Captain from Castile (novel)

1945 historical novel by Samuel Shellabarger Captain from Castile First editionAuthorSamuel ShellabargerLanguageEnglishGenreHistorical fictionPublisherLittle, BrownPublication date1945Publication placeUnited StatesMedia typePrintPages503 Captain from Castile is a historical adventure novel by author Samuel Shellabarger originally published in 1945. The novel relates the adventures of young Spanish nobleman Pedro de Vargas during the early years of the 16th century, focusing mainly on his mistreatment by the Spanish Inquisition, his adventures in Mexico while serving as a captain during Hernan Cortés' conquest of the Aztecs, and his subsequent return to Spain. Plot Captain from Castile begins on the evening of June 28, 1518 when naïve 19-year-old Pedro de Vargas, the son of local war hero Don Francisco de Vargas, confesses a long list of minor sins to the local priest in Jaen, Spain. The next day, while attending church with his family, Pedro becomes infatuated with the local Marquis' daughter, Luisa de Carvajal. As Pedro and his family leave church they are met by Diego de Silva, who enlists the help of Pedro in the search for his escaped Indian slave, Coatl. Pedro immediately gu