Book Review: Looking for Humboldt & Searching for German Footprints in New Mexico and Beyond by Erika Schelby
The author is a German immigrant to New Mexico. While studying the history of her new state, she learned that Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859), the famous Prussian naturalist and explorer, had passed through what would become New Mexico in his journey through New Spain. Inspired, she decided to learn more about him and other Germans who had influenced the history of New Mexico.
This volume is the result of her research, a sprawling look at history and a personal memoir. It takes the reader from the days of the Holy Roman Empire, when the thrones of Spain and Germany were one, to the time of the Apache Wars, with a bit on the Twentieth Century’s erasure of German influence on New Mexican (and American) history.
Good stuff: This volume is well-researched, with a large pool of resources, some of which are newer to the field. I learned quite a bit about specific minor historical figures I had never heard of before, and some facts about New Mexico. There’s an excellent bibliography, multiple illustrations throughout, and an index.
However, there’s a bit too much sprawl, and many sections felt unorganized. I felt that this book could have used a stronger editor to help the author pull the narrative together. The author’s personal interjections also became distracting from time to time.
In particular, I felt the author overplayed the effects of World War One on crushing the appreciation of German culture and historical influence in America, and downplayed the true finishing blow of World War Two, in which Germany was much less excused from culpability.
That said, recommended to those interested in either New Mexico or German-American history.
Disclaimer: I received a download of this book through Booksirens for the purpose of writing this review. No other compensation was requested or offered.
