This was a historical novel based on an account of the exploration of the first Spanish explorers Of America.
The account is written by a black Morrocan slave. It starts with the tale of how Estebanico becomes a slave as a young man . His master is one of the conquistadors of the Narvaiez expeditions to Florida. The first part of the story concerns the time around 1527 when the Spaniards are trying to settle the new country for the King of Spain and find gold. They become hopelessly lost and gradually are killed by waring tribes of native Indians and by disease until only 4 of the party remain.
They eventually travel across the southern area of America encountering various other tribes, almost starving and giving up hope but eventually meeting up with Spaniards at another Spanish settlement.
This is obviously a well researched book and is interesting historically, but fairly difficult to read. It is not a book for casual reading.
I certainly became aware of history that I had never realized before by reading it.
That is a history us Brits don't know much about, but glad I'm a "casual reader"!
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