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By Right Of Conquest: Or, With Cortez In Mexico
The conquest of Mexico by a small band of resolute men under the magnificent leadership of Cortez is always rightly ranked amongst the most romantic and daring exploits in history. With this as the ground-work of his story Mr. Henty has interwoven the adventures of an English youth, Roger Hawkshaw, the sole survivor of the good ship Swan, which had sailed from a Devon port to challenge the mercantile supremacy of the Spaniards in the New World. He is beset by many perils amongst the natives, but is saved by his own judgment and strength, and by the devotion of an Aztec princess. At last by a ruse he obtains the protection of the Spaniards, and after the fall of Mexico he succeeds in regaining his native shore, with a fortune and a charming Aztec bride.--- 10 illustrations, 2 maps
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1890
About the author
G.A. Henty
796 books374 followersGeorge Alfred Henty, better known as G.A. Henty, began his storytelling career with his own children. After dinner, he would spend and hour or two in telling them a story that would continue the next day. Some stories took weeks! A friend was present one day and watched the spell-bound reaction of his children suggesting Henty write down his stories so others could enjoy them. He did. Henty wrote approximately 144 books in addition to stories for magazines and was known as "The Prince of Story-Tellers" and "The Boy's Own Historian." One of Mr. Henty's secretaries reported that he would quickly pace back and forth in his study dictating stories as fast as the secretary could record them.
Henty's stories revolve around fictional boy heroes during fascinating periods of history. His heroes are diligent, intelligent, and dedicated to their country and cause in the face, at times, of great peril... Henty's heroes fight wars, sail the seas, discover land, conquer evil empires, prospect for gold, and a host of other exciting adventures. Along the way, they meet famous personages... In short, Henty's heroes live through tumultuous historic eras meeting leaders of that time. Understanding the culture of the time period becomes second nature as well as comparing/contrasting the society of various cultures.
Henty's stories revolve around fictional boy heroes during fascinating periods of history. His heroes are diligent, intelligent, and dedicated to their country and cause in the face, at times, of great peril... Henty's heroes fight wars, sail the seas, discover land, conquer evil empires, prospect for gold, and a host of other exciting adventures. Along the way, they meet famous personages... In short, Henty's heroes live through tumultuous historic eras meeting leaders of that time. Understanding the culture of the time period becomes second nature as well as comparing/contrasting the society of various cultures.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 15, 2015
Full of historical and cultural information, while keeping mostly clean in light of its content, 'By Right of Conquest' gives a balanced picture of Cortez and the Aztecs. Though it deals with horrifically violent events, they are written non-descriptively. The characters are easy to relate to and the story is interesting. Roger doesn't always do what is right, but his aim is always to do righteously and he looks out for others more than for himself. I like this book better each time I read it.
May 13, 2025
As with all Henty stories, it’s laughable in its pro-British perspective, often cartoonish characters, and stiff dialogue among other things…but it’s educational if you know what to believe, and still kinda fun and worthwhile.
backburner
January 22, 2025In the Foreword written by J. Steven Wilkins, Pastor of Auburn Avenue Presbyterian Church I learned about a pivotal but virtually unknown Spanish Dominican theologian Francisco de Vitoria whose writings influenced the French and Scottish Enlightenment philosophers 200 years later without ever receiving credit, specifically in the holding of natural law for all races. I gladly revise my opinion of Mr. Henty and look forward to this book which promises to be more interesting than I had hoped. Also, I look forward to checking out more about Vitoria as well as his contemporary, Bartolomé de las Casas, who has also written about this time period.
And the other reference he recommended, an early book on this timeframe, The History of the Conquest of Mexico by William Hickling Prescott which I am going to try since the price was right.
And the other reference he recommended, an early book on this timeframe, The History of the Conquest of Mexico by William Hickling Prescott which I am going to try since the price was right.
