Land of Enchantment: Memoirs of Marian Russell Along The Santa Fé Trail

It is difficult for anyone in the 21st-century to fully understand the difficult life of the pioneer who crossed our country in a conestoga wagon with only a few precious belongings. This book lays out that struggle for life and the beauty of the land at the end of the road.

Being a native Kansan and familiar with many of the places mentioned by the author, I found this book of compelling interest. I have traveled the trail from its starting point in Independence, Missouri, to the end of the trail In Santa Fe. I love the history of the path and I find myself marveled by the fortitude and tenacious spirit of its travelers.

Chock full of anecdotes. This memoir reads like a novel with a great cast of characters, including Kit Carson and Archbishop Jean Baptist Lamy. Wonderful descriptions of the Santa Fe trail and the everyday activities of travelers on the trail and the soldiers in the forts on the western frontier. Highly recommended.

I bought the Kindle version of this book and loved it so much I picked up the hard copy. It was so interesting to hear about life on the Santa Fe Trail and the early American West. I've traveled across New Mexico and Colorado many times. It's amazing to hear how things were back in the days before cars, trains, and electricity.

The best story I have read of the day to day reality of the early days of Fort Union, Santa Fe and the Trinidad area told by a very brave woman who loved the life she lived. It was lovely to hear how she loved a life of hardship and New Mexico.

We purchased a hard copy of Marian Sloan Russell's "Land of Enchantment" at the park office at Ft. Union National Monument & liked it so much that we bought a copy for our Kindle. It's a wonderful read about the days of the Santa Fe Trail as well as the town of Santa Fe itself. Dictated to her daughter-in-law when she was in her late 80s, the book is easy reading in an authentic voice. It's fascinating to hear Russell tell of days traveling Trail, staying at Ft. Union (& other places), & living in Santa Fe. A very good book about a by-gone era!

Want to learn about life on the SFT because I’m a history buff& planning to drive the Trail. This book fills the bill & then some. This is a memoir not only of traveling the trail in 1852, but a child’s, girl’s woman’s recollections of other trips & growing up & living in the southwest during the period. You have to give some leeway for the fact she dictated her recollections late in life, but the editing/notes seem good.

This is a fantastic account of the histories of the Santa Fe Trail, New Mexico and Southwestern Colorado. I am fascinated with the Santa Fe Trail history and was introduced to this book when I recently visited Fort Union in New Mexico. This is a wonderful story of growing up in the mid 1800's. Mrs. Russell is a wonderful story teller with fond memories to tell us about. You won't be sorry you bought this book. It is wonderful.This is one of the "must reads" if you are interested in the history of the Santa Fe Trail.