BajaNomad - Journey of the Flame

Journey of the Flame

bajaamy - 12-19-2008 at 10:38 AM

I've seen some scattered comments about this title, but wanted to know what you all thought of the book.

[Edited on 6-16-2014 by bajaamy]

David K - 12-19-2008 at 10:57 AM

It is quite an interesting historical novel (c1933) about a journey on the El Camino Real from the tip of Baja to San Francisco, CA back in the early 1800's.

A bit difficult to read with the style of wording things, but full of factual details of how life could have been in old California!

Think I will read mine again! :spingrin:

Barry A. - 12-19-2008 at 11:24 AM

I just looked into my copy and noted that I read it in 1996, and my note says it is a "truly fascinating book". Like David, I need to read it again------thanks for reminding me. :tumble:

Barry

Osprey - 12-19-2008 at 11:30 AM

The author chose to remain anonymous. A persistant journalist tracked him down with great difficulty. I think he was found retired in Santa Barbara. His brother co-wrote Mutiny on the Bounty. The story of how the journalist tracked him down was, to me, as interesting as the book, its style. No google then to help the author weave so carefully and colorfully how the Californios lived, how the Spanish might have travelled. I think David K will throw in with me when I say I believe there was such a man who helped people this place way back when.

[Edited on 12-19-2008 by Osprey]

David K - 12-19-2008 at 11:55 AM

Here is a great thread on the Camino Real from a while ago... the book was named, too: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=2689

Also, Mexitron posted this on the author:
Re "the Journey of the Flame" author Walter Nordhoff's pen name---actually was Antonio Fierro Blanco.....great book! According to Frank Nordhoff, Walter's grandson, the character is fictional, but the events in the book were generally true(like Michener's writings).

[Edited on 12-19-2008 by David K]

Paulina - 12-19-2008 at 01:29 PM

The late Jimmy Smith once told me that it was one of his favorite books. Of course after hearing that I picked one up. I loved the story and thanks for reminding me of it. I'm going to take it out and read it again.

P<*)))>{

Neal Johns - 12-19-2008 at 08:56 PM

Yep, like everyone else, I think it is a winner. It was a best seller in its day, so copies are cheap. Get it if you have the slightest interest in the El Camino Real.

Paulina

Baja Bernie - 12-19-2008 at 11:12 PM

Yep, Jimmy also told me that it was his favorite books on Baja and I now have four copies....Unlike David I enjoyed the different prose....but I am sure that our different takes do have to do with age.

Another good book on Baja---that most don't have is the 'Troubled Waters' written back in the late forty's

Just did a week in San Felipe area and had a ball.....will post a travel thing after the New Year....much fun.

Hey! David K asked Jaime to marry me and she said YES!

Keri, just sent you an email about her YES.....Having Thanksgiving with you and Mike apparently convinced her that I was worth a gamble.

Paulina - 12-19-2008 at 11:33 PM

Bernie,

Engaged? You'd better be sending me an email soon too! Leaving for Bahia manana, so you can hold off sending till Jan. Congrats Bernie, all the best to you for a happy new year with a new love!

To get back on topic; regarding good reads, I'm going to pick up 'Troubled Waters' when I get back.

P<*)))>{

(ps. sorry to hijack the thread!)

DENNIS - 12-20-2008 at 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Baja Bernie
Hey! David K asked Jaime to marry me and she said YES!

Keri, just sent you an email about her YES.....Having Thanksgiving with you and Mike apparently convinced her that I was worth a gamble.

Hi Bernie. Good to see you.
So as not to Hijack here, would you give us a new thread and fill us in with what looks like great news?

David K - 12-20-2008 at 10:11 AM

That's wonderful Bernie... Life is wonderful with a good person by your side!

Please invite Elizabeth and I over sometime to visit with you both!

Congratulations... :bounce:

Neal Johns - 12-21-2008 at 07:14 PM

Bajaamy,
About that big Baja book list you are making:

Bibliophiles Baja
By Neal Johns

The choice of a limited number of Baja oriented books is a very personal thing. Delicate shades and nuances of the Baja spirit will of necessity be left out of this short listing. An all-encompassing list (except for the years after 1964) is in the three-volume bibliography by Barrett, Baja California. Two books covering the fascinating Pinacate region a few miles east of Baja were slipped in because of their excellence. Many of the books selected are out of print but are available from antiquarian bookstores, or on the Internet: http://www.addall.com/Used/

What’s Down There?

The Central Desert of Baja California – Aschmann
A readable scientific study of ecology, including Indians.

Lower California and its Natural Resources – Nelson
Results of a 1905-1906 U.S. government survey of the peninsula.