February 9, 2020
It was ok. Typical Henty, with cool history and poor characters. There was finally a girl I liked in one of his books, but the main character dude didn't marry her and ended up marrying some lame Aztec princess, so the one time I rooted for a romance in a Henty it didn't come about. I did like the history of the conquest though, because Henty didn't side with either the Spaniards or the Aztecs, and kinda gave things in their true light.
July 27, 2016
I enjoyed this book but it seemed really really long.
October 11, 2023
Spoilers ahead. I'm making my way through my free GA Henty Kindles from Amazon and this is probably the best one I've read so far.
This is historical fiction that segues pretty well with the real thing. Roger Hawkshaw is a young Devonshire teen. His father and uncle outfit a ship (the Swan) to trade with natives in the New World. At this time the Pope had divided the New World between Spain and Portugal and England didn't have a piece of the pie. Spain had only discovered some Caribbean islands and hadn't discovered the mainland yet, though they heard from the natives that there was a land rich with gold to the west.
Roger's father had befriended a down on his luck Spanish captain in Cadiz(?) who had told him about this. He also sold him a map for 10 pieces of gold. Roger's dad and uncle decided to outfit a ship to travel to the New World to look for this land. At this time England wasn't at war with Spain so their trip would have to be very discreet. If they discovered the land and came back with riches, it was easier to ask for forgiveness than permission, especially since the crown would get a nice cut of the gold.
The trip to the Caribbean was pretty banal barring some storm action and being chased by Spanish ships. Due to the buildup of the story equipping the ship with men and weapons I thought a fair part of the book would deal with the Swam engaging and fighting Spanish ships. But it was not to be. Within a short time of getting there, the ship crashes into some rocks in a storm and everyone is killed including Roger's dad.
Roger is thrown ashore. The next 15-20% of the book deals with him getting to know the natives and showing himself and superior European technology to his advantage. He befriends the chieftain of a local tribe and his family and he is eventually taken to the capital city of the Aztecs which is Mexico (City). I learned a lot about pre-Cortes Mexico here. That the Aztecs were just a small conquering tribe and that many of the conquered tribes did not like them. And also customs, culture, religion and myths.
We then switch POV over to Hernan Cortes, in fact from here on, part of the book is the history of Cortes and how he defeated the Aztecs. Cortes discovers the mainland and Roger joins him so we can see the conquest of Mexico from Roger's POV. Because the English were persona non grata in the New World, Roger makes up a story that he was a Spanish child who shipwrecked on the coast, therefore he could speak the local language but had forgotten his Spanish.
Cortes takes a liking to him and adds him to his personal household as he could also translate. As an English speaker, my impression of Cortes was that he was cruel, opportunistic and greedy. The book tells a different story. I read that he was brave and loyal to his men and his cause. That he gave quarter and tried to parlay with the Aztecs as much as he could within the confines of how Europeans treated natives and European thinking at that time. That he tried to convert the natives to Christianity as all of them were wont to do and also because of their cruel custom of human sacrifice.
It's as good a history of Cortes as I've read and as accurate as a boy's book from 100 years ago could be. So eventually Cortes conquers the Aztecs and gives leave for Roger to go back to England with his bride.
I give it 4 stars because it's pretty readable for GA Henty. There's still plenty of long writing where Henty uses a lot of words when he didn't have to. Some olde style narration. But generally it was fairly easy to read. The historical part was fairly well done and easy to read too.
I particularly like the style where history is interwoven with fiction and Henty does a good job of it here. I look forward to reading another one.
This is historical fiction that segues pretty well with the real thing. Roger Hawkshaw is a young Devonshire teen. His father and uncle outfit a ship (the Swan) to trade with natives in the New World. At this time the Pope had divided the New World between Spain and Portugal and England didn't have a piece of the pie. Spain had only discovered some Caribbean islands and hadn't discovered the mainland yet, though they heard from the natives that there was a land rich with gold to the west.
Roger's father had befriended a down on his luck Spanish captain in Cadiz(?) who had told him about this. He also sold him a map for 10 pieces of gold. Roger's dad and uncle decided to outfit a ship to travel to the New World to look for this land. At this time England wasn't at war with Spain so their trip would have to be very discreet. If they discovered the land and came back with riches, it was easier to ask for forgiveness than permission, especially since the crown would get a nice cut of the gold.
