Bernal Díaz del Castillo (1492–1584) was a foot soldier in the army of Mexico's conqueror Hernán Cortés, and participated in the campaigns that led to the fall of the Aztec empire in 1521. This 1928 translation of his journals derives from the 1904 edition by the Mexican historian Genaro García - the first edition based on the original manuscript. Written as a corrective to accounts that overemphasised Cortés' exploits, Díaz's epic focuses on the experiences of the common soldier. The most complete contemporary chronicle of the Mexican conquest, this important historical document is also a captivating adventure narrative that combines factual accuracy with many dramatic anecdotes. Volume 1, in which Díaz recounts his first two expeditions to the Yucatán coast and the beginning of his service in Cortés' army, contains chapters 1–81 and includes part of García's 1904 introduction to his edition.

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Product details
- Date Published: August 2010
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9781108017053
- length: 516 pages
- dimensions: 216 x 140 x 29 mm
- weight: 0.65kg
- contains: 6 b/w illus. 1 colour illus. 1 map
- availability: Available
Table of Contents
Extracts from Introduction Señor Don Genaro García
Bernal Díaz del Castillo - his life
Introduction by the translator
Note on spelling, etc.
Itinerary
Preface by the author
Book I. The Discovery:
1. The beginning of the story
2. How we discovered the province of Yutacan
3. How we coasted along towards the west
4. Concerning the attack made on us
5. How we agreed to return to the Island of Cuba
6. How twenty of us soldiers went ashore in the Bay of Florida
7. About the hardships which I endured on the way to a town called Trinidad
8. How Diego Velásquez, Governor of the Island of Cuba, ordered another fleet
9. How we followed the same course
10. How we went on our way and entered a large and broad river
11. How we arrived at the Rio de Tabasco
12. How we followed along the coast
13. How we arrived at the Rio de Banderas
14. How we arrived at the Island now called San Juan de Ulúa
15. How Diego Velásquez, the Governor of Cuba, sent a ship in search of us
16. How we went on exploring the coast
Book II. The Expedition under Hernando Cortés. The Voyage:
17. How Diego Velásquez sent to Spain
18. Concerning some errors and other things written by the historians Gomara and Yllescas
19. How we came again with another fleet
20. How Cortés prepared and continued the arrangements necessary
21. What Cortés did when he arrived at the town of Trinidad
22. How the Governor Diego Velásquez sent two of his servants post haste to the Town of Trinidad
23. How the Captain Hernando Cortés with all the sailors sailed along the south coast to the Port of Havana
24. How Diego Velásquez sent a servant with orders that Cortés should be arrested
25. How Cortés set sail for the Island of Cuba
26. How Cortés reviewed all his army
27. How Cortés came to know that the Indians of Cape Catoche held two Spaniards in captivity
28. How Cortés allotted the ships and appointed captains
29. How the Spaniard named Jerónimo de Aguilar, heard that we had returned to Cozumel
30. How we again embarked and made sail for the Rio de Grijalva
31. How we arrived at the Rio de Grijalva
32. How Cortés ordered two of his captains to examine the country further inland
33. How Cortés told us all to get ready by the next day to go in search of the Indian host
34. How all the Caciques of Tabasco and its dependencies attacked us
35. How Cortés sent to summon all the Caciques of those Provinces
36. How all the Caciques and Calchonis from the Rio de Grijalva came and brought a present
37. Showing that Doña Marina was a Cacica
Book III. The March Inland:
38. How we arrived with all the ships at San Juan de Ulúa
39. How Tendile went to report to his Prince Montezuma
40. How Cortés sent to look for another harbour and site
41. What was done about the bartering for gold
42. How we raised Hernando Cortés to the post of Captain General and Chief Justice
43. How the party of Diego Velásquez tried to upset the powers we had given to Cortés
44. How it was arranged to send Pedro de Alvarado inland to look for maize
45. How we entered Cempoala
46. How we entered Quiahuitztlan
47. How Cortés ordered the five tax gatherers of Montezuma to be taken prisoners
48. How we determined to found “La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz”
49. How the fat cacique and other chieftains came to complain to Cortés
50. How certain soldiers wished to return to the Island of Cuba
51. What happened to us at Cingapacinga
52. How Cortés had an altar made and eight Indian damsels were baptized
53. How we returned to Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz
54. The narrative and letter which we sent to His Majesty by our proctors
55. How Diego Velásquez learned that we were sending proctors with an embassy and presents to our King
56. How our proctors passed through the Bahama Channel
57. What was done in camp and the judgment which Cortés delivered
58. How we settled go go
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