The common perception of the Spanish conquest of Mexico is that a handful of men led by Hernán Cortés landed and, with the help of European technology, overcame the Aztec Empire. Levy (English, Washington State Univ.; American Legend: The Real-Life Adventures of David Crockett) reminds us that it was a protracted struggle in which the Spaniards came very close to being wiped out. It was only Cortés's tactics and his ability to form alliances with other native peoples, who wished to be free of Aztec hegemony, that saved the Spaniards. Drawing heavily on both Spanish and Aztec sources, as well as major secondary works, Levy gives a straightforward telling of the entire story, stressing the military strategy, diplomatic initiatives, and personal relationship between Cortés and Aztec emperor Montezuma. For those seeking more detail, his notes provide copious references to William Prescott's monumental The History of the Conquest of Mexico (1843) and Hugh Thomas's authoritative and comprehensive Conquest: Cortés, Montezuma and the Fall of Old Mexico, as well as to other works. This well-written book is a good starting point for those seeking to understand the conquest of Mexico. Highly recommended for both public and academic libraries.—Stephen H. Peters, Northern Michigan Univ. Lib., Marquette