Book Description
"This book furnishes us with a rich, valuable appreciation of the circumstance and heritage of the great Emperor Moctezuma Xocoyotl's most prestigious descendants."
American Historical Review
Though the Aztec Empire fell to Spain in 1521, three principal heirs of the last emperor, Moctezuma II, survived the conquest and were later acknowledged by the Spanish victors as
reyes naturales (natural kings or monarchs) who possessed certain inalienable rights as Indian royalty. For their part, the descendants of Moctezuma II used Spanish law and customs to maintain and enhance their status throughout the colonial period, achieving titles of knighthood and nobility in Mexico and Spain. So respected were they that a Moctezuma descendant by marriage became Viceroy of New Spain (colonial Mexico's highest governmental office) in 1696.
This authoritative history follows the fortunes of the principal heirs of Moctezuma II across nearly two centuries. Drawing on extensive research in both Mexican and Spanish archives, Donald E. Chipman shows how daughters Isabel and Mariana and son Pedro and their offspring used lawsuits, strategic marriages, and political maneuvers and alliances to gain pensions, rights of entailment, admission to military orders, and titles of nobility from the Spanish government. Chipman also discusses how the Moctezuma family history illuminates several larger issues in colonial Latin American history, including women's status and opportunities and trans-Atlantic relations between Spain and its New World colonies.
Book Description
In 1517, Emperor Montezuma, ruler of the known world, is plagued by strange visions and rumors that disturb his dreams. Yaotl, slave to the Chief Minister, is disturbed too. While escorting a sacrificial victim to the Great Pyramid, the victim uttered a strange prophecy and then leapt to his deathbefore the sacrifice could take place. Sensing that these events are related, the emperor orders Yaotl to uncover the truthon pain of death if he fails. In a world of gold, silver and jewels, and temples that run with the blood of human sacrifice, Yaotl must confront the peril destined to overwhelm his whole world.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent reconstruction of a lost world and a good read.......2007-03-26
When Yaotl takes a Bathed Slave to be sacrificed and the slave kills himself, most shamefully, before the priests can cut out his heart the last thing Yaotl expects is to be dragged before the Emperor and told to find some missing sorcerers who were connected to the slave.
Yaotl is himself a slave to Lord Feathered-in-Black which puts him in a difficult position when he finds that both the Emperor and his Master want the same thing and Yaotl has to decide how he can find the answers and get himself out of the problem without getting himself killed by either party.
This is a brilliant reconstruction of the Aztec empire a couple of years before it ended with arrival of the Spanish. It is a world drenched in human sacrifice - which they implicitly believed was needed for the sun to keep rising. It was also a world of duty, war and beauty in a city that was the America's version of Venice. I enjoyed this novel and never guessed the answer to the mystery in advance, and I am looking forward to the next Yaotl mystery.
Stronger on atmosphere than on plot .......2006-11-13
It is 1517 in the Aztec Empire ,in what is now Mexico.Its absolutist ruler ,the Emperor Montezuma ia a worried man .His sleep is troubled by visions of bearded men from another country who seem fated to depose him and rule the land in his stead .When Yaotl ,a slave of his chief minister ,is sent to escort 2 slaves to their death as sacrifices in a religious rite ,one breaks free and proclaims that doom is coming to the realm .Not only that but 2 soothsayers arrested by the Emperor have escaped from prison and the paranoid ruler fears the events are connected ,He appoints Yaotl-a former priest -to investigate the disappearance of the soothsayers .This places Yaotl in an invidious position as his owner ,the Chief Minister ,is anxious that any connection between these events is not discovered
In order to solve the problem Yaotl must delve back into his own family background
The historical research that has gone into the book is impressive and the author wears his immense erudition lighly ,The book also benefits from exploring a time and place not previously treated of in historical crime fiction .However ,for me the book is simply too long and the plot too convoluted for the book to truly hold my attention .It may well be these are simply down to the problems of a first time novelist .The book would have benefitted from some judcious editing and the work is simply too plodding for my taste.Others will disagree and the book did win a CWA award for Best Debut Novel .
Lovers of the history with mystery school and /or devotees of the Aztec era will like it more than I did
Exquisite writing, original setting.......2006-03-19
I think this Author describes Aztec society in a more enticing, convincing and plausible manner that Gary Jennings in "Aztec", maybe because the protagonist, Yaotl, is not a sexual perverse polymorph, but a humble slave of the First Minister, who finds himself in the subtle intrigues between his master and no one but the Emperor (or, more properly, Tlatoani, Revered Orator) Montezuma. What is notable is the exquisite feeling of impending doom (we are two years before the Spanish conquest)and the fine characterization of the personae of the novel.Omens of what is to come are multiplying, whilst Yaotl tries to solve impossible conundrums fighting for is life! A rare thingindeed, a learned, suspenseful book! Kudos to simon Levack!