Natural History of Baja California – Barco
As seen by Father Barco in the 1700’s.

The Kings Highway in Baja California – Crosby
Thirty years ago, Crosby traveled The El Camino Real by mule-great maps/photos.

The Cave Paintings of Baja California – Crosby
Great coffee table book of the ancient Indian murals.

Last of the Californios – Crosby
Text and photos of the self sufficient lives of isolated ranchers.

Las Misiones Antiguas – Vernon
Pictures and history of the Missions of Baja

The Forgotten Peninsula – Krutch
An old natural history classic of Baja.

Roadside Geology and Biology of Baja California – Minch
Geology, biology, botany and archeology keyed to the Kilo posts.

Baja California Plant Guild – Roberts
The title says it all.

What Does it Look Like?

Baja – Moore and Peac-ck
Coffee table book of great photos.

How do I Get There?

The Baja Adventure Book – Peterson
The best of the current guidebooks.

Backroad Baja – Higginbotham
Best guidebook to get into the real backcountry.

Lower California Guidebook – Gerhard and Gulick
Before Highway 1, this was the bible.

Baja Almanac – Baja Almanac Publishing
Dirt road delight, the most complete map.

What do Traveler’s Need to Know?

Backcountry Mexico – Burleson and Riskind
Customs and vocabulary back of the beyond.

The People’s Guide to Camping in Mexico – Franz
Customs and vocabulary back of the beyond.

Baja4You – Giesea
Question and answer format mainly for residents.

Other People’s Experiences

Hardly any Fences – Hilton
This famous artist was one of us. Great plates of his work also.

Camp and Camino in Lower California – North
Travel before automobiles.

The Journey of the Flame – Fierro Blanco (Walter Nordhoff, father of Charles Nordhoff)
A fictional, but authentic, journey over the El Camino Real in the early 1800’s.

Almost an Island – Berger
A modern reflection on changes over the last four decades.

Baja Fever – Niemann
Interesting stories of the old days traveling in Baja.

Baja California: Vanished Missions, Lost Treasures, Strange Stories, True and Tall –Pepper
For the romantic in all of us.

Into a Desert Place – Mackintosh
Can you imagine walking all the way around the coastline of Baja by yourself (sans roads)?

The Water World

The Flight of the Least Petrel – Bancroft
One of the best of several voyages in the Sea of Cortez.

The Baja Catch – Kelly and Kira
Fisherman’s Bible.

King of the Moon – Kira
A fictional, but authentic, novel of life in a fishing camp.

History of Baja

Antigua California – Crosby
The definitive modern history book by a master.

Observations in Lower California – Baegert
Father Baegert tells it like he saw it in 1771.

A History of Lower California – Martinez
A 1960 work of love.

Pinacate

Desert Heart – Hartmann
The Pinacate wonderland is on the border a hundred miles or so east of Yuma.

The Sierra Pinacate – Hayden
A combination, knowledgeable text and picture book by a field archeologist.

Special Mention

The Baja Travels Series 1965-1992– Dawson
Glen Dawson and his famous Baja bookstore is responsible for many converts
to what for many of us is a secular religion. This series of 51 books covers the
entire range of Baja subjects. In 1989 the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum took over from Dawson's as publisher of the series.

The Unforgettable Sea of Cortez – Kira
The Baja experiences of Ray Cannon, who’s fishing columns in Western Outdoor News introduced thousands of Americans to the wonders of Baja during its Golden Age of 1947-1977, for better or worse. Gene Kira wrote it as a memorial with the invaluable help of Ray’s lovely wife, Carla, who supplied decades of memorabilia.

Barry A. - 12-21-2008 at 11:42 PM

Another great book on the Pinacate region of Sonora is, "Campfires on Desert and Lava", by William T. Hornaday (copyright 1908) (my copy was published in 1925)

Barry

David K - 12-22-2008 at 10:05 AM

Amy... good collection! You have some titles I haven't seen before. I am very interested in the 1992 Choral Pepper book you list (#24)!

Please see http://choralpepper.com wich is the site I made to show the photos that Choral gave me, before she died.

David K - 12-22-2008 at 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaamy
Seen it, loved it! :-)

And a few other items on my shelf:

Baja California: The American Wilderness (Time Life books) - a little gem!

The Journey of the Flame--Nordhoff (don't forget to re-read it!)

Hidden Baja (Travel Guide)

Voyage of the Venus: Sojourn in California--Abel du Petit-Thouars (a ship log from 1836, describing travel up and down the West coast)

The Forgotten Peninsula--Krutch

Camp and Camino in Lower California--AW North (love living vicariously through these guys)

Quest of the Lost Santa Isabel--Thelmar Wyche Crawford ("exciting fiction for girls" from 1964)

Baja Legends--Nieman

A History of Lower California--Pablo Martinez (this guy is really full of himself)

Into a Desert Place; Journey with a Baja Burro--Mackintosh (did anyone read the part where the lady pronounced his name "Magic Tush"?)

