The Great Montezuma

Foster, Joseph O?Kane

Published by Ranchos Press, Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico, 1940

About this Item

Condition: Good/fair. The text is in very good condition with no marks or underlining. No dog-eared pages nor previous owner?s bookplate. The text is purposely on a variety of colored paper, each color choice suggesting a mood or emotion for the words. Some pages are discolored but the text is not affected. The cover is in fair/poor condition with tears to edges and spine ends, with some spotting and creasing. Besides the fascinating story of the conquest of the Aztec empire by Hernan Cortes, 400-600 Spanish soldiers, and thousands of indigenous allies, this book is a fascinating product of a small press in Taos, New Mexico in 1940. Its author, Joseph O'Kane Foster (1898 - c.1972), set the text by hand and printed the book on a platen press. Foster was a reporter and writer. Born in Chicago, he attended the University of Wisconsin (1915-19) and joined the editorial staff of the Chicago Evening newspaper in 1920. During the 20s and 30s he wrote for various magazines and newspapers. THE GREAT MONTEZUMA (written in 1936) was his first published book, but it had to be self-published. His prose poem was described by the author as being a film play. It was followed by other books: IN THE NIGHT DID I SING (1942), A COW IS TOO MUCH TROUBLE IN LOS ANGELES (1952), STREET OF THE BAREFOOT LOVERS (1953), TIME TO EMBRACE(1955), STEPHANA (1959), and D.H. LAWRENCE IN TAOS (1972). The design of the book was created by recent New York ? Taos transplant Thomas Benrimo, a teacher and artist who wrote of his color choices and design as "an attempt ? to establish an emotional relationship between the poetic implications inherent in Mr. Foster's work and the psychophysical and psychological qualities of color." The book is a lyrical, often powerful examination of the initial Spanish contact with the mighty Aztec empire. The meetings between the emperor Montezuma (Moctezuma) and the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes in 1519 are very well described, even if poetic license and imagination are an essential part. The subsequent battles and uncertainties by both parties are fascinating and ultimately heart-rending as a mighty empire (though not a gentle one) falls.

Seller Inventory # 000117

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Great Montezuma
• Publisher: Ranchos Press, Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico
• Publication Date: 1940
• Language: English
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: Limited Edition
• Printing: 1st Printing
• Condition: Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Fair
• Weight: 14 ounces
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)