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Land of Enchantment, Land of Conflict New Mexico in English-Language Fiction by David L. Caffey "Caffey incorporates a wealth of examples in his analysis and weaves the discussion through time, theme, genre, legend, and culture with grace. This comprehensive analysis is an important addition to academic collections and public library collections that focus on the literature of place."—Library Journal "Recognized as one of Choice Magazine's Outstanding Academic Titles." |
Is New Mexico truly the "Land of Enchantment," or is it a land of acrimony, where opposing values, backgrounds, and political and economic interests give rise to an atmosphere of conflict? According to David L. Caffey, both qualities contribute to the region's appeal as a source of raw material for works of fiction. New Mexico offers the writer a varied landscape, a mosaic of cultures, and a colorful history. Conflict, necessary for fiction, is found in cultural differences, opposing views on land and water use, and values concerning individual freedom and social restraint. The result is a remarkable body of literature that offers much to readers wanting to learn more about the land and people of New Mexico.
In Land of Enchantment, Land of Conflict, Caffey identifies patterns in the observations of fiction writers concerning relations among cultural groups, attitudes toward the law, the erosion of individual freedom, and the social effects of weather and climate. He explores historical and literary portrayals of famous New Mexicans and examines various myths concerning the frontier West. He considers fiction of the atomic age and works by contemporary New Mexico writers as well.
The fiction writer operates under assumptions and allegiances that are frequently at odds with those of the historian, social scientist, or journalist. Works of fiction offer a unique perspective on a time and place and reveal much about the process of mythmaking. Explore New Mexico with Caffey in Land of Enchantment, Land of Conflict.
DAVID L. CAFFEY, dean of institutional effectiveness at Clovis Community College, Clovis, New Mexico, is the author of two books and editor of a collection of the Southwestern stories of Oliver La Farge. He has contributed articles on New Mexican literature to journals and to the Encyclopedia of the American West.
Number Eleven: Tarleton State University Southwestern Studies in the Humanities
Land of Enchantment, Land of Conflict
ISBN 0-89096-891-8
$29.95s
LC 98-55985. 6 1/8x9 1/4. 256 pp.
40 b&w photos. Bib. Index.
Literature & Literary Topics. Multicultural Topics.
Publication Date: September 1999.
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