FERNANDO CORTES

Good but uninspired, this concise retelling of the story of the conquest of Mexico and of Cortez, early conquistador. A not-too-glamorous picture of Cortez, with no attempt to gloss over the double-dealing and cruelty that was, perhaps, characteristic of the times. In the very conciseness of the story, however, much of the background both of the life to which Cortez was accustomed and the life in Mexico is omitted, at definite sacrifice of vitality.