Of Time and Change: A Memoir

by Frank Waters

This, Frank Waters' last book, is a moving and powerful reminiscence of the Taos he knew and loved, and of the friends who peopled it, including Mabel Luhan, D.H. Lawrence and Dorothy Brett. Written in a style and voice that echo the past, this memoir rings with affection for a people and time lost to this world, and with the wisdom and otherworldliness of a man at the close of his life. A powerful reflection and a respectful reminiscence by one of the Southwest's best loved writers.

Paperback

First published October 1, 1998

About the author

Frank Waters was an American novelist, essayist, and cultural historian best known for his profound explorations of the American Southwest and Native American spirituality. Deeply influenced by his Cheyenne heritage and early experiences on the Navajo Reservation, Waters wove themes of indigenous identity, mysticism, and the clash between tradition and modernity into much of his work. His celebrated novel The Man Who Killed the Deer (1942) is considered a cornerstone of Southwestern literature, offering a powerful portrayal of a Pueblo man’s internal struggle with cultural dislocation. Over the decades, Waters produced an impressive body of work, including both fiction and non-fiction, such as Book of the Hopi, Mexico Mystique, and The Colorado, which blended mythology, history, and esoteric thought. A strong advocate for the arts, he held various editorial and academic positions and was honored with several awards. His legacy lives on through the Frank Waters Foundation, which supports writers and artists in the spirit of his creative vision.

Reviews

[Candorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Waters ended his writing career with a gem, an engaging collection of essays that provides highlights to his life in Taos and to him as a person written as only could have done. Sorry that this marvelous journey has now reached its conclusion. His writing in unparalleled. His body of work is worth revisiting again and again.

[David Iverson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating account of author's friendships with various artists from taos.

[Clifton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent accounts of Frank Waters's friendships with some of Taos's most famous residents, including Mabel Dodge Luhan and her husband, Tony Lujan, and the artists, Dorothy Brett, Nicolai Fechin, and Andrew Dasburg. Anyone who is interested in these people or in the author of "The Man Who Killed The Deer," "Masked Gods," and the "Book of the Hopi," will be interested in reading this book. I'm fortunate to have read it in Taos, where the spirit Waters writes about still lives.

[Rain Trueax · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read most of Frank Water's non-fiction and like this, his last one, probably the best as it's the story of the Taos he personally knew during a fascinating time in its history. Memoirs are among my favorite books and this is a high ranking one for me. Waters writes of the artistic members of the Taos community as well as the energy that made it what it was. His books of the Hopi are still the best there are for their spiritual traditions.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great reminiscence by Waters...well-written, well-themed, and interestingly revealing.