H. Rider Haggard--author, writing in the 1890's, British, traveled to Mexico and was hosted by Jebb.
Dedication honors Jebb, pays tribute to him.  Haggard also validates his own travels :"I saw [Mexico's] relics and its peoples."

J. Gladwyn Jebb, Esq.--person that showed Haggard around Mexico.  He seems to have shared a life of adventure with Thomas Wingfield.  He read Haggard's tale and he died. (real person?)

Thomas Wingfield--Character in the novel proper. In the Dedication, he seems to be a real figure.

Hernan Cortes--Spanish Conquistador; conquered the Aztecs.  Used Malinche as his translator.  1530's

Montezuma II--Aztec King; Was gracious to the Spanish; followed an oracle that perceived the Spanish as if they were gods from the sky

Sources for Haggard: prayer from Sahugun's History of New Spain, Prescott

He is a middle child--few resources are available to him
His father wants Thomas to be a physician
He can trace his lineage--places him in society--he can identify noble families on both sides

Donna Luisa de Garcia is from Spain
Thomas has special affection for her
She speaks broken English; teaches Thomas Spanish
She fears her past: Juan de Garcia
She saves her husband from the Inquisition:  persecution of heathens, non-believers, Jews, Moors

Wingfield Sr. is English:
He has a house with a long-standing history
He is an Adventurer and a rebel.
As the only son, he is destined for the monastery; however, Wingfield leaves and manages to court a young, beautiful Spanish lady

The narrator favors his English side.:
Thomas's English traits: Trusting, gentleman, stuffy, reticent, he is courtly; takes time to consider before reacting; he becomes "protestant" after having been in Catholic culture.

Spanish traits--swarthy, temper, language (Spanish), steadfast, dark hair, romantic; hot tempered
Father tells him: keep your latin blood in check
Haggard's represents the Spanish as too passionate, treacherous, hypocritical, rapacious, greedy.

Chapter overviews:
Rider Haggard Montezuma's Daughter is set in Mexico during Queen Elizabeth's Reign; England is at war with Spain.
Thomas is "writing" in 1588; in 1578 the Queen graces him with her visit and asks for his story. The novel opens with Thomas in England and he is reflecting on the dismantling of the Spanish Armada
Haggard wrote the novel during Queen Victorian's Reign (1890's)

Chapter I
Begins with the dismantling of the Spanish Armada
Introduction of widowed narrator who writes for Queen Elizabeth and tenders this tale to her upon the death of his wife
Mixture of fiction and history with the reference to Malinche and Cortes--"that great man whom I have known clothed with power like a god"
Reflection on the coming and passing of great men: "Nearly forty years ago, so I have heard, he died poor and disgraced in Spain; he the conqueror--yes, and I have learned also that his son Don Martin has been put to the torture in that city which the father won with so many cruelties for Spain"
(10)

Chapter II
Haggard's concern with origins:
Heavy description of Ditchingham in Norfolk and the Wingfield manor (gentile family)
Valley of Waveney, Bungay town
Account of relations and neighbors in the area including the Bozards
Fleeing of Mr. Wingfield from monastery 17
Union of Mr. Wingfield and Donna Luisa Garcia and their three children 18
"I was the darkest of the three, dark indeed to swarthiness, but in Mary the Spanish blood showed only in her rich eyes of velvet hue, and in the glow upon her cheek that was like the blush on a ripe fruit." 19
The mother's fear of a mysterious Spaniard
Spanish customs: wearing the mantilla
Chapter III
Wingfield is 18-19 and falls in love with Lily Bozard--this is a forbidden romance because her father wants her to wed Thomas's elder brother
Mr. Wingfield warns Thomas about women and the Spanish  25
The confrontation between Thomas and Juan 27
Chapter IV
Thomas and Lily pledge their love 30
Bozard's wrath 32
Discovery of the mother's body 35