An Unofficial 'The Rest Is History' Reading List
646. The Fall of the Incas: Death to the Emperor (Part 3)
February 23, 2026
Description
Books Referenced
Author: Peter Schaffer
Context:
The hosts mention hearing a lot from this play throughout their series, with Christopher Plummer playing Atahualpa, emperor of the Incas.
Author: R.J. Unstead
Context:
Both hosts recall having this book as children, with Tom describing how it featured a memorable scene of Atahualpa with Francisco Pizarro and piles of gold, which sparked his fascination with the story.
Author: John Hemming
Context:
Referenced as a 'brilliant book' that makes excellent points about the conquest of Peru, including how Europeans had usually arrived multiple times before conquest, unlike in Peru where the Spanish did it all in one go.