The Great Taos Bank Robbery: And Other True Stories

by Tony Hillerman, James McGrath Morris (Foreword), Anne Hillerman (Introduction)

This classic collection of nonfiction essays about life in New Mexico by the great Tony Hillerman remains a must read for anyone looking to understand the state's unique charm. The vivid pieces in The Great Taos Bank Robbery paint an indelible portrait of life--with all its magnificent quirks and foibles--in the Land of Enchantment.

Celebrating fifty years since its original 1973 release, this anniversary edition offers a new introduction by noted Hillerman biographer James McGrath Morris and a foreword by Anne Hillerman, introducing a new generation of readers to the magic of Tony Hillerman and New Mexico.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Mystery, Short Stories, Humor, Essays, Westerns

152 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Tony Hillerman, who was born in Sacred Heart, Oklahoma, was a decorated combat veteran from World War II, serving as a mortarman in the 103rd Infantry Division and earning the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart. Later, he worked as a journalist from 1948 to 1962. Then he earned a Masters degree and taught journalism from 1966 to 1987 at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where he resided with his wife until his death in 2008. Hillerman, a consistently bestselling author, was ranked as New Mexico's 25th wealthiest man in 1996. - Wikipedia

Reviews

[Bill on GR Sabbatical · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this quirky anthology of magazine pieces from 50 or so years ago, my first book by Hillerman, to read during our recent first trip to Santa Fe and Taos, and it was a good match. Although not a comprehensive introduction to the state, the stories range from archaeologists excavating and trying to decipher sites associated with ancient Folsom Man, to deep dives into Navajo spirituality, to the centuries-long decline of rural Spanish settlements, to sobering reporting of the sporadic but ongoing appearance of deadly bubonic plague in the northern wilderness, to the hilarious account of a bank robbery that almost happened for which the book is named. It was a fun way to learn a little about both New Mexico and the late great mystery writer Hillerman.

[Lisa Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

1973 Birthday celebration title - I turned six years old and was living in Prairie Village Kansas. I knew nothing of the Land of Enchantment and how I would move to New Mexico and grow to love the desert and the architecture, the food, people and miles of skies and red rock. I loved the title and cover font of this slim book filled with short stories. (The cover of the copy I read and loved is not pictured on goodreads, but it is on my facebook post). I haven't read much Hillerman but enjoyed the topics all around New Mexico, its history and current day (1973) stories. The beauty of the mountains and skies is covered as is its people. Some funny characters emerge which remind us how different this state is of ours. Yes, bubonic plague still hits us and Tom's practice sees it almost every year. Crazy and endearing New Mexicans are still among us and old (the oldest is adobe) churches are here too. I love New Mexico!

[David Crow · Rating 5 out of 5]

f you are going to read only one book about native Americans, their origins, there myths and legends, then I feel sorry for you. Every book Tony and Anne have written are masterpieces on the complex nature of Indians in the United States. Here's another bonus. There is equal parts wit and wisdom and fun. This highly readable book is a series of stories Tony Hillerman wrote throughout his incredible life. Don't miss this pithy little book, it is a true gem.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read and enjoyed several of Hillerman's Navajo tribal police novels and was expecting this to be a story collection. It turned out to be essays, told in a novelistic style. Featured front and center, is New Mexico. The state's past, including prehistoric times, along with the battles of Native Americans and the Mexican people and more modern times, with poverty and corruption, that have plagued Hillerman's adopted state. Hillerman was a newspaper man for many years and these stories have that journalistic feel. The writing isn't as polished as his later Leaphorn and Chee novels but there are plenty of passages to sink your teeth into:

“It is November of a year of almost unbroken drought. The air smells of autumn, pine resin, dust, and empty places. The only living things in sight are a sparrow hawk and a disconsolate Hereford. The hawk is scouting the rim of the red mesa for incautious rodents. The cow resting its search for something to eat, is staring moodily in the direction of Gallup.”