Black Robes in Lower California--Dunn

The Black Pearl--Scott O'Dell

The Pearl--John Steinbeck

Log from the Sea of Cortez--Steinbeck

Tides of Danger--Elizabeth Baldwin Hazelton (another kids' fiction title from 1967. Some inaccuracies, such as the Seri as cannibals)

The King's Highway--Harry Crosby (Oh, how I love this book)

Burro--Frank Brookshier

Donkey : The Mystique of Equus Asinus--Michael Tobias, Jane Gray Morrison

Great collection! In Greg Niemann's book, see page 134

for fun.

David K - 12-22-2008 at 12:03 PM

No, don't bother... they don't know me!

We were camping up at Los Manzanos just befor the entrance to San Pedro Martir Park and the caretaker told us that story... Greg Niemann read my trip report in Amigos de Baja about that story we were told and it made a good insert for his book. I helped do the copy edit looking for tech. errors and such on that book before it was published... Greg mentioned us who helped on the page before the contents page.

BAJACAT - 12-22-2008 at 07:52 PM

Amy on your list book #5,this means you read spanish
5. Diguet, Leon. Territorio de la Baja California: Resena y Geografica Estadistica. Paris and Mexico: Libreria de la vda. de C. Bouret, 1912.

You have a great book collection

Paula - 12-22-2008 at 08:35 PM

Amy, one you might add to your collection is C.M. Mayo's Miraculous Air. Among her insightful essays on contemporary Baja from top to tip is a very informative one about San Quintin.

The Journey of the Flame by Antonio de Fierro Blanco

Neal Johns - 5-31-2009 at 05:41 PM

The Journey of the Flame by Antonio de Fierro Blanco
Many of you have a copy or have read the classic historical novel about a Baja journey over the El Camino Real mule/foot trail in the early 1800’s. It is basically historically correct and warms the heart of anyone who has an interest in Baja or old trails. Published in 1933, and a popular best seller, the author obviously used a penname. A little detective work by Harrison Leussler, who worked for the publisher, showed that the author’s real name was Charles Nordhoff whose father, Walter, was a famous author (Mutiny on the Bounty) and editor of Harper's magazine. Walter was in his eighties when he was “outed” as the author and was 74 when he submitted the book for publication. He neither wanted any disturbance in his life, nor wanted to ride on his famous father’s coattails. The second reprint of the novel in 1955 (readily and inexpensively available) carried this information in the Preface.

Walter and his father, Charles, are buried in a Redlands, CA cemetery near where I live.

Out of print books are available from thousands of bookstores at:
http://www.addall.com/Used/

Paulina - 5-31-2009 at 05:55 PM

Jimmy Smith told me that this was one of his favorite books and told me to check it out. I loved it. Thanks for bringing it up, I think I need to read it again.

P<*)))>{

DENNIS - 5-31-2009 at 06:04 PM

Here you go, Paulina...Some Walter Nordoff history you may or may not be aware of. His spirit is your neighbor in punta Banda.

http://users.lmi.net/bblackie/nordhoff/mexico.html

bajajudy - 5-31-2009 at 06:10 PM

It is not out of print.

Edit to add
It is a terrific book.

[Edited on 6-1-2009 by bajajudy]

Osprey - 5-31-2009 at 06:12 PM

Jimmy Smith and I discussed the book at length. Several times during our talks I pointed to passages in the book where I had given information to the author to "flesh out" parts which were blanks to him. I redden a little in the jowl when I say without by "fill ins" the book may have been little more than Mexican science fiction.

Neal Johns - 5-31-2009 at 06:31 PM

You really are an old bird! :biggrin:

Paulina - 5-31-2009 at 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
Here you go, Paulina...Some Walter Nordoff history you may or may not be aware of. His spirit is your neighbor in punta Banda.

http://users.lmi.net/bblackie/nordhoff/mexico.html

Wow Dennis, thanks for that link.

Neal

Baja Bernie - 5-31-2009 at 06:47 PM

Humble is as humble does! I totally enjoyed the fiction even as I knew it to be just that.........Jimmy put me onto it also.

Didn't realize that the bird was that old.

The Journey of the Flame

vacaenbaja - 3-25-2011 at 03:59 PM

Here is another old book that beckons back to the days of
antiquity of Baja Calif. It is a historical novel of sorts full of old myths and legends. The common thread between this
book, "The Long Walk to Mulege" and "Camp and Camino"
is the traveling El Camino Real on foot and with the ever
present Mule/Burro/Donkey. Each of these books show
many examples of how adapted thse animals are to the baja environment. More so than horses which require much food and water. I wonder if Mike Younghusband who is now attempting a 1000 mile baja treck of his own with his "DON-KAY"
has read these books? It is interesting to note that the most
difficult part of the trail for all three books seemed to be that
area between G.Negro and San Ignacio where I imagine
many less fortunate have died of thirst in their attempt to cross that dry plain.

David K - 3-25-2011 at 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vacaenbaja
Here is another old book that beckons back to the days of
antiquity of Baja Calif. It is a historical novel of sorts full of old myths and legends.

The common thread between this book, "The Long Walk to Mulege" and "Camp and Camino" is the traveling El Camino Real on foot and with the ever present Mule/Burro/Donkey.

Each of these books show many examples of how adapted thse animals are to the Baja environment. More so than horses which require much food and water.

I wonder if Mike Younghusband who is now attempting a 1000 mile Baja treck of his own with his "DON-KAY"
has read these books?

It is interesting to note that the most difficult part of the trail for all three books seemed to be that area between G.Negro and San Ignacio where I imagine many less fortunate have died of thirst in their attempt to cross that dry plain.

Thanks for posting this... It is a fun book to read, albeit a tad hard to follow the old style wording used. While fiction, The Journey of the Flame is all based on true places and true events in Baja history... I recall only the town of San Jose del Cabo was changed in name for the book... I will have to review!

Mike has completed his 1,147 mile walk, by-the-way...

Here are the three books:

Journey of the Flame c1933:

The map inside:

Close up of the southern half:

Camp and Camino in Lower California c1910

Long Walk to Mulege (in 1921) c1980

Paulina - 3-25-2011 at 07:55 PM

When Don Jimmy Smith had a sleep over at our casa in Punta Banda, he told me that The Journey of the Flame was one of his favorite books. I picked up a copy as soon as I could, and enjoyed the entire read. It's a good book.

Thanks again Don Jimmy, and could you ask the Big Guy to grant us a little sunshine this weekend, we've got some baja-ish chores to do and could use a break from the rain.

P>*)))>{

Neal Johns - 3-25-2011 at 08:59 PM

When the book came out in 1933, it was a well deserved bestseller. Early editions of the book showed the author as Antonio de Fierro Blanco who was later identified as the pseudonym of Walter Nordhoff, who was from a famous family of authors. The details of the journey over the El Camino Real are authentic.

The following writeup is from:
http://www.heydaybooks.com/literature/the-journey-of-the-fla...

The Journey of the Flame
Walter Nordhoff; Foreword by Rebecca Solnit

On the night of his 104th birthday, Don Juan Obrigón—tall and straight, with hair still flaming red—prepares to tell his life story to assembled relatives and guests. The story he will tell describes his travels as a boy of twelve in 1810, when he accompanied the Spanish viceroy of Baja California from the southern tip of Baja California to Monterey.

The Journey of the Flame is that rare treasure, an artfully imagined work of fiction that is based on meticulous research and brings life to the study of history. Here are the manners, textures, and tones of Spanish California, transcending all stereotypes. A slow ride through exotic territory the book is rich in leisurely pacing and dense detail that truly capture another time and reveal another world.

Considered a masterpiece of California literature by an entire generation of historians, geographers, and literary critics, The Journey of the Flame has been long out of print but is now available in a new and beautifully designed California Legacy edition.

About the Author

Walter Nordhoff (1855—1937) had a mining engineering degree from Yale, and worked as a European correspondent for the New York Herald before moving west to manage fifty thousand acres of his father’s land in Baja California, the area that inspired The Journey of the Flame. Nordhoff’s father, Charles, was also a writer, whose work includes travel guides and books on religion and slavery, and Nordhoff's son, Charles Bernard Nordhoff, coauthored the the Mutiny on the Bounty trilogy.

Edit: The book has been reprinted and is available for $14.95

[Edited on 3-26-2011 by Neal Johns]

DENNIS - 5-11-2013 at 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Neal Johns

Walter Nordhoff (1855—1937) had a mining engineering degree from Yale, and worked as a European correspondent for the New York Herald before moving west to manage fifty thousand acres of his father’s land in Baja California, the area that inspired The Journey of the Flame.

He lived right here in Punta Banda.

Jeeezo...I didn't notice the age of this thread. :lol:

.

[Edited on 5-12-2013 by DENNIS]

David K - 5-11-2013 at 05:50 PM

Quote:

Nice job Dennis, but is there a new link for this as the one from 2009 no mas trabaja... Gracias!!

[Edited on 5-12-2013 by David K]