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Humorous historical ‘faction’ in diary format. Montezuma – last Emperor of the Aztecs – lived in a palace and was deemed so holy that he never put his feet on the ground!His soothsayer or priest was naturally with him every day – from his worship to the Sun God, to his death at the hands of his own people following their defeat by Cortes and the Spaniards. His diary reveals the truth about a powerful emperor and a once mighty empire.
A royal soothsayer navigates the precarious daily life of the Aztec Empire while documenting the rapid collapse of his civilization under the shadow of Spanish conquest. The protagonist serves as the primary observer to Montezuma, an emperor whose divine status requires him to remain perpetually elevated above the earth. As the narrative unfolds through a series of diary entries, the soothsayer must balance his religious duties to the Sun God with the mounting political and existential threats posed by the arrival of Cortes. The text utilizes a first-person perspective to provide an intimate, often irreverent look at the rigid social structures and eventual downfall of the Aztec state.
This work is characterized by its lighthearted approach to a somber historical period, utilizing the diary format to humanize figures often relegated to academic textbooks. The narrative style suggests a focus on accessibility, aiming to engage readers through humor rather than dry historical recitation. By centering the perspective on a secondary figure like the soothsayer, the book provides a unique vantage point on the power dynamics within the Aztec court. The text appears designed for those who appreciate historical fiction that prioritizes character voice and situational irony over strict chronological accuracy.
Page Count:
128
Publication Date:
1999-01-15
Publisher:
HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks
ISBN-10:
0006945872
ISBN-13:
9780006945871
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