Tales from the Journey of the Dead: Ten Thousand Years on an American Desert
A largely desolate stretch of land about 100 miles south of Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Jornada del Muerto (Journey of the Dead) has long lived up to its name. Hiking the area on foot, Boye shares his impressions of ancient petroglyphs and pueblo ruins, desert plants and animals, as well as artifacts and landmarks. His firsthand accounts are aptly balanced by personal histories and thorough research on everything from Spanish settlement to atomic explosions to the transference of land from Spanish families to the likes of Ted Turner. Boye explains how the Jornada was a kind of initiation through which explorers, soldiers, and settlers had to pass in their journeys along the Camino Real. Barkeeps, cowboys, and even a "wild man" all left stories in their wake that engender our understanding of and appreciation for their struggles, losses, and victories. With wonderfully accessible and consistently engaging writing, Boye adds a long-overlooked and essential piece to the puzzle of American history.Janet St. JohnCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved