RELUCTANT DAWN

It is a readable biography about Padre Antonio Jose Martinez, Cura de Taos. This facinating priest lived three eras of New Mexican hsitory: as the northern outpost of Spain's kingdom in America until 1821, as part of the Republic of Mexico until 1846, and as part of the United States. The priest made great contributions to relgion, ranching, education (including a schol for girls, a seminary and law school!), journalism, printing and publication, law and politics. He baptized Kit Carson, married John Rowland to a relative, and fought with Bishop J.B. Lamy who excommunicated him a decade before his death. Upon his death in 1867, his peers in the U.S. Territorial Assembly called him LA HONRA DE SU PAIS/THE HONOR OF HIS HOMELAND.