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This took me almost 10 years to finish. That should tell you something, both good and bad.
According to the faded receipt I had used as a bookmark for most of a decade, I purchased this book on a very short trip I took to Huntington Beach for an interview in April of 2006. I finished it today, in November 2015. I had read almost four of the 8 short stories in the book back when. The bookmark receipt was stuck in, one page from the end of the fourth story. A gripping tale, indeed.

I returned to the book this weekend, skipping over the last, apparently unreadable, page of the fourth story and became engrossed the fifth story, about Folsom man, stone spear tips, and archaeological evidence for early man in the US.

I finished the last 4 stories, but the ones about bone and stone tool discoveries were the only ones to really capture my interest. Apparently I was looking for a different kind of book in California in 2006.

[Adam Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've waxed poetic on multiple occasions about New Mexico, the state that's become my second home-away-from-home. It's a state of contrasts, and beauty, and history. It's also a state of oddballs, and weirdos, and strange happenings. Tony Hillerman, the author of the Joe Leaphorn mystery series, was an adopted son of the Land of Enchantment, and if you've never been to the 47th state, this is a pretty good introduction to how things work.

In this collection of essays and story-style jokes, Hillerman breaks down some of the more interesting things to happen in the place's history, both before and after Nuevo Mexico joined the union in 1912. He writes about the greatest bank robbery that never happened; the history of the Diné (Navajo) in the state; the bubonic plague in the high country; how a researcher from Africa grew to love Santa Fe; the search for the legendary "Folsom Man," a race of ice age hunters; the disappearing act of the village of Las Trampas; how a black rancher and a Hungarian historian fought over finds related to Folsom Man; the brutality and stupidity of swindled land grants across the state and how they still control much of the land; and finally, the craziness and oddity of New Mexican politics.

I love New Mexico, in ways I have never loved my home state or other states I've lived in. Hillerman paints a picture of just how weird, strange, funny, and charming, even enchanting, the Land of Entrapment can be, and how it's almost impossible to leave it behind, even if you've only seen it once. This is as much an introduction to real New Mexico as it is a love letter to the place Hillerman called home after he left his home state of Oklahoma and moved west.

[Marvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, despite what many of the reviewers state below, this is NOT a short story collection. It is a collection of essays about life in New Mexico. Several of these essays appeared in the New Mexico magazine. They are a bit old fashioned in style but, even in his novels, Hillerman was a bit old fashioned. Of course, Hillerman is best known for his Navajo mysteries featuring Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn. Yet these essays show that Hillerman could have easily been a major chronicler of the Southwest, the equal, if not as outrageous, of Edward Abbey. But it was not to be. So we have this worthwhile handful of non-fiction articles to season the pleasures of his fiction.

[dead letter office · Rating 4 out of 5]

i think i've mentioned before here that i'll read anything about new mexico. my favorite story from this book was called The Indian Who Had So Many Friends He Couldn't Get No Damn Wire Strung or something to that effect. i have to admit i like tony hillerman. i only read this collection and one of his jim chee mysteries, but i'd read more gladly.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hillerman's short stories and musings reinforce his love of New Mexico and it's people. Most of the stories were interesting and worth reading. One story did not age well, however, as an individual was referred to as "N-word" Joe. There was no reason for it and it did not belong in that story. I suppose that is a real indicator that this collection of stories is 50 years old.

[Chrisl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would like to re-read. Is it available in large print?

[Melva Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a few things about my state.

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not much to it. The book consisted of short essays. The interesting chapter was related to archaeology and the discoveries about the Folsom culture.

[Jeff Tankersley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tough to put a genre on but perhaps a worthwhile addition to your nonfictions or westerns collections, "The Great Taos Bank Robbery and Other Indian Country Affairs" (1973) is a nine-story (plus eight mini-stories) volume of real-life events and histories specific to Navajo country, Southwest US, New Mexico as told by legendary mystery storyteller Tony Hillerman.

