Book Club #5: The Witches of Abiquiu by Malcolm Ebright and Rick Hendricks

This is a casual monthly book club in which we discuss a book we've read on a southwest history topic.

Last month, we read about the Civil War. This month, we'll go back in time a century to read about a little-studied witchcraft trial that took place at Abiquiu, New Mexico, between 1756 and 1766.

The Abiquiu Genízaro land grant where the witchcraft outbreak occurred was the crown jewel of Governor Vélez Cachupín's plan to achieve peace for the early New Mexican colonists. They were caught between the Pueblo Indians' resistance to Christianization and raids by the nomadic indio barbaros that threatened the existence of the colony. Thanks mainly to the governor's strategy, peace was achieved with the Comanches and Utes, the Pueblo Indians retained their religious ceremonies, and the Abiquiu Pueblo land grant survived and flourished.

The Witches of Abiquiu is the story of a polarizing event in New Mexico history equal in importance to the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692.

If you want bonus "homework" to go with this book, I'll be reading it in combination with chapters 2 and 3 of New Mexico: A History by Sanchez, Spude, and Gomez as part of my personal studies.

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No food or drink is allowed in the room. Please no pets that aren't service animals. I'll get fined for any cleanup.