Hernán Cortés: Encuentro y conquista is the third book that I’ve read from the Mexican author Juan Miguel Zunzunegui, and I must say this book has been my favorite thus far. For starters, this book has the best opening line of any book that I have ever read. ¿Quién nos enseñó a odiarnos a nosotros mismos? (Who taught us to hate ourselves?) With this simple question, all discussion to attempt to answer it, is absolutely endless.

Only behind Christopher Columbus, Hernán Cortés is arguably the second most vilified person in the Hispanic Latin world. This book goes into the different complex social and political reasons why Cortés is seen as villain, rather than a hero. Whose deeds are among the most spectacular in all of human history, changing it forever. Theirs no question that the author of this book is an admirer of Hernán Cortés. (As all Hispanics should be! But I digress) However the author does not hide any of the flaws that Cortés had.

It seems like in this modern era, all logic common sense is quality rather than the norm. In a world were logic and common sense prevailed, Hernán Cortés would be seen as a hero, and the “Black Legend” would be seen a complete propaganda bullshit. This book goes in depth on the different factors on why history has been distorted in such an absurd manner, that simple facts are seen as untrue, and why lies repeated thousands of times would somehow become truths in societies.

By the time you finish reading this book, you’ll learn why Hernán Cortés can be compared to Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar, as one of histories’ greatest military commanders whose heroic deeds will be known until the end of time.