The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 44, July 1940 - April, 1941 Page: 524
546 p. : ill., maps ; 24 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
and sympathetic insight into the superstitions, religious and
otherwise, of the sixteenth-century Spaniards who explored so
much of the present United States.
Biographers have a tendency to become apologists for their
subjects, and this reviewer has always held that the best way in
which to bring about good relations between any two countries
is for them to teach their respective histories in each other's
public schools. Mr. Day, therefore, can hardly be blamed for
deciding that Coronado was the "last of the conquistadores"
(an obvious inaccuracy when one considers the work still to be
done in South America after 1542) and for his seemingly padded
praises of Coronado (pp. 313-318). If anything, it would seem
that Coronado was actually not a great conqueror. He was
valiant to a certain degree only. Like a spoiled child, he had
to go home to his family and had to use subterfuge to get his
men to return home with him. He allowed himself to be fooled
by the Indians. He did not try to control his men who, like
L6pez de Cardenas, treated the Indians badly. He was a favorite
of Mendoza and as such enjoyed a position which stood him
in good stead but which also showed that he did not have the
strong will of Cortes. He was not a great leader, therefore.
Neither can the reviewer agree with the general implication
that Coronado was as great as Cortes. Rather would he agree
with Mr. Day's assertion that Coronado had limited abilities.
A lively and at times sparkling style characterizes the work.
In fact, in places it takes on the characteristics of Lowell
Thomas' comments on screen and radio. This should not de-
duct, however, from the book's value. Nevertheless, the style
itself might not have been harmed by avoiding the constant
repetition (obviously for effect) of the complete names of
Coronado and L6pez de Cardenas, the efficient but brutal army-
master. The sensational style at times, moreover, overdoes it-
self, as for example when it calls the massacre of the Tiguas
a "horrible shambles" (p. 201).
The biography is aided greatly by the excellent and com-
prehensive notes (the answer to any scholar's prayer), an
equally comprehensive bibliography which should, however, have
included Hackett's Pichardo's Treatise, a helpful index, a map
containing complete information of the various expeditions, and
the usual attractive format enjoyed by books issued by the
University of California Press. FRITZ L. HOFFMANN.
University of Colorado.524
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 44, July 1940 - April, 1941, periodical, 1941; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146052/m1/575/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.