When I got back here and settled in I found a copy of it at my local book store and have since finished reading it. I am basically putting out my endorsement for it here. Although the book has created an increasing hate with the Spanish, especially of that era, it is a very well written historical narrative of the period starting from the rise of the very short-lived Inca empire through their subsequent demise at the hands of their Spanish conquerors. It also treats the discovery of some of their ancient ruins through the modern era.
Typically I don't read a lot of history books. I see them as fiction based in a bit of fact. In all likelihood so is The Last Days of the Incas as too much of the documentation of the time was written by boastful Spanish conquistadors, deluded Spanish clergy or in very small amounts from eventually literate natives. The information is therefore always suspect but at least it can provide the groundwork for what happened which is mostly what MacQuarrie tries to do while inserting his editorial where needed.
I can say I probably would never have read the book without the visit to Peru, but I am very glad I did both. Even if you never visit Peru it is a very worthwhile read.
