New Mexico: An Interpretive History

by Marc Simmons

For all who love New Mexico, and for those who aspire to know the state, this book is a graceful and compelling summary of what has made the Land of Enchantment its distinctive self. Originally published in 1977 to commemorate the bicentennial of American Independence, New Mexico is now available for the first time in a quality paperback edition with a new introduction by the author. In writing this book, Marc Simmons sets out to arrive at an understanding of the state's character. His is an interpretive, sensitive, individual--even personal--account. He shows that across the centuries the collision and mingling of cultures dominates New Mexico's history. Out of this complex interplay of human and natural forces he selects his examples of Pueblo life ways, Spanish domination, and Anglo control to make immediate and memorable the state's rich history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Travel

221 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Joseph DeBrine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun read! I was skeptical at first but it doesn’t claim to be comprehensive. Love NM it’s obviously the best

[Madi · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Each generation of Americans, it seemed, had to learn anew what the Spaniards had discovered long before: in New Mexico, men could not recreate a life and society they had known elsewhere. Here, the wide and strange land shaped and reshaped human institutions to its own purposes, and one either learned to live with the blazing sun, scarcity of water, the dust and interminable distances, and the whispering quiet of empty canyons and mesas, or he admitted failure and moved elsewhere."

[Eric Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, but Terrific

I started this book while staying at a bed and breakfast, picked it up at random off a shelf, then couldn’t put it down.

In 200 pages or so the author paints the history of New Mexico in vivid strokes, with hardly a word wasted. New Mexico boils with strange ingredients and produces lasting rivulets of history. Written for a long-forgotten series celebrating 1776, one book per state, this volume lived to be reprinted and remains in print over 50 years later.

Recommended, if you want to understand the strange state of New Mexico. Recommended too if you enjoy well written narrative history. Recommended, in general. I would give it five stars if it were longer.

[David Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I likes this book, as did my Men's Book Group. Some people write off this book as a piece celebrating colonialism. I thought that the selection of the stories was representative, even to the point of the eclectic ones at the end. A very brief but interesting story of the state that I love!

[Brennan Barnhill · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far, it's quite good. Not too vague/summarized but not so in-depth that it's unapproachable.

It's a good book to read if you live in New Mexico but weren't raised here/taught NM history in school.

It's a semi-dated book but still pretty relevant. It talks about centuries-old tensions/conflicts that you can still kind of see the remnants of today. It's also interesting to learn about how New Mexico was, especially Northern NM before the West Coast hippie/new age stuff tainted it.

I find it interesting how New Mexicans even hundreds of years ago were kind of detached from the rest of the US/world and a bit anti-outsider. Some of that still exists, so at least it puts it into context.

[David Crow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marc Simmons writes short but powerful books about New Mexico. They are meticulously researched, superbly written, and highly entertaining. As a lover of history and New Mexico, his books are must reads. I plan to read all of them. He cuts out all of the fat and gives the reader the lean, and does it better than anyone. I am a huge fan.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very accessible and informative popular level overview of the history of New Mexico from the Spanish colonial era, the brief Mexican period, to later American territorial and statehood times. I was familiar with most of the colonial era, but I found the sections on the territorial period to be very enlightening.

[Leamnia clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about the history new Mexico and old
Leagend and the history of new Mexico and I love learning about old things history

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, readable, introduction to New Mexico history, with an emphasis on the societal issues of each era and how they affect the region's culture today.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

well written. great overview. I'm not an expert so I can't attest to its accuracy.