Books of the Brave: Being an Account of Books and of Men in the Spanish Conquest and Settlement of the Sixteenth-Century New World

Irving A. Leonard's pioneering work, "Books of the Brave," has enduringly documented the introduction of literary culture to the Spanish New World. UC Press's 1992 edition combines Leonard's text with valuable sources, showcasing the failure of royal and inquisitorial prohibitions to control the circulation of books and ideas in colonial Spanish America. Rolena Adorno's introduction reaffirms the book's lasting value, situating it at the threshold between older views of Spanish conquest and more recent perspectives on native American peoples.

Format: Hardback
Length: 508 pages
Publication date: 25 March 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

Since its original publication in 1949, Irving A. Leonard's pioneering work, Books of the Brave, has stood as a timeless account of the introduction of literary culture to the Spanish New World. Leonard's meticulous study meticulously documents the fictional works that accompanied and followed the conquistadors as they ventured to the Americas. Through his analysis, Leonard compellingly argues that popular texts exerted a profound influence on these men, shaping their thoughts and shaping the way they expressed their experiences in writing.

UC Press's 1992 edition of Books of the Brave presents Leonard's text alongside a selection of the invaluable sources that informed his research. These nine lists, containing a wealth of information, serve as the documentary evidence for Leonard's most significant contribution: his demonstration that royal and inquisitorial prohibitions failed to effectively control the circulation of books and ideas in colonial Spanish America.

Rolena Adorno's introduction in the 1992 edition reaffirms the enduring significance of Books of the Brave and provides a chronicle of developments in cultural-historical studies that have shed light on the role of books in Spanish American colonial culture. Adorno situates Leonard's work at the crossroads between older, triumphalist views of Spanish conquest history and more recent perspectives emerging from studies of Native American peoples.

Books of the Brave offers historians and literary critics alike a treasure trove of insights. With its rich descriptions of the book trade in both Spain and America, the work provides valuable perspectives for those interested in exploring the cultural life of the New World. Indeed, it is a highly readable and engaging book that appeals to a wide audience, regardless of their academic background.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, a commitment to seeking out and nurturing the brightest minds and providing them with a platform to express their ideas, reach a wider audience, and have a lasting impact. Drawing on a rich backlist dating back to 1893, Voices Revived celebrates the legacy of UC Press's commitment to publishing groundbreaking works that shape our understanding of the world.

Weight: 862g
Dimension: 234 x 156 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520356610