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Brutal Journey: Cabeza de Vaca and the Epic First Crossing of North America Paperback – May 1, 2007

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Paul Schneider (Author)
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Paul Schneider (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars 41 customer reviews
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A History of Violence: Living and Dying in Central America by Oscar Martinez
"A History of Violence" by Oscar Martinez
This is a book about one of the deadliest places in the world and provides an unforgettable portrait of a region of fear and a subtle analysis of the North American roots and reach of the crisis, helping to explain why this history of violence should matter to all of us. See more | See related books
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Holt Paperbacks; Reprint edition (May 1, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0805083200
  • ISBN-13: 978-0805083200
  • Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #901,316 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsStellar, gripping adventure
By Jeff H. Swimmer on May 30, 2006
Format: Hardcover
Paul Schneider's third book is a delight from cover to cover. The Odyssey-like narrative is full of suspense, sublime characters, and indelible scenes that sound almost made up. The fact that this amazing, tragic and (brutal) journey happened right under today's strip malls and freeways along the Gulf Coast makes it even more amazing.

The reader is transported like an archeologist straight into the rampaging egos, wild delusions and doomed strategies of the would be conquistadors. They traverse "their' thoroughly alien and violent territory with eyes wide shut, battered to and fro as if from one of the squalls that greet their arrival in the New World from the get-go.

Schneider is a masterful writer, and the text is lean and full of sly wit. It's mercifully shorn of the unwieldy and tedious detail to which so many historians subject their readers. The structure is crisp and orderly, and moves swiftly. The author seems to enjoy peeling back the layers of this larger-than-life tale as much as the reader will, and we can thank Schneider for unveiling this vital piece of American history.
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5.0 out of 5 starsIncredible!
By Stephen Balbach on May 25, 2006
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Amazing story of 400 Spanish explorers who walked into the bush of southern Florida in the 1520s and disappeared - eight years later four survivors showed up naked in Mexico with nothing but a few hundred friendly Indians in tow. In the intervening 8 years it was one page-turning adventure after the next, mostly dire tales of starvation, violence and exotic peoples, but also the spinning wheel of fortune from conquerer to slave and back again. They were the first to enter North America and cross it, encountering countless tribes and customs of the new world that within a century or two completely vanished. An otherwise little known story today, it was a classic best-seller in the 16th century, retold here with the latest scholarly findings.

Note: the original story was by Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca called "Castaways" (1555) (also goes by other names) and is still highly readable and widely available in modern English translation, it is a classic of 16th century literature. National Geographic ranks Cabeza de Vaca's narrative #63 on their "100 Best Adventure Books" list. I have not read it and wonder how it compares with this modern retelling.

Schneider's retelling is as good as "Over the Edge of the World" ("Brutal" takes place about 12 years after Magellan's expedition returned to Spain). Where Cabeza de Vaca's narrative has blank spots Schneider fills in from a lot of other sources. For the non-specialist this book is a synthesis of a lot of scholary research and discoveries, and also just a great adventure story.
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5.0 out of 5 starsThere IS a movie!!
By Paul on June 18, 2006
Format: Hardcover
For everyone who wishes this book were made into a movie - your wishes WERE granted in 1993 when "Cabeza de Vaca" (winner of 8 international film awards) was released by Roger Corman - directed by Mexican director Nicolas Echevarria. When I first saw the movie, it just blew me away. This movie inspired me to find and read "Adventures in the Unknown Interior of America" (University of New Mexico Press)- the translated account of de Vaca's report to the king of Spain (obviously one of the many sources for Schneider). I do believe I bought my VHS copy of "Cabeza de Vaca" from Amazon.com (haven't checked to see if it is available in DVD - hopefully so) If you liked Schneider's book, then find, buy, and ENJOY this remarkable film.
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5.0 out of 5 starsCabeza de Vaca
By Smallchief on December 7, 2006
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
If you want to read one book on Cabeza de Vaca's travels this is probably the one. Cabeza de Vaca was one of four survivors of a Spanish expedition to the United States in 1528. Landing in what is now Florida the expedition seemed fated for doom from the beginning. Lack of food and hostile Indians plagued the Spanish. Giving up all hope of gold and glory they built boats and attempted to sail to the Spanish settlements in Mexico by following the Gulf Coast. They were ship-wrecked near where Galveston, Texas is today.