Debut offers convincing Aztec setting, resourceful hero, and wry, colorful prose.......2005-12-01
British author Levack plausibly recreates the blood-soaked atmosphere of 1517 Aztec Mexico in this absorbing debut. The book opens on the grisly spectacle of a major festival, when merchants are permitted to dress in finery and escort their purchased sacrifices up the Great Pyramid to their "Flowery Death."
But narrator Yaotl, slave of Emperor Montezuma's chief minister, and the peasant Handy are all that remains of the procession for the merchant Ocotl's sacrifice. The victim, who seemed even more dazed than the other drugged sacrifices, had broken away from the procession, shouting, "Look for the big boat!" and leapt to his death. Yaotl and Handy, trying vainly to keep the body propped upright, drag it to the war-god priests and only Yaotl's quick thinking keeps them from being sacrificed in the dead man's place.
The scene is as blackly funny as it is alien. "Never acquired the taste myself," Handy remarks as they are given the man's butchered limbs. "I know it's polite to have a mouthful if someone from your parish brings home a captive, but give me a slice of dog any day."
Montezuma, plagued by visions and strange news of white men among the Mayans (the first Spanish expedition has landed and in 1519 Cortés will enter the Aztec city) demands Yaotl's account and sends him on a mission to find the soothsayers who have disappeared from the prison he had banished them to after their unsatisfactory prophecies. To fail is to die, but Yaotl's master seems to have different plans for him, with a similar possible outcome.
Yaotl, who reveals bits of his back-story throughout the narrative, is a resourceful, determined fellow with a sardonic sense of humor. The Aztec setting is convincing, strange and thoroughly human even in its religious savagery. Levack provides a suspenseful plot with some neat twists and his writing is lively and colorful. An auspicious debut.
--Portsmouth Herald
Impending sense of doom.......2005-10-01
In the Western world it's December 1517, but in the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan it's Thirteen Grass in the year Twelve House and a big day of human sacrifices. Pricey, pampered slaves or captives will be sacrificed to nourish the war god, and those lucky enough to be allowed to sponsor a sacrifice are dressed up in their showiest cloaks, jade nose plugs and ear studs. They follow the slaves up the pyramid, boosting their courage by chatting about what fabulous eternities the victims will enjoy post-sacrifice.
Yaotl, slave to a chief minister, has the job of escorting a sacrifice up the pyramid-an ordinary enough task for someone who used to be a priest--but the fellow he's escorting is acting a little strange. The day gets worse when the victim pre-sacrifices by jumping off the pyramid after shouting for everyone to look for the big boat. Yaotl is blamed for the disgrace and is charged with finding out what the suicide and warning were about.
Where the Aztec world in Gary Jennings' "Aztec" was a strange as science fiction, "Demon" author Simon Levack expresses Yaotl's society with a naturalness reminiscent of Mary Renault and Steven Saylor. What Aztecs ate, wore, thought, played, and prayed are nicely built into the narrative, and for the most part he avoids the jokiness that mars too many mysteries set in the ancient world (perhaps there is something intrinsically less funny about a society based on human sacrifice and ceremonial cannibalism). The opening sacrifice scene is a fine example of black humor, but then the Aztecs saw nothing extraordinary about sacrifice days, and, well, some just went better than others.
This is the first in a planned series featuring Yaotl, and it will be interesting to see how Levack handles the approach of the Spanish conquistadors whose arrival is already sensed across the Aztec empire. This gives a nice little undercurrent of tension to everything in the story, and it's a smart move to choose a time period with built-in suspense. I presume it was a conscious decision-a lot about the novel seems consciously selected to sustain a series-but still, it is interesting, it is different, and "Demon of the Air" is a good read.
Average customer rating:
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Montezuma (Historical Biographies)
Struan Reid
Manufacturer: Heinemann
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ASIN: 1588105660 |
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Life in the Time of Moctezuma and the Aztecs (Life in the Time of)
Roy Burrell
Manufacturer: Steck-Vaughn
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ASIN: 081143351X |
Book Description
Places Aztec civilization and history in the context of world history Montezuma (ca. 1466–1520), who had been educated as a priest and had served well as a military commander, ascended to the Aztec throne in about 1502 on the basis of his military record and reputation for piety. As Peter G. Tsouras demonstrates, almost immediately Montezuma transformed himself from a man of good judgment to a pitiless autocrat. He killed indiscriminately at home and waged wars of conquest against his neighbors, adding territory in contemporary Honduras and Nicaragua to his empire. In 1519, Hernán Cortés arrived in Mexico at the head of a Spanish expedition. Montezuma believed the invaders to be gods fulfilling the prophecy that the god Quetzalcoatl would return. He failed to resist and cautiously offered gifts. As a result, Cortés and the conquistadors marched on the capital and seized Montezuma. The monarch fell, surrendering his power, wealth, and even the sovereignty of his people, almost gladly. He became a puppet of the Spaniards and finally allied himself in battle against his own people. When the emperor’s brother at last led an uprising, the ungrateful Spaniards killed Montezuma.
Against the backdrop of ancient Mexico’s rich cultural heritage, Tsouras captures the tragedy that befell Mexico during Montezuma’s reign.
Customer Reviews:
Boring with some major blunders.......2006-06-01
The author uses only English-language sources, ignoring the many important primary documents that have not been translated from Spanish (and Nahuatl) into English. More seriously, he ignores most of the scholarly literature on Motecuhzoma, Cortes and the conquest of the Aztecs. This lead to a big mistake that undermines much of his discussion of Motecuhzoma: Recent scholarship shows that the notion that Motecuhzoma and other Aztecs believed Cortes to be the returning god Quetzalcoatl was a post-conquest fabrication. This changes our understanding of the Aztec emperor and his interaction with Cortes.
The recent scholarship is summarized in: Townsend, Camilla (2003) Burying the White Gods: New Perspectives on the Conquest of Mexico. American Historical Review 108:659-687. For the full argument see: Gillespie, Susan D. (1989) The Aztec Kings: The Construction of Rulership in Mexica History. University of Arizona Press, Tucson.
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Conquest of New Spain: 1585 Revision
Bernardino De Sahagun , and
Howard F. Cline
Manufacturer: Univ of Utah Pr (Tx)
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 087480311X |
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Cortes and the Conquest of the Aztec Empire in World History (In World History)
Charles Flowers
Manufacturer: Enslow Publishers
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Binding: Library Binding
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ASIN: 0766013952 |
Customer Reviews:
An amazing story.......2001-05-11
A fascinating story of conquest, greed, and betrayal, written in a clear, fast-moving fashion. I've always wondered how a few Spaniards could conquer the massive Aztec empire, and now it makes sense to me.
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Montezuma and the Aztecs (Life and Times)
Nathaniel Harris
Manufacturer: Franklin Watts
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ASIN: 053118028X |
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Montezuma and the Aztecs (W5 Series)
Mathilde Heily
Manufacturer: Henry Holt and Co.
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ASIN: 0805050604 |
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Advertising Design in Japan
Manufacturer: Books Nippan
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ASIN: 4897370795 |
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Advertising Design in Japan, 1990: Annual of Ad Productions in Japan
Rikuyo-Sha
Manufacturer: Books Nippan
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 4897370930 |
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Advertising Designs in Japan
Manufacturer: Rikuyo-Sha Pub Co
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ASIN: 4897371457 |
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Advertising Photography in Japan
Ad Foundation Japan , and
Japan Advertising Photographers' Associa
Manufacturer: Kodansha America
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0870118986 |
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Advertising Photography in Japan 2007
Pie Books
Manufacturer: P I E Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 4894445921 |
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- packed logo-bible
- lots and lots of logotypes and also wellknown trademarks.
|
A Collection of Trademarks & Logotypes in Japan
Manufacturer: Books Nippan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Advertising
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ASIN: 4766109333 |
Customer Reviews:
packed logo-bible.......1999-04-24
more than 300 pages with ca. 10 logos per page. straight from japan! since the quality of the logos are generally of high quality it is a great source for inspiration. the only drawback are the 60 pages or so with japanese logotype! buy the book and enjoy the ride!
lots and lots of logotypes and also wellknown trademarks........1998-08-24
Contains a massive collection of logotypes. It is pretty much up to date, without being typical for this period of time. It is an excellent source of inspiration. The only drawback is that it is printed in monotype. Very good value compared to many other (similar) books.
Customer Reviews:
Most inspirational resource.......1998-03-09
This collection of graphic images has been an invaluable tool for me in running the 'logo design' side of my graphic design business. It has provided me with much in the way of inspiration and food for creative thought! Although much of the contributed graphics originated in Japan, I have found it most useful in my english speaking country, New Zealand. In particular it has been the cartoon/illustration types of logos that have helped me most to broaden my repertoire of graphic skills. I would be most interested in finding more of such resources, specifically focussed on logos of a similar illustrative nature. In particular I am referring to pages 145-222.
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- Pocket Guide to the Identification of First Editions
- Pressed Glass in America: Encyclopedia of the First Hundred Years, 1825-1925
- Raoul Wallenberg: The Man Who Stopped Death
- Simply Seminole : Techniques & Designs in Quilt Making
- Spirit of the San Juans
- State Shapes : Virginia
- Ten Queens: Portraits of Women of Power
- The Bravest Battle: The Twenty-Eight Days of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
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