Blood on the Boulders

John L. Kessell, a professor emeritus of history at the University of New Mexico, is the author or editor of many books, including Remote Beyond Compare: Letters of don Diego de Vargas to His Family from New Spain to New Mexico, 1675a 1706 (UNM Press). RickHendricksservedastheNewMexicoStateHistorianfrom2010through2019.HisbooksincludeTheWitchesofAbiquiu: TheGovernor, thePriest, theGenizaroIndians, andtheDevil;TheNavajosin1705: RoqueMadrid'sCampaignJournal;FourSquareLeagues: PuebloIndianLandinNewMexico;andPuebloSovereignty: IndianLandandWaterinNewMexicoandTexas. Meredith D. Dodge, an independent historian, has devoted nearly two decades compiling, translating, and editing the Vargas papers along with John Kessell, Rick Hendricks, and Larry D. Miller.

. . . the editorial work is superb . . . "Blood on the Boulders" is a rich-read as well as an important research tool. The Vargas books are spectacular . . . They should be collected at once, for copies probably will not be available long. The Vargas journals are pleasing on a number of levels. . . . this accessible work will inform future public policy debate in the Southwest and beyond. "The Vargas books are spectacular . . . They should be collected at once, for copies probably will not be available long."