The Conquest of Florida – Theodore Irving

The Conquest of Florida under Hernando de Soto. By Theodore Irving. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1850. Written by the nephew of, and dedicated to, Washington Irving. Subsequent printing after first publication in 1835. Rebound in contemporary quarter calf spine with red cloth covered boards, gilt lettering at spine. Endpapers replaced at previous rebind. Light wear at corners, head, and tail. Foxing at title and final pages. 12mo. 280 pp. Very Good Plus.

Irving describes encountering and closely studying early chronicles of Hernando de Soto’s expedition, particularly the history written by Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, and later comparing it with an account by an anonymous Portuguese soldier who participated in the same campaign. Concluding that the two narratives corroborate each other on essential facts, Irving argues that Garcilaso’s work, which is drawn from multiple eyewitnesses, has been unfairly distrusted and deserves substantial credibility. On this basis, Irving undertakes to compile a clear, balanced, and engaging account of Hernando de Soto’s expedition, carefully weighing sources, discarding exaggerations, and preserving vivid anecdotes that illuminate the character and manners of the early Spanish explorers.