A Land So Strange: The Epic Journey of Cabeza de Vaca by Andrés Reséndez

"A Land So Strange: The Epic Journey of Cabeza de Vaca" by Andrés Reséndez tells the story of the unforgettable adventures of Spaniard Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca in a world he had never known before. This book is a mesmerizing and riveting account of one of the world’s most fascinating journeys of exploration.

The story dates back to 1527 when Cabeza de Vaca, a former treasurer of Mexico, was accompanied by three other men, two Spaniards and one black slave, on a 500-person expedition to conquer the American continent. They were led by the ill-fated explorer Pánfilo de Narváez. Cabeza de Vaca's goal was to conquer the lands of Northern Florida and establish the first settlement of Europeans in North America.

But their mission was doomed to failure from the start. By September 1528, the few survivors of the original expedition - including de Vaca - had been washed up on the Texas coast. The rest of the expedition had died from starvation, exhaustion and disease, or had been enslaved by the indigenous tribes they encountered.

De Vaca, his three companions and other survivors then embarked on a nearly eight-year odyssey that saw them cross some of the most dangerous terrain in the world. Over these eight years, they experienced starvation, disease, Indians' hostility, and more. Along the way they encountered many different Indian tribes who shared their culture, food and knowledge with de Vaca and his crew. They even adopted some of the customs of these Indians, including the use of herbal medicines and the collecting of prickly pear fruit.

But de Vaca's journey was far more than just a physically demanding exploration of continental America: it was also a spiritual journey. As his travels took him farther and farther inland, he began to encounter, learn and observe different tribal beliefs. He incorporated some of these new beliefs into his own faith, eventually becoming interested in all kinds of spiritual matters, such as shamanism and the forces of good and evil.

Ultimately, de Vaca and his crew finally managed to reach the Spanish settlements in Mexico City in 1536, almost ten years after their ill-fated expedition began. After their departure, de Vaca wrote in a journal all that had happened on his epic journey.

Andrés Reséndez’s narrative in "A Land So Strange: The Epic Journey of Cabeza de Vaca" brings to life both the trials and tribulations of de Vaca's journey as well as his discoveries and experiences at the hands of the Amerindians who welcomed him into their lives. It is an inspiring story about an explorer's courage, perseverance and faith that transcended even the greatest obstacles. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of exploration or Native American cultures.