The trip to the Caribbean was pretty banal barring some storm action and being chased by Spanish ships. Due to the buildup of the story equipping the ship with men and weapons I thought a fair part of the book would deal with the Swam engaging and fighting Spanish ships. But it was not to be. Within a short time of getting there, the ship crashes into some rocks in a storm and everyone is killed including Roger's dad.
Roger is thrown ashore. The next 15-20% of the book deals with him getting to know the natives and showing himself and superior European technology to his advantage. He befriends the chieftain of a local tribe and his family and he is eventually taken to the capital city of the Aztecs which is Mexico (City). I learned a lot about pre-Cortes Mexico here. That the Aztecs were just a small conquering tribe and that many of the conquered tribes did not like them. And also customs, culture, religion and myths.
We then switch POV over to Hernan Cortes, in fact from here on, part of the book is the history of Cortes and how he defeated the Aztecs. Cortes discovers the mainland and Roger joins him so we can see the conquest of Mexico from Roger's POV. Because the English were persona non grata in the New World, Roger makes up a story that he was a Spanish child who shipwrecked on the coast, therefore he could speak the local language but had forgotten his Spanish.
Cortes takes a liking to him and adds him to his personal household as he could also translate. As an English speaker, my impression of Cortes was that he was cruel, opportunistic and greedy. The book tells a different story. I read that he was brave and loyal to his men and his cause. That he gave quarter and tried to parlay with the Aztecs as much as he could within the confines of how Europeans treated natives and European thinking at that time. That he tried to convert the natives to Christianity as all of them were wont to do and also because of their cruel custom of human sacrifice.
It's as good a history of Cortes as I've read and as accurate as a boy's book from 100 years ago could be. So eventually Cortes conquers the Aztecs and gives leave for Roger to go back to England with his bride.
I give it 4 stars because it's pretty readable for GA Henty. There's still plenty of long writing where Henty uses a lot of words when he didn't have to. Some olde style narration. But generally it was fairly easy to read. The historical part was fairly well done and easy to read too.
I particularly like the style where history is interwoven with fiction and Henty does a good job of it here. I look forward to reading another one.
November 7, 2017
Great adventure novel and on par with his best work. It is long but great to listen to.
January 24, 2020
Much more history than the usual Henty book, although he was kinder to the Spanish than other books I've read.
July 25, 2020
Absolutely Horrifying!
September 17, 2020
If you have never read any other books about this time period, then this would be ok for you. not me Too pro Cortez, Pro christian . written for pre teen readers I think
April 18, 2024
My least favorite so far. However interesting the conflict between Cortez and the Aztecs, the story was very drawn out in my opinion.
January 18, 2021
Good but long chapters
The chapters were way to long.
But other than that it was good and I liked learning about the Aztecs and Cortez, how cortez fought and the history of it. It was really fun
The chapters were way to long.
But other than that it was good and I liked learning about the Aztecs and Cortez, how cortez fought and the history of it. It was really fun
June 14, 2010
Cortez in about 1520 "invaded" Mexico with up to 400 soldiers and sailers - his goal was to march to Mexico City and both bring back gold and convert the heathens to be catholics. Initially the Aztecs (the ruling minority tribe of many in an alliance, but not all tribes) received them, but then threatened and fought them. They returned towards the coast. After replenishing supplies and power, the next year they waged a long fight ultimately burning/tearing down much of the then existing dwellings. Estimates are 100,000 to 300,000 Mexicans died. Cortez' team was aided by about 5000 Indians from a tribe near the coast, who not only were the porters but also fought.
The author weaves a novel into the historical facts and story. He has a big young Englishman get shipwrecked on East Coast, only survivor, learns the language, accepted as a type of god, ends up marrying a princess, and ends up surviving many wounds fighting for the Spanish and then ultimately bringing her back to England.
