I read Willa Cather’s book quite a while ago and I think you’ll find that it is set mostly in the Santa Fe, Albuquerque area of New Mexico.
I recall that the principal character very nearly got lost in the Journada de los Muertos a feature found on maps just south of Albuquerque, it is so desolate that it was the location for the Trinity A-bomb test some 70 odd years ago.
The background not alluded to in Willa’s novel is the successful revolt of the Puebloan people against the Spaniards led by Popay in 1680. Many Spanish priests were killed and the Spanish settlers were driven out for about 12 years. That and the high handed and violent way Coronado cut a swathe through the relatively peaceful world of these civilized Native Americans makes this a most interesting story, since the Catholic priests were still somewhat alien to the people, and some cultural tensions still existed.
I read Willa Cather’s book quite a while ago and I think you’ll find that it is set mostly in the Santa Fe, Albuquerque area of New Mexico.
I recall that the principal character very nearly got lost in the Journada de los Muertos a feature found on maps just south of Albuquerque, it is so desolate that it was the location for the Trinity A-bomb test some 70 odd years ago.
The background not alluded to in Willa’s novel is the successful revolt of the Puebloan people against the Spaniards led by Popay in 1680. Many Spanish priests were killed and the Spanish settlers were driven out for about 12 years. That and the high handed and violent way Coronado cut a swathe through the relatively peaceful world of these civilized Native Americans makes this a most interesting story, since the Catholic priests were still somewhat alien to the people, and some cultural tensions still existed.
A most interesting read!