One of those rare individuals to gain recognition both as a painter and a writer, Tom Lea exhibits in both mediums a love for and knowledge of the desert Southwest; and through both mediums he has contributed significantly to our understanding of the coming of progress and change to this section. Because most of his writings are set in the Southwest, he is best known as a regionalist. But like other good regionalists, his writings transcend regional constraints, projecting universal meanings.

Born in El Paso, Texas, at a time when El Paso was a crossroads for Mexican revolutionaries, ranchers, and prospectors, Lea spent his early years getting to know the mountains, deserts, and people of the Southwest. Throughout his career, the harsh reality and the awesome grandeur of the region have blended to form a backdrop for his characters--whether in his paintings or in his novels. His familiarity...