Mexico Books

Written by Gral. Juan B. Vargas, not just a "Dorado", but he (and his brothers) had a very close relationship with Villa, his brother Cipriano Vargas died Columbus. This book has a short bio of most of the "Dorados" as they appear in the group photo. It also includes a detailed interview with Benjamín Argumedo just before he died (unique information); plus many stories about his days with Villa. This is not a novel.

If you are interested in Pancho Villa, and in his Division of the North, this is a great book for detailed information on how Villa conducted his campaigns. Written by a member of Villa's "Dorados" (his personal escort), I found this book a fascinating key to revolutionary combat operations. The big problem I faced was my poor abilitiy to read Spanish. But with patience and a good Spanish-English dictionary, you can find much of real value in this book. This one should be translated into English so that the non-Spanish-reading audience might have the opportunity to judge how the revolution was conducted, rather than depending on the majority of English-language works, many of which are incredibly ethno-centric, and obviously ignorant of the real events.

The speed in which I received my book was wonderful - and I can't remember the last time a book that was used was in such great quality!
Thanks for making my Christmas a Merry One!

I visited Santa Fe 20 years ago and was charmed by the city, enough so that I moved here and have made it my home. I keep meeting other people with the same story.

So what a pleasure it is to find this beautifully photographed love song to Santa Fe! The historical photos are fascinating. I recognize some of the spots, but many places have changed so much. The nice thing is that Santa Fe, while growing and changing, retains is charm and its easygoing atmosphere.

This book is a treasure.

When I first received this book I was dismayed because it included alot of web links. However, after I started reading it I realized it was really a very good condensed book chock full of information and one doesn't have to go to the links in order to enjoy this book. We're going to Santa Fe for one week and this book has been a great help in narrowing down exactly where we want to go and what we want to do. I highly recommend it.

I love this book. It is so helpful and chock full of information.
Now that I have a computer I really appreciate all the email addresses.
The writting is clear and full of information and the photos are really nice and also helpful. This book will make my next trip to Santa Fe more enjoyable and easy to plan.

Santa Fe will be 400 years old next year, and this beautifully illustrated and written book was issued in commemoration of its rich history.

There are eleven chapters, nine dealing with various historical eras in the city's history: high desert living before the formation of the city, the founding, the Pueblo Revolt, the Spanish Restoration, 25 years as a Mexican town, the U.S. occupation, the Santa Fe Trail, the Palace of Governors and a history of histories of the city. Each chapter is written by a recognized expert in the area, and each is illustrated with many black and white images.

Two chapters were particularly interesting to me. "Españols, Castas, y Labradores" by Adrian H. Bustamante is a very careful analysis of the the complex mixing and cross mixing of different ethnic backgrounds. "One's social position was determined by the degree of pureza de sangre española that flowed in one's veins. To have been born in Spain, especially in Castile, gave one the highest classification possible -- penninsular." Pure españoles who had been born in the New World had the marginally lower status of Criollos (Creoles)." The book lists on page 54 (you may be able to retrieve a copy through the Amazon Search this Book function) 22 separate "castas" typical of the 18th century: mestizo, castizo, otrna a español, mulato, morisco, etc.

Tara M. Plewa's "Acequia Agriculture" is a beautifully written, fact laden discussion of water, irrigation and their defining roles in Santa Fe's history. "Long established Spanish irrigation methods translated well to the dry landscape. The practice of irrigation necessitated establishing rules so that benefits were divided equitably among users. As I. G. Clark has written in his insightful book, Water in New Mexico: A History of Its Management and Use, Spaniards had centuries before learned irrigation techniques from the Romans and, later, Islamic water law from the Moors. It was the Prophet Mohammed who had taught about the law of thirst, which grants living things free access to all waters to satisfy their needs. ... These ideas, established more than one thousand years ago, form the foundations of contemporary water laws followed in the western United States today." Plewa illustrated her essay with a number of maps, pictures and charts, perhaps the most interesting two photographs of the Acequia Madre from 1890 and 2007, respectively -- the principles of Mohammed in practice many hundreds of years after his death.

The publisher offers a very generous extract from the book at sarpress.sarweb.org , focusing on the archeological studies of the city.

Two weeks ago I asked the owner of Collected Works, a great bookstore in Santa Fe for the "essential" books needed to understand Santa Fe. Her list: New Mexico: An Interpretive History by Marc Simmons; Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya; The Wind Leaves No Shadow by Ruth Laughlin; The House at Otowi Bridge: The Story of Edith Warner and Los Alamos by Peggy Pond Church; and Santa Fe, History of an Ancient City: Revised and Expanded Edition edited by David Grant Noble.

This wonderful volume is a perfect introduction of this complex, endlessly fascinating city.

Robert C. Ross 2008

The chapter edited by Tara Plewa remains one of the most enlightened discourses on the Santa Fe River that I have ever read. Plewa is a brilliant writer, with a knack for detailing this area and its history is an unparalleled manner... this one is not to be missed, and be on the lookout for anything that Plewa writes!

