What do you think?
Rate this book
Hillerman Country: A Journey Through the Southwest With Tony Hillerman
Portrays Navajo country in the Arizona desert and describes the customs and culture of the native peoples
240 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1991
7 people are currently reading
615 people want to read
About the author
Tony Hillerman
221 books1,862 followersTony 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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 5, 2013
Any fan of Tony Hillerman should own (or at least read) this book.... especially those that have not visited the South West. He takes you through the Dineh & Turquoise mountain, Chaco Canyon, Canyon del Chelly, the San Juan & the high country with memories, tales and his brother's great photos.
One of his fond ironies is about the immense slab of sandstone that split off the cliff of Chaco Mesa and crushed the back wall of the ruin. The 100' tall 30,000 ton rock had been leaning since the 11th century with supports by the Bonitians. But the U.S. Park Service called in the modern engineers, they disapproved of the Anasazi preservation methods and removed the debris filling the slot between the slab & cliff... and then it fell.
One of his fond ironies is about the immense slab of sandstone that split off the cliff of Chaco Mesa and crushed the back wall of the ruin. The 100' tall 30,000 ton rock had been leaning since the 11th century with supports by the Bonitians. But the U.S. Park Service called in the modern engineers, they disapproved of the Anasazi preservation methods and removed the debris filling the slot between the slab & cliff... and then it fell.
December 28, 2008
A book for anyone who loves the Southwest. Hillerman knows that country as well as anyone and shares his insights alongside some stunning images of the the Land of Enchantment.
November 20, 2020
For readers of Tony Hillerman's mysteries, this book is a must as it takes you into Navajo country. The author's brother is a fantastic photographer. The photographs are magnificent yet can not truly convey the sense of awesome immensity of this country. The author's commentary is easy reading, informative and so relaxed in tone.
Important for the mystery readers is the two page spread of a map of Navajo country.
Even if you don't read the mysteries, this book is worth reading for itself.
Important for the mystery readers is the two page spread of a map of Navajo country.
Even if you don't read the mysteries, this book is worth reading for itself.
May 8, 2015
Beautiful scenery made more compelling by Hillerman's real life stories. A must see for Hillerman fans.
September 13, 2022
Hillerman Country with words by Tony Hillerman and pictures by Barney Hillerman (Tony's brother) is a coffee-table book and an excellent companion to Hillerman's novels. The photography is interesting to anyone who has read Hillerman's novels whether or not they have traveled in the Navaho area of four corners. In addition to the visual pictures, you have Tony's own verbal descriptions of the area. There are descriptive passages from the early novels themselves (the book was published in 1991, and thus no comments from later books) as well as a commentary on the country by Tony telling how places he loved caused him to create a novel to fit it or modify a plot he had in mind in light of the physical setting he had chosen. It is a fun, quick read, and the photography can be reviewed over and over. There is also a nice map to locate locations of all the books.
November 11, 2021
This is a great book for fans of Tony Hillerman's Leaphorn & Chee series, so I enjoyed my journey through Hillerman Country. The photos are awesome too. I've visited some of the places mentioned, but want to visit them all.
August 1, 2017
Beautiful book. I only looked at the pictures so far.
October 14, 2017
Encourage every Tony Hillerman reader to get and leaf through this extraordinary photography journal.
March 12, 2018
Beautiful photographs, lovely narrative, full of history of time and place and the author's connection to it all.
March 19, 2025
A beautiful love letter to the land and the people of the southwest.
September 30, 2023
“Behind him above the dark red sandstone wall of the mesa…”
“…a skyscape of feathery cirrus clouds stretched southward toward Mexico. To the west over the Painted Desert, they were flushed with the afterglow of sunset” From ‘Dance Hall of the Dead”
At a book signing in Ft. Worth to benefit a homeless shelter, Tony Hillerman expressed how much fun it was to make this book with his brother Barney.
This book contains 200 spectacular pictures from all over Hillerman country. Many pages are pictures only with the caption on the page prior to or after. The text among the pictures is a combination of history and exerts from Hillerman novels. Now when you read the novels these pictures will come to mind.
Reading this book and looking at the pictures will make you homesick even if you have never been there.
“…a skyscape of feathery cirrus clouds stretched southward toward Mexico. To the west over the Painted Desert, they were flushed with the afterglow of sunset” From ‘Dance Hall of the Dead”
At a book signing in Ft. Worth to benefit a homeless shelter, Tony Hillerman expressed how much fun it was to make this book with his brother Barney.
This book contains 200 spectacular pictures from all over Hillerman country. Many pages are pictures only with the caption on the page prior to or after. The text among the pictures is a combination of history and exerts from Hillerman novels. Now when you read the novels these pictures will come to mind.
Reading this book and looking at the pictures will make you homesick even if you have never been there.
October 13, 2023
“Behind him above the dark red sandstone wall of the mesa…”
“…a skyscape of feathery cirrus clouds stretched southward toward Mexico. To the west over the Painted Desert, they were flushed with the afterglow of sunset” From ‘Dance Hall of the Dead”
At a book signing in Ft. Worth to benefit a homeless shelter, Tony Hillerman expressed how much fun it was to make this book with his brother Barney.
This book contains 200 spectacular pictures from all over Hillerman country. Many pages are pictures only with the caption on the page prior to or after. The text among the pictures is a combination of history and excerpts from Hillerman novels. Now when you read the novels these pictures will come to mind.
Reading this book and looking at the pictures will make you homesick even if you have never been there.
“…a skyscape of feathery cirrus clouds stretched southward toward Mexico. To the west over the Painted Desert, they were flushed with the afterglow of sunset” From ‘Dance Hall of the Dead”
At a book signing in Ft. Worth to benefit a homeless shelter, Tony Hillerman expressed how much fun it was to make this book with his brother Barney.
This book contains 200 spectacular pictures from all over Hillerman country. Many pages are pictures only with the caption on the page prior to or after. The text among the pictures is a combination of history and excerpts from Hillerman novels. Now when you read the novels these pictures will come to mind.
Reading this book and looking at the pictures will make you homesick even if you have never been there.
July 11, 2016
Read over 2 3-week periods, this is a compilation of photographs of scenes of Navajo, Ute and Hopi lands referred to in Tony Hillerman's books, but of other rivers, washes, mountains, and land that comprise the Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado lands of the Indian Nations. It is another example of how Hillerman, when he was alive, expressed his deep and abiding respect and love for the First Peoples. His brother was the photograph.
October 23, 2012
This is a beautiful book, wonderful photography taken by Tony's brother, Barney. This book will take to you the the places Joe Leaphorn & Jim Chee grew up and served as tribal policemen. It is out of print, but I was able to obtain a good condition used copy. I pick it when ever I need to take a vacation to the Southwest.
December 24, 2008
Beautiful, coffee-table style photography book that brings Hillerman's Navajo Rez mysteries to life. Of course, if you've lived in that region as I have, it'll make you homesick for the high desert of the Colorado Plateau.
September 12, 2016
I really enjoyed the material in this book, and especially a look into Hilerman's life and the way he wrote about the amazing beauty. I could feel and see the beauty and love of the land in his words.
September 13, 2010
Wonderful pictures - it is great to see the land that Hillerman talks about.
August 20, 2014
This is a gorgeous book. Wish I had had it when I first started the Hillerman series.
January 18, 2016
Beautiful Photos. Illustrated a lot of places in his novels.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews