French Literature Reviews - 2026
C. Duverger, Cortés and His Double: Investigation into a Mystification
History, Politics and Society
Bibliographic reference: C. Duverger, Cortés and His Double: Investigation into a Mystification
Paris: Le Seuil, coll. "Points Histoire"
2015
Publisher's presentation
1543. Near the end of his life, Bernal Díaz del Castillo, a former companion of Cortés, writes The True History of the Conquest of New Spain. To this day, it is regarded not only as a primary historical source but also as an authentic literary masterpiece that brings to life—against the backdrop of Mexican volcanoes—conquistadores, Franciscans, courtiers, native warriors, and more. This is the official version. Yet it crumbles under the rigorous scrutiny of Christian Duverger. Thus a compelling enigma arises: Who is the man hiding in the shadows? What is his true purpose?
Written in delightful prose, Christian Duverger draws us into an immersive investigation alongside Cortés and Malinche, Díaz del Castillo, Charles V, and José Maria de Heredia.
Christian Duverger
A specialist in the Mesoamerican world, historian, and archaeologist, as well as a professor at the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS), he is the author of La Fleur létale (Seuil, 1979), L’Origine des Aztèques (Seuil, 1983 and "Points Histoire", 2003), and a groundbreaking biography of Cortés (Fayard, 2001).
The historical study of early modern colonial chronicles often involves untangling complex questions of authorship, perspective, and historiographical tradition. Works documenting the Spanish encounter with the Mesoamerican world frequently blur the boundaries between official historical record and literary creation, inviting rigorous critical examination from modern scholars of the Spanish Empire and indigenous histories. By questioning the accepted origins of canonical texts, researchers contribute to ongoing scholarly debates surrounding the construction of colonial narratives and the reliability of primary sources from the sixteenth century.
Readers interested in colonial history, historiographical critique, and the literature of the Spanish conquest may find this study relevant to their inquiries. Christian Duverger approaches these historical puzzles through an examination of the figures shaping the early Mexican landscape, engaging with the complexities of Renaissance literature and imperial expansion. Without making broader claims beyond the text, the investigation highlights the enduring questions surrounding the documentation of New Spain and the legacy of its principal actors.