These tales take on a quaint and respectful travelogue style memoirish dialogue, the relation of facts of each of these essays, some covering humorous oddities, anthropological disputes, historical events, and cultural backgrounds.

Verdict: An okay selection of narratives that pass the time and shed light on a unique region, but otherwise an inessential collection. Hillerman's fiction tales are much better and cover the same region and characters with more immersive flourish and understanding.

Jeff's Rating: 2 / 5 (Okay)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG

[Karen GoatKeeper · Rating 4 out of 5]

These short nonfiction pieces, although some may sound like fiction and one like a political nightmare, are beautifully written and enjoyable to read. The range of topics is broad.
First is a bank robbery that never happened, or did it? Another is how Americans displaced the Mexicans from their land. Then there is the politician slated to lose until some strange things happen to the slate of people running for office.
The book is easy reading. Some make you laugh. Others make you disgusted. Others make you want to take a vacation to see the beautiful places. It is a good read.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these short stories. I have always loved Tony Hillerman's mysteries, but he is also very good at sharing obviously well-researched stories about historical events in New Mexico and throughout the Southwest. The title is misleading. The bank robbery is just one of the stories in this book. There's also stories involving the Bubonic plague, the Folsom man, and political shenanigans in New Mexico. Each story stands on its own and is fascinating and told in a captivating manner. You can pick it at anytime for a quick read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who would like to delve deeper into the rich history of New Mexico and beyond.

[Sep · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful collection of essays by the late Tony Hillerman about New Mexico. Some are funny. Some are sad but all teach a hidden truth about that great state. Fans of Chee and Leaphorn might enjoy another side of the mystery writer.

[Kim Savage · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
Interesting historical tidbits of New Mexico. I didn’t enjoy the writing style, but there were several stories in this compilation that were somewhat fascinating.

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tony Hillerman is well-known as the author of the Leaphorn and Chee mystery novels centered upon the Navajo Tribal police, but fewer people are aware that he worked as a journalist for many years and also became a highly regarded journalism professor at the University of New Mexico.

First and foremost, this is NOT a collection of fiction stories and certainly not related to his Leaphorn and Chee novels. This collection of nine essays examines unique aspects of New Mexico culture and history, written when the author was around 40 years old and a graduate student at UNM. They are written in a style like you would find in a glossy magazine, not short bulleted facts like a newspaper article. The titular story is comedic, one of those “fact is stranger than fiction” vignettes and truly a hoot to read. The rest display more of a journalistic style and cover such topics as the first discovery of ancient “Folsom Man”, the history of tracking bubonic plague, and how a black cowboy proved a distinguished archeological expert wrong concerning early humans in America.

While all the essays are nonfiction, Tony Hillerman’s story-telling technique is on full display and kept me fully engaged even on subjects I didn’t think I was interested in. Even the final essay about local small-town corrupt politics. It’s a fairly thin volume and definitely worth the time for those interested in real people and real lives amidst a harsh, unforgiving environment.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty good short cuentitos with lots of history and “place”. Between a four and a five. It is Christmas so went for the five.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gave me a colorful, marvelously described, view of the culture of New Mexico.

[Bradhernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collection of short stories by Hillerman. Perfect for traveling.

[Teri Reck · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful bunch of stories by Tony Hillerman about the New Mexico that he adopted as his home. I knew his writing from his wonderful murder mysteries set in NM, but I knew absolutely nothing else about him. While Bri and I were doing some more exploration in NM, which we also love, we enjoyed seeing Capulin Volcano and spending a few days in Clayton. At the Volcano gift shop, I saw this book, recognized the author's name, and brought it home. It's an endearing look at all things New Mexico in a number of his true accounts, written with humor, and really, a sort of reverence for an amazing place and peoples. A great read!

