Conquest and Reclamation in the Transatlantic Imagination: The Amerindian Fictions of Henty, Haggard, and Griffith

This book explores how the Spanish conquest of Mexico and Peru was fictionalized in Amerindian novels by George Henty, Rider Haggard, and George Griffith. It draws on primary sources such as Bernardino de Sahagún's Florentine Codex, William H. Prescott's History of the Conquest of Mexico and Peru, and Hiram Bingham's 1913 National Geographic account. The author proposes the cultural concept of reclamation and illustrates how it operates in these novels. The study engages specialists and students from multiple disciplines and offers a richer, more nuanced perspective of the Amerindian fictions than approaching texts from one field of study. It also reflects on how historically real castaways, interpreters, and royal figures acted as cultural mediators, inspiring similar figures in the novels. The book incorporates various literary and cultural concepts to enrich the transatlantic discourse about the conquest.

Format: Hardback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 28 April 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The author of this study has gained invaluable firsthand observations of artifacts and cultural sites through fieldwork in Mexico and Peru, as well as research in London. These experiences have allowed them to enrich their understanding of descriptions found in George Henty, Rider Haggard, and George Griffiths' Amerindian fictions. By employing this interdisciplinary approach, the book offers a fresh avenue for inquiry into transatlantic studies.

The book delves into a significant topic in transatlantic studies by examining primary sources for the fictional retellings of the Spanish conquest. Specifically, it focuses on Amerindian novels by George Henty, Rider Haggard, and George Griffith. These sources include Bernardino de Sahagún's Florentine Codex: General History of the Things of New Spain. vols. I-XII [c 1590], William H. Prescotts' History of the Conquest of Mexico (1843) and History of the Conquest of Peru (1847), Frances Calderón de la Barcas' Life in Mexico, During a Residence of Two Years in that Country (1843), Sir Clement Markham's A History of Peru (1892), and Hiram Bingham's 1913 National Geographic account of his 'discovery of Machu Picchu. These references serve as a valuable "paper trail" for students and scholars embarking on their own research.

In the book, Ramirez introduces the cultural concept of "reclamation" and demonstrates how it manifests in the Amerindian fictions of Henty, Haggard, and Griffith. She highlights literary motifs such as the revival of ancient languages, symbols, and customs; the revitalization of royal bloodlines; the material restitution of what was lost during the Spanish invasion; and the identification of the English adventurer who plays a pivotal role. This study appeals to specialists and students from various disciplines, as it draws upon developments in art, archaeology, history, and cultural studies.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032260044