This biography, written by Francis Augustus MacNutt, tells the remarkable true story of Bartolomé de las Casas, a 16th-century Spanish priest who witnessed the horrors of colonization in the Americas and became a lifelong defender of Indigenous peoples.

The Story

It starts with Las Casas arriving in the Caribbean as a young man, part of the colonial system. He even owned a plantation with enslaved Indigenous workers. But what he saw—the violence, disease, and sheer cruelty of the encomienda system—shook him to his core. He underwent a radical conversion, gave up his property, and spent the next fifty years fighting. He traveled back and forth across the Atlantic, arguing before kings and councils, writing explosive reports, and publicly debating other thinkers to prove that Indigenous people were fully human and deserved justice.

Why You Should Read It

This book hit me because it’s not about a perfect saint, but a flawed man who changed. Las Casas wasn't born a hero; he was part of the problem before he dedicated his life to being the solution. MacNutt shows us his fiery passion, his stubbornness, and the immense political pressure he faced. Reading it, you feel the weight of his mission and the loneliness of his position. It makes you wonder what you would have done in that time and place.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves a gripping true story about moral courage. It’s for readers interested in the roots of social justice, the complex early history of the Americas, or simply fascinating historical figures. While it’s an older biography, MacNutt’s clear storytelling makes Las Casas’s dramatic life accessible and deeply relevant today.