Over the next few years Cabeza de Vaca and the other survivors lived with the Texas Indians and made their way toward the Spanish settlements in Mexico. In their wanderings the survivors crossed the continent before they finally encountered other Spanish on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Cabeza de Vaca's account of his travels is the first -- and often the only -- report we have of the now vanished Indians living in Florida, Texas, and northern Mexico.

"Brutal Journey" is highly readable and in sync with up-to-date scholarship on Cabeza de Vaca. Speculation about the route of the Spaniards has inspired much impassioned scholarship and flag-waving patriotism. Did C de V remain mostly in Texas or was his route through northern Mexico? The author reflects the best guesses by scholars.

Smallchief
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5.0 out of 5 starsHasn't anybody bought the movie rights yet?
By Floridagal on July 22, 2015
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I started reading about the history of Spanish exploration in Florida after visiting the South Florida Museum in Bradenton last year. This led me to the story of Cabeza de Vaca and his journey. I was interested in learning more and got Schneider's book to do so. Schneider does an excellent job of synthesizing historical documents and the research of others to explain in compelling detail what led to Cabeza's capture and how he eventually survived after years of wandering and captivity. Along the way, I learned a great deal about the Conquistadors and the native Americans-- who were wiped out soon after. The story is indeed epic on macro and micro levels. There's a movie in there some place. The smaller details like individual players' personalities and beliefs, how the Spanish physically made their way through swamps, zip lined horses to and from ships, discovered Florida and the Gulf Coast weren't a big island, how the Gulf Stream delayed exploration of the mainland, and how the natives often got rid of the invaders without fighting are fascinating. It's an often bloody and brutal story of a man caught up, literally, in the attempted colonization and exploitation of southern North America more than 100 years before the English show up in our American history. If there had been gold in Florida, our capitol might have been Tampa or Port Charlotte.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsWell written account

Fascinating story that describes a chapter in history that I'd never fully explored. Fast paced and well researched. Enjoyable read.

Published 2 months ago by MJSWans
4.0 out of 5 starsSomewhere between history and historical novel

One has to take some of the story with a grain of salt as documentation is minimal at times. But it does make an interesting tale to see the depravity that took place among both... Read more

Published 6 months ago by R.L.D.
5.0 out of 5 starsAn eight-year journey of survival through pre-colonial America

Well-researched. Holds your interest and is an easy read. Details the eight-year journey of a group of lost (or abandoned) Spanish would-be Conquistadores as they travel from tribe... Read more

Published 16 months ago by Matthew J. Brennan
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Riveting, couldn't put it down!

Published 17 months ago by felicia
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

a great read, very detailed.

Published 18 months ago by Steven Keator
4.0 out of 5 starsThree and a half stars

I generally enjoyed this book, but I had to read past the first quarter or more before I became hooked. Read more

Published on May 29, 2013 by Pete in MN
5.0 out of 5 starsWell Done

This is one of the most interesting stories I have read in a while. The way in which the author integrates relevant details from the period is outstanding. Read more

Published on March 12, 2013 by Island Lawyer
4.0 out of 5 starsA Marvelous Read

I found this in hardcover at my library. Somehow I had overlooked it until now.

Mr Schneider gives us a fascinating account of this expedition and the environment in... Read more

Published on November 24, 2012 by David F. Mcginnis
5.0 out of 5 starsbrutal journey

If you are a history buff you will love this book. If you just like a good read this book will captivate you from beginning to end. Loved it!

Published on October 26, 2012 by elaineorchid
2.0 out of 5 starsalmost not worth reading

Native American peoples were not all Dances-With-Wolves types overflowing with peace and prosperity. Read more

Published on May 20, 2010 by M. Heiss

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