— Upcoming Release —
Pueblo Life in New Mexico,
selected writing from Mary Austin, Clifton Johnson, D. H. Lawrence, Charles Lummis, Charles Francis Saunders and Lilian Whiting
Publication date: August 25, 2026
ISBN: 979-8-950630-01-9
$13.95; Trade softcover; 144 pages; 5 x 8
about the book
Beginning in the last decade of the 19th century, artists and other creative types began to gravitate to the new United States territory that has become known as the American Southwest. Painters found their way to Taos in New Mexico and artist and writer communities developed there and in nearby Santa Fe as early visitors encouraged others to come and be inspired by the beautiful light, extraordinary landscape and native cultures.
Railroad expansion had made travel to the area easier by 1880, and tourism was heavily promoted. Harvey hotels sprang up at key train stops, offering a semblance of luxury to the intrepid traveler — and organized excursions to far-flung pueblos and other places of interest.
This is a collection of essays, articles and excerpts from the writings of a few of those early visitors — some who came to explore but left again and some who stayed and made a home in Northern New Mexico. Written between 1891 and 1927 each conveys an early impression of the people and places they encountered on their travels.
about the authors
Mary Hunter Austin (1868 –1934). Although often remembered as a nature writer, Mary Austin wrote prolifically on a variety of subjects and in a variety of genres including fiction, poetry, essays and drama, in addition nonfiction. After she graduated college, her family moved from Illinois to California where she immersed herself in the study of the natural history and indigenous peoples of the Mojave Desert, became involved in the fight for water in the Owens Valley, and then settled into Carmel’s artist colony. Austin first visited Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1918, and then moved there permanently in 1925, where she was active in the local arts and preservation community.
Clifton Johnson (1865-1940). A prolific writer, photographer and illustrator, Clifton Johnson wrote more than 125 books and countless articles during his long career. A self-described folklorist, he focused almost exclusively on the rural countryside and the inhabitants of small towns and farmlands in his many popular travel books. He was a friend of the naturalist John Burroughs and acquaintance of many of the authors and editors of his day.
D. H. Lawrence (1885-1930). The novelist, short story writer, poet, playwright, literary critic, travel writer, essayist and sometime painter traveled widely in a kind of self-imposed exile from his native England. He visited New Mexico three times between September 1922 and September 1925, initially at the invitation of Mabel Dodge Luhan, who hoped the itinerant writer would find inspiration in the area’s culture and landscape for a great novel. Lawrence’s ranch house still stands near Taos.
Charles F. Lummis (1859-1928). Charles Lummis was an American journalist, staunch advocate for Native American rights, and historic preservationist. He first visited New Mexico while walking from Cincinnati, Ohio to Los Angeles, California, to take a job with the Los Angeles Times. Despite the hardships of the trip and heavy snows in New Mexico, the Southwest caught his imagination and he later returned to live, first in San Mateo, New Mexico, and then on the Isleta Pueblo. While in New Mexico, he befriended the archeologist Adolf Bandelier.
Charles Francis Saunders (1859-1941). Born to Quaker parents in Pennsylvania, Charles Saunders moved to California in 1906 where he settled in Pasadena. A lifelong naturalist, he wrote numerous articles and books on plants and gardening, California history, travel, and the American Southwest. His collection of Native American pottery and crafts is now in the collection of the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles.
Lilian Whiting (1847-1942). Born in Upstate New York to a family that could trace its ancestry to the early 17th century in New England, Lilian Whiting grew up in Illinois where her father was a longtime member of the state assembly. After her mother’s death in 1875, she left home to launch her career as a journalist, editor, and author of poetry and short stories, eventually settling in Boston. Among her many published works is The Land of Enchantment. The book, published in 1906, documents her travels through the American Southwest; it inspired New Mexico’s nickname, and did much to promote rail travel and tourism in the region.
ordering
Pueblo Life in New Mexico will be available from your favorite bookseller on August 25th — you can ask them to pre-order a copy now.
When this title becomes available, you will also be able to order a copy at 15% off the cover price using a purchase link on this webpage — check back later in August for that.
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Orders to the trade are available through Ingram, with standard discounts extended.