Taos: Landmarks & Legends [Paperback]

William H. Hemp (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2002

With dramatic pen and ink drawings and lively descriptive narrative, artist-writer Bill Hemp illuminates Taos' colourful landmarks and legends. From the verdant valley of the Taos-Tiwa cultures and their centuries old Pueblo, to the sky-lighted studios of Anglo artists Joseph Sharp and others, Hemp's pen captures the magical quality of this town that has been home to native peoples, Spanish explorers, writers, artists, and many others. His cast of colourful characters includes the magnetic Mabel Dodge Luhan, the mysterious Arthur Manby and the gregarious gambler and transport tycoon 'Long' John Dunn. All taken together, Hemp's illustrated work creates a marvellous mosaic that comprises the landmarks and legends of Taos, New Mexico.

Product Details

• Paperback: 134 pages
• Publisher: University Press of Colorado; illustrated edition edition (February 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870815636
• ISBN-13: 978-0870815638
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #365,605 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #45 in Books > Arts & Photography > Drawing > Pen & Ink

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Definitive book on Taos, February 28, 2001

By 

Pam Hanna "wind star" (Thoreau, New Mexico United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Taos Landmarks and Legends (Paperback)

For anyone who is an expatriate Taoseno (as I am) or for those who are just interested in this fascinating little town, Bill Hemp has written and beautifully illustrated a coffee-table-type book that one can read all the way through without getting bored and return to often to enjoy the sketches and re-read specific chapters.

In it, you will find the history of the three cultures (Indian, Spanish and Anglo) that put Taos, New Mexico on the map as a place like no other place in the world. The ancient Anasazi settled around Taos in 1000 A.D. and Taos Pueblo (dating from about 1350) is the oldest continually occupied pueblo in the Southwest. When the Spanish arrived in 1540, they set their seal on the ancient community, building churches and missions and farming the land. Then Mabel Dodge Luhan "discovered" this magical place (it is said that Taos Mountain draws people) and an influx of Anglo artists and writers began, among them D.H. Lawrence, Andrew Dasburg, Georgia O'Keeffe, Ernest Blumenschein, Micolai Fechin...the list is too long to mention all of them here. Later, R.C. Gorman, John Nichols, Natalie Goldberg and many others who have achieved fame in the outside world made their home in Taos (which means, "place of the red willow").

Chapters are devoted to Kit Carson, Padre Martinez, the Penitentes, the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge and even the influx of hippies with a chapter on the New Buffalo commune in Arroyo Hondo north of Taos. There are maps, portraits, landscapes, architecture, quotes, reminiscences, stories of ghosts, little-known facts and even recipes (one for green chile stew) in this rich, very readable and delightful work. I found no inaccuracies but did find a great deal of information that I hadn't known about before. Highly recommended.

[e-mail]

5.0 out of 5 stars great Taos tour guide, April 28, 2009

By 

J. Morton "Taos Traveler" (Fort Collins, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Taos: Landmarks & Legends (Paperback)

We took this book to Taos and read through it together every night by the kiva fireplace of the casita we were staying at...the stories were so well-written, so colorful, and full of so many bits of historical antedotes from 500+ years of Taos life, that we were just completely swept away! It was the perfect companion to a first trip to Taos, and it really gave meaning to the things we saw and the experiences we had. The sketches are folksy and well-done. This book is HIGHLY recommended!! The only tour book (that isn't a tour book) you'll need.

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of info......, January 14, 2007

By 

Isis Turquoise (OKC, OK USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Taos: Landmarks & Legends (Paperback)

Very cool book. One of my favorite NM books. And I have alot.