a lot of pure luck and the help of Indian allies, Cortes would have not been able to pull off what has to be one of the most amazing feats of deception and conquest ever committed. One can also thank his concubine, whose abilities to translate from the various languages into Spanish helped to sway most of those Cortes met into rising up against the Aztecs. Finally, the Aztec religion, bloody as it was, was also very defeatist and so much of the greed and plunder was 'foreseen' and in many ways accepted.

The authors provide an in-depth background on both the Aztecs and the Conquistadores. This includes their religious beliefs, society of the time, backgrounds of the main players, weapons and general theories of warfare. This background information covers the first half of the book and the actual historical events of the Spanish Invasion is in the second half of the book.

Throughout the book you will find period drawings and some excellent maps to help you follow not only what the situation was on the ground, but the way that the Spanish saw things. In all, it is an excellent book; one from which I learned a great deal and found quite fascinating to read. I'm sure you will as well.

Available in bookstores everywhere.  For more on the complete line of Osprey books, visit www.ospreypublishing.com

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