Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Thomas Hardy, 1891)

Tess's father (ne'er-do-well who married a kindred spirit) learns that he is a direct descendant of once-famous English noble family (the D'Urbervilles), now forgotten to all but a few folks who chase genealogy.

D'Urberville parvenu - nothing but trouble for the protagonist (Tess).

Angel Clare - in love with Tess, but troubled by her troubles.  Clergyman father.  Attempts to farm in Brazil after breaking several milkmaid hearts.

Hardy, as always, outstanding in observing the countryside, the manners of its inhabitants.

Discussing a May-Day walk by the village women - which succeeded the May Pole dance - "The banded ones were all dressed in white gowns - a gay survival from Old Style days, when cheerfulness and May-time were synonyms - days before the habit of taking long views had reduced emotions to a monotonous average." (p. 747)  I rather liked that passage.  And many others.

Blood and Thunder - Kit Carson and the Conquest of the American West (Hampton Sides, 2006)

If you're interested in the American West, this book is well worth reading.

Helping put Mexican War, conquest of CA, Santa Fe Trail in context.   Kearney, Fremont, Benton - names I've often heard but lose track of.

Overlap with Lamy of Santa Fe.

AZ as pretty much just outback throughout this period - not very important to the story line.

Descriptions of first detailed surveys; names attached to places rather randomly, so many have stuck (unfortunate but not unusual).

First artist sketches of desert, canyons.  Initial difficulties in seeing beauty - which then was equated with productive land, or Hudson River School lushness.

Indian wars - not solvable.  Longstanding enmity with Mexicans and between tribes.  Lots of awful behavior but current criticism of this period probably would benefit from more reading.   

Bosque Redondo - I finally understand where it was, why such a disaster for the Navajos (and a few Apaches mixed in).

Chivington (Sand Creek massacre).

Kit Carson - incredible fiction around his life; the real story is even better.  Deep appreciation for multiple tribes (two Indian wives); but "did his duty" in terms of rounding up Navajos and others.

Canyon de Chelly, Canyon de Muerto.  Destruction of peach trees (which originated with the Spanish).

Subjugation of Native Americans in general - what a situation.