[Peter Tillman · Rating 3 out of 5]

2023 reread notes:
Reread after 20 years or so. This collection of essays on New Mexico's Indian country was first published in 1973, but many of the events reported are from much earlier, back to the 1930s or before. Some have aged better than others. I rated the book at 4 stars from memory, and I'm dropping the rating to 3 stars after my reread. The title essay is still priceless and a true Taos classic. Some of the others are first rate, others almost unreadable now -- such as the concluding essay on local Santa Fe politics, which I'm sorry I spent the time to reread. Hillerman is one of my favorite writers and storytellers, but these essays are, well, variable in their present value. I recommend that you check it out from the library for browsing. I'd be surprised if you don't enjoy the title essay, and I imagine you will find more worth your while. It's a slender book.

[skw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book years ago. Many of these stories have stuck with me all these years. There are a couple (the title story, the one about escaping from the Taos jail) that still make me laugh out loud when I think about them. They read like fiction, but the blurb for the latest edition says they're all true. I believe that because I know truth can be stranger than fiction.

Here's the bottom line: I don't care what your favorite genre is. You need to read this book.

[Ernest Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book to read while vacationing in New Mexico. Also a valuable education about Aztlán.

[Kerry Pickens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short book is a collection of articles written by Tony Hillerman, the New Mexican mystery writer. If you are not familiar with his series, the TV show Dark Wind is based on his writing. The first story in the collection about a bank robbery is the small community of Taos reminds me a lot of Garrison Keillor’s sense of humor. The main running joke is when anything happens in Taos, the police hear about it last. The book was written in 1974 and covers some events that are no longer remembered in local history. The one that caught my interest was a story about an out break of bubonic plague in New Mexico that was carried by prairie dogs and transmitted by flea bites from being in contact with the rodents. In Santa Fe where I live there are prairie dogs along St Francis Dr, and according to this story they were in Ashbrough Park during this time which is right near my home.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read ANY of Tony Hillerman's novels. I am not sure why. I love the Southwest, New Mexico in particular, and this is my first Hillerman - a collection of essays he wrote in his younger years. They are good. Very good. I was thrilled to see Vero Beach, Florida mentioned, which is where I have been living for the last 23 years, and am familiar to the subject referenced. However, I am less than thrilled with the amount of errata thanks to the publisher. What a sad state of affairs to NOT have anyone proofreading anymore! Yikes. This collection was published in 1973 - the year I graduated from high school - by the University of New Mexico Press. Now I want to seek out and read his other non-fiction publications, and maybe a novel or two.

[Roo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This slim read has been on my nightstand for several years! I finally decided to get back to it in December. I have to say that the title had put me off since I'm not a fan of westerns. But as I read more of the stories that Hillerman tells, I discovered that he covers not only the "old west" but archeological finds that go back 10's of thousands of years. There are political stories, folktales and how they are remembered by old timers, and stories about the Bubonic plague. All told in different ways, but each contributing to an understanding of New Mexico.
It can even be used as a guide book, as he describes landmarks and highways.
I have dogeared pages and will bring it with me on trips to that wonderful state.

[Marilyn Fontane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Great Taos Bank Robbery and other True Stories of the Southwest by Tony Hillerman is a collection of nine major and eight very short essays about New Mexico by the Leaphorn Chee novelist. Some read like short stories, and others are revelations of history, such as how Americans cheated the Spanish people living for centuries in the area out of their lands. There is a lot to learn from this book on topics ranging from the presence of Black Death still remaining in the area to the discoveries of Folsom Man and other early humans who first inhabited these beautiful, nearly inhospitable places.
I generally prefer fiction, but I really enjoyed the articles in this book.

[Laura Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that I hadn't heard about before, when I read a recommendation for it on a blog, I looked for it and found it through ABEbooks, then bought it. It's a collection of essays that Tony Hillerman, the late,great mystery writer, wrote in the 60's about life, history and politics of New Mexico. NOT a dry book about a desert state. He wrote so clearly and so beautifully, at times with sardonic humor. , often with sympathy for those who are caught by the greed and avarice of other more powerful people. The title story about the bank robbery itself is worth the trouble to find this book. It's 50 years old and relevant today. Evocative and provocative, wonderful book.