I, Joaquin

by Melvin Litton

Before Jesse James or Billy the Kid, there was Joaquín Murrieta—lover, bandit, revolutionary. On July 25, 1853, a troop of California Rangers killed and beheaded the young bandit. It was believed his army numbered in the hundreds and that he planned to sweep the country south to Sonora. Thinking the matter ended, the Rangers preserved his head in a bucket of whiskey and rode to Sacramento to collect their reward. Yet with his death his fame only grew, along with rumors of his ghost in haunt of the Rangers. At once a breath and echo of the legend, a soul’s jornada, I, Joaquín reveals the bandit’s voice, his reflections on his life and death, his love and vengeance, and the lone purgatory from which he speaks. Listen as he tells of his birth in a small village along the Magdalena. Of his youthful quest for mustangs through the Sierra Madres, of his love for Rosita and the horrid day that sets him on the path to war. Listen as he confesses his murders and mistresses, his head encased in a jar of aguardiente de cabeza, his voice present therein. Listen...for Joaquín has a tale. “In a style as plain as an old man’s memory and with a young man’s brimming heart, Melvin Litton takes us to the landscape of the soul where history and myth meet”—Richard Rodriguez, author of The Last Discovery of America "Full of adventure, history, and passion, this tale delivers an exciting ride through the Gold Rush with a singular hero." – Kirkus Review

318 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2002

About the author

Melvin Litton’s latest work, The Kansas Murder Trilogy, presents three novels of shared theme but separate time and character: King Harvest (1); Banks of the River (2); and Skin for Skin (3) – all published by Crossroad Press. He has three previous novels (also from Crossroad): Caspion & the White Buffalo; Geminga; and I Joaquin. His stories and poems have appeared in Chiron Review, Pif, Mobius, Foliate Oak, Floyd County Moonshine, Broadkill Review, and The Literary Hatchet among others. He has two books of poetry: From the Bone (Spartan Press), and Idylls of Being (Stubborn Mule); and a collection of short stories, Son of Eve (Spartan). He is a retired carpenter and lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with his wife Debra and their shepherd Jack. Formerly captain of the Border Band, he now performs as The Gothic Cowboy with Mando Dan: www.borderband.com

Reviews

[LyndaVee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was first attracted to this story as it is based on historical fact and I am a history buff. However, history is only a part of this fabulous tale and it far surpassed my expectations. The story of the infamous (if you are American) or famous (if you are Mexican) bandit/revolutionary, Joaquin Murrieta, is told by his severed head as it resides in a bowl of aguardiente. This is true fact – the head was lost during the San Francisco earthquake some fifty years after his death, having been hawked around as a gruesome exhibit for many years.

Joaquin’s voice rings with conviction and a young man’s passion, as he retells the story of his life and reveals the brutal acts against him, which led to his acts of vengeance on the ‘gringos’ who had set themselves against him and against his countrymen. He was obviously a charismatic leader and drew an army to him as he planned to sweep California, stealing all his enemies’ horses as he went. This is an exceptionally well-written book - almost a poem - and I loved the lyrical language. I would defy anyone to read this story and not be firmly rooting for Joaquin and his cause. Knowing of his brutal death right from the beginning somehow adds to the suspense, and you feel that you are with Joaquin in his watery purgatory as he tells his compelling tale. By the end you are longing for him to have a final resting place and a peaceful end.

[Pegboard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I, Joaquin, by Melvin Litton starts out discussing the rangers who are hunting Joaquin down as a bandit. The bounty has risen and the notaries outlaw is overconfident. They close in on him and commit his severed head to a bucket of alcohol to preserve it. As they travel from place to place proclaiming his death, Joaquin tells his story.
Joaquin tells of his birth and the life he lives with his mother and stepdad. He tells of the little girl he loves and promises to protect her. He tells of the battle of training his horse. His marriage to Rosita, his childhood friend and sweetheart, and how miners shamed her. Joaquin tells of how his stepbrother gets hung for being a horse thief. This is the beginning of his revenge on the lawless men who thought they could just inflict their own laws on minorities without justice.

[Alan Wynzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

In I, Joaquin, Melvin Litton delivers a literary mix of human drama, history, passion, adventure, and action. Narrated by the spirit of Joaquin Murrieta--extant in his decapitated head--this epic tale is the life story of the bandit/hero as he roamed 1850s California, playing a dramatic and violent role in the history of the time and place. Mr. Litton masterfully blends universal themes of passion, folly, lust, and vengeance with an authentic portrayal of a time and place itself undergoing dramatic change. Joaquin is a product of history; at the same time, he makes history. A rich, literary work of great depth, I, Joaquin, just like the head of Joaquin, speaks: passionately, forcefully, angrily; and ultimately, with great wisdom.