I ding it at least 1 star for no maps. No photos or drawings. So many names of towns, lakes and passes that one needs a guide book to follow. I also thought there were times author forget he had a novel going, and other times he forgot to tell about Cortez.
I liked it all in all, because you see both sides. The Aztecs were not loved by many of the other tribes. They were very big into relying on their priests and sacrificing humans for their gods. They were advanced in many ways. However, their bows and arrows and armor paled against the Spanish arms and armor not to mention their horses and cannons.
The author weaves a novel into the historical facts and story. He has a big young Englishman get shipwrecked on East Coast, only survivor, learns the language, accepted as a type of god, ends up marrying a princess, and ends up surviving many wounds fighting for the Spanish and then ultimately bringing her back to England.
I ding it at least 1 star for no maps. No photos or drawings. So many names of towns, lakes and passes that one needs a guide book to follow. I also thought there were times author forget he had a novel going, and other times he forgot to tell about Cortez.
I liked it all in all, because you see both sides. The Aztecs were not loved by many of the other tribes. They were very big into relying on their priests and sacrificing humans for their gods. They were advanced in many ways. However, their bows and arrows and armor paled against the Spanish arms and armor not to mention their horses and cannons.
December 21, 2014
Very detailed account of Cortez' expedition, at times the level of detail was boring to me, but I'm sure it would be interesting to some. It seems that Henty, in choosing an English main character, was able to do a decent job of pointing out the complex motivations of the Spaniards, the Aztecs, and other native tribes who had been previously conquered by the Aztecs. For instance, he showed that the Spaniards were indeed greedy, but were also motivated by their horror at the immense numbers of human sacrifices required by the Aztec religion.
As in Henty's The Cat of Bubastes, the author brings in the theme of an Unknown God whom some of the native people worship. Henty makes the loose connection that this god must be the Christian God. See Acts 17:23. Since I am not a historian myself, I wonder if Henty added this concept or if both the Egyptians (in The Cat of the Bubastes) and the Aztecs and other tribal peoples truly had an Unknown God. It does make for interesting thought and serious discussion for Christians as to the outcome of the faith of those who worship an Unknown God without knowing Jesus Christ.
As in Henty's The Cat of Bubastes, the author brings in the theme of an Unknown God whom some of the native people worship. Henty makes the loose connection that this god must be the Christian God. See Acts 17:23. Since I am not a historian myself, I wonder if Henty added this concept or if both the Egyptians (in The Cat of the Bubastes) and the Aztecs and other tribal peoples truly had an Unknown God. It does make for interesting thought and serious discussion for Christians as to the outcome of the faith of those who worship an Unknown God without knowing Jesus Christ.
March 7, 2013
I really enjoyed "By Right of Conquest." Henty has a great way of using setting to its fullest potential. However, he tends to go on for 2 or 3 pages at a time describing the setting. He is a lover of history, and you can tell because this book was VERY historically accurate. I was not expecting it to be so well aligned with history. "By Right of Conquest" was full of action and had a great plot. It was a great insight into what actually happened during Spain's conquering of Mexico. I would suggest it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction full of action and adventure.
January 6, 2012
An entertaining read that gives insight into the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs, assuming the narrative is based on fact; but, because I am not all that familiar with Cortez and Montezuma, may or may not be true. (Everything I learned----and forgot----about Cortez and the Aztecs was in middle school----a very long time ago!) The story has a lively pace, many cliff-hangers, a sprinkling of romance, elements of treachery and deceit, and lasting friendships. I enjoyed it.
August 13, 2012
Another of Henty's historical novels in which the juvenile hero grows to maturity, faces adversity, encounters real-life heroes (in this case both Hernan Cortez & Montezuma), and in the end wins renown - and the girl.
February 25, 2009
i really like this one:)
February 22, 2016
From what I remember, this is a long book and highly detailed, almost with the story as an afterthought. But I enjoy non-fiction history, so I didn't bug me that much.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews