Empire of the Summer Moon
Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History
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4.5 • 2.4K Ratings
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
*Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award*
*A New York Times Notable Book*
*Winner of the Texas Book Award and the Oklahoma Book Award*
This New York Times bestseller and stunning historical account of the forty-year battle between Comanche Indians and white settlers for control of the American West “is nothing short of a revelation…will leave dust and blood on your jeans” (The New York Times Book Review).
Empire of the Summer Moon spans two astonishing stories. The first traces the rise and fall of the Comanches, the most powerful Indian tribe in American history. The second entails one of the most remarkable narratives ever to come out of the Old West: the epic saga of the pioneer woman Cynthia Ann Parker and her mixed-blood son Quanah, who became the last and greatest chief of the Comanches.
Although readers may be more familiar with the tribal names Apache and Sioux, it was in fact the legendary fighting ability of the Comanches that determined when the American West opened up. Comanche boys became adept bareback riders by age six; full Comanche braves were considered the best horsemen who ever rode. They were so masterful at war and so skillful with their arrows and lances that they stopped the northern drive of colonial Spain from Mexico and halted the French expansion westward from Louisiana. White settlers arriving in Texas from the eastern United States were surprised to find the frontier being rolled backward by Comanches incensed by the invasion of their tribal lands.
The war with the Comanches lasted four decades, in effect holding up the development of the new American nation. Gwynne’s exhilarating account delivers a sweeping narrative that encompasses Spanish colonialism, the Civil War, the destruction of the buffalo herds, and the arrival of the railroads, and the amazing story of Cynthia Ann Parker and her son Quanah—a historical feast for anyone interested in how the United States came into being.
Hailed by critics, S. C. Gwynne’s account of these events is meticulously researched, intellectually provocative, and, above all, thrillingly told. Empire