Taos

by Irwin R. Blacker

Tumultuous human drama unfolds across a province as vast as old Spain itself -- a land rich with the heritage of two civilizations and drenched in the blood of both -- as a fiercely courageous man leads his people against those who destroy their gods and their lives, and as an unforgettable woman with a dream of her own wields the very forces of history to make her dream come true.

Genres: Historical Fiction

626 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1959

About the author

Irwin R. Blacker, Ph.D. (English, Western Reserve University; B.A., Ohio University) was an author and screenwriter who taught at the University of Southern California School of Cinema and Television from 1964 until his retirement in 1978. Among his students were many who went on to careers in Hollywood, including George Lucas.

Reviews

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a very surprising find! It was great. The front cover is a bit romancy and a tad lurid, but when I got into the pages I learned a great deal more about the history of the Pueblo Revolt. My favorite character was the amoral Spanish assassin and fugitive Jose Reyes. He is one evil Penninsularo and you actually cheer for the Spanish Inquisition after he rapes a nun in a convent. Things get a bit unbelievable after he kidnaps his wife and forces her to carry their dead infant across a scorching wasteland. He was actually surprised the child died enroute. I know 17th century Spanish assassins were not known for sensitivity (Captain Alatriste comes to mind) but for someone so in tune with his surroundings it was beyond credulous. That is a small complaint. The history and time lines seemed authentic. I learned a great deal about the Puebla Revolt and the author wrote in a way that took me back to Neuevo Mexico. The harshness and brutality of the age is well described and I was hard pressed to see any modern sensitivities or whitewashing. He sprinkled the text with Spanish jargon and that helped the feeling of time and place. I have not seen that this author wrote any other novels but I will be on the lookout. Apparently, he was one of the screen writers for the tv series Bonanza.