Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca: The Forgotten Chronicler

Author Fernández proposes to secure for Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca his rightful place in Spanish colonial letters. Even if one concedes that Cabeza de Vaca is a forgotten chronicler, this book adds little to the existing critical literature on La Relación or to biographical sketches of the wandering conquistador. Relying upon a 1906 edition of La Relación and almost entirely on secondary sources, Fernández has compiled a sketchy commentary on selective passages from La Relación interspersed with anecdotal data on Cabeza de Vaca and other Spanish conquerors. One wonders why he did not include a good map of the famous odyssey. The uncritical characterization of Cabeza de Vaca as “the soul of generosity and kindness” or “temporary savior to the oppressed” is unconvincing. More conclusive evidence than Fernández provides would be required to prove that Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca was above all motivated by a desire to render love and justice to the Indians. Finally, the brief discussion of the literary merits of La Relación falls considerably short of fulfilling the author’s purpose.