The Pueblo Revolt : The Secret Rebellion That Drove the Spaniards Out of the Southwest

Rating:
Summary: Easy Read
Review: This book is an easily digested read. It is absorbing and you never get lost in a mountain of dry facts. For anyone interested in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, this book will provide plenty of information while remaining interesting to both the amatuer historian or the Southwest expert.

The only problem I had with the book was Roberts' description of Pueblo religion. As a Pueblo indian myself, I found his analysis somewhat off-mark. The use of the title "Kachina Cult" to describe Pueblo religion is somewhat offensive and doesn't account for all of the aspects of Pueblo religion.

Rating:
Summary: Not a "revolting" read
Review: This book is of particular value considering the western Spanish borderlands, having its focus pretty much on the revolt, its causes and aftermath. While other books may enfold a summary mention of this revolt, David Roberts' focus is entirely on events leading up to the revolt, and events unfolding 12 years after the revolt. The writing style is easy and enjoyable, though the facts can tend to be "dry," through no fault of his. I don't mean dry in the sense of boring, but only that dates and figures from several hundred years back, in an area prior to statehood, may not be of interest to every reader. I have several of Mr. Roberts' books on my shelf, and am biased as to my enjoyment and knowledge derived from them. His subject matter is made more difficult due to missing documents, and/or ethnologist/archaeologist/historian disagreements and even the Pueblo people themselves. His attempt, for example, to discuss religion in association with these wonderful people and their culture can be limited by their lack of desire to educate non-Pueblo people. And with good reason, if for none other than Spanish churches being built directly on top of the kivas! Not wishing to be too emotional about this, from the little I've read, these people were quite clearly taken advantage of. So their reluctance, yet today, is readily understood. The trust factor of a once welcoming, generous people, has been lost. And down through the centuries since, it has not been re-established. My background in anthropology is more with the northern plains, and later times. But my interest in all peoples of the plains from pre-history through Wounded Knee caused me to pick up this volume. And I was richly rewarded with knowledge I did not expect. While I don't find the last book about this I purchased (The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 by Andrew L. Knaut) as dry as Mr. Roberts alludes, I can see that this book is not for everyone. If, however, you have any interest in these marvelous people and their long history from the Anasazi of 1250 and through this travail of 1860, brought to them through the Spanish conquistodores, this book may be for you. You will enjoy it, and you will not be disappointed.