The Santero's Miracle is a very sweet story that captures the culture and traditions of Northern New Mexico. The persons who carve saints (santeros) are highly regarded here. Many families have a multi-generational tradition of carving.

This story illustrates the unique culture that developed in the remote mountains of Northern New Mexico. This is a rare place in America.

The illustrations are exquisite. It doesn't matter what religious tradition the reader practices -- this is a story for everyone.

Award-winning author and illustrator team Rudolfo Anaya and Amy Cordova present The Santero's Miracle: A Bilingual Story, an English/Spanish Christmas tale about the power of miracles. Don Jacobo is teaching his visiting grandson Andres how to become a santero; the two of them are working on a carving of San Isidro, the patron saint of farmers. Due to the great snowfall, Andres' parents cannot come home in time for the holiday, and don Jacobo's neighbor, don Leopoldo, is severely ill but cannot reach the hospital. Then don Jacobo dreams of a miracle: San Isidro plowing with two oxen and and an angel helping. The meaning of the dream brings about a reminder of the power of compassion, faith, and love. The bright color illustrations practically leap off the page in this joyful and uplifting story meant to be shared.

The name is right. Many of these pieces are tresures. Volume 2 includes photos (a little too small... each is about 3.5 x 5 inches) of all 94 folios in Codice Saldivar 4(some enhanced because the original has sustained water damage). Also included are transcriptions to the sixty nine pieces in the manuscript. This is a scholarly edition and the transcriptions are for study, not for performance. Do not expect to see fingerings for either right or left hand or other indications for modern guitar.

This book is a must read for anyone interested in the Spanish baroque circa 1700 as well as info on transport of this music to the New World. Vol. 2 is of less use as the guitar tablature is barely readable. Michael Lorimer's facsimile edition of the Saldivar Codex is the definitive one to get.

I have only just finished reading this wonderful book about Henry Shukman's journeys in New Mexico.My own imagination would take over as i took in all the fascinating landscapes,people and places that the author was sharing with me.Indians and artists,shacks and glorious views from the middle of no-where...The author came across as sensitive and although at times he would feel pulled by fond memories of England,his passion for where he was there and then was so obvious.I now have a passionate dream of my own. To go and search out these places for myself and be inspired by all they have to offer..

The writings of the author left a deep impression on me. He writes with a very romantic, extremely descriptive style that allows you to feel what he saw. I lived in NM for 3 years and after reading the book was ready to go back. Mr Shukman did such a great job detailing his journey. He described many of the places I remember from there. I found myself nostalgic for the Southwest. He did such a good job, that I was ready to go back because I wanted to visit some of the places that I had never gone to when I had the opportunity. After you read the book, if you've never been to the Southwest you too will be ready to pack your bags!!!

If you are looking for fishing tips or availability of gasoline in Catavina you sure won't find it here. This fine review will not give you the information you can find elsewhere. You will get some of the feeling and emotions from the writings women and men who have been "inspired by baja." The inner lives of gringos living in the glory of Baja.

The cover alone is easily more than worth the price.

Sea of Cortez provides an excellent anthology of short stories, personal narratives and literary pieces which looks like a magazine but reads like a blend of journal and travelogue. Writings are inspired by Baja California and provide excellent insights on local communities and Baja atmosphere.

This book is a treat to behold. The vividness of the imagery is breathtaking. The author is certainly state of the art and brilliant as she weaves together all of the newest in media. This book must have taken her a terribly long time to create. She does such an excellent job of explaining technically difficult material to all, including youth. Her scrapbook-diary format gives the reader the feeling that they have accompanied her. It is whimsical, serious, artistic and soundly scientific all in one. BRAVO

A new and refreshing type book from National Geographic ... about a mini-submarine journey to the recently discovered life around thermal vents. It's a busy book ... profusely illustrated in a creative style that uses photography, pastels and watercolors. My two children, who have some leaning toward science, love this story ... you can sense the enthusiasm of the author. The dive sequence is particularly priceless ... nice blend of images and story. I and my children give this book 5 stars ... and hope there are more of this type coming from National Geographic. And ... we all love Max ... the ugligator!

Dan Linden has done yeoman's work in researching the history behind this wonderful novel. He has woven into his story a fantastic tapestry of early 19th century New Mexico Territory, blending Native American, Spanish and Anglo cultures. This is a must read for anyone interested in the settlement of the west, especially that of New Mexico. This is not just an exciting tale, but is a work of history that should be must reading for every high school student.

THE SECOND SON is the second novel by a wonderful new writer, Dan Linden. Linden's SAND CREEK was set in current day Colorado; THE SECOND SON is the first part of a saga that will cover most of the nineteenth century. THE SECOND SON is about a Spanish colonial son who is sent to live with the local Indian tribe as part of a treaty. When he becomes an adult, he's equally comfortable in both worlds, and he slips back and forth between them as he goes on a quest to find the man who he thinks has killed his brother. It's a stirring adventure, a real page-turning tale! By the way, despite what this page says, it's a real stretch to call this a Romance. This is a corking Western adventure tale!