Although considering himself a southwestern rather than a New Mexican writer, Rubén Sálaz-Márquez belongs to the tradition of the New Mexico writers who revere and lament the passing of time-honored ways of life, be they Indian or Hispanic. His poignant and often humorous descriptions of family life use the lessons of the past as guides to living in the ever-changing present.

Rubén Darío Sálaz-Márquez was born in Belen, New Mexico, on 21 November 1935 to Fernando Sálaz and the former Lucy Márquez. As a boy, passing through several Indian pueblos on the frequent trips between his hometown and that of his grandmother, Rubén first became interested in Native Americans and their traditions. He was brought up in a traditional Hispanic setting, but, during his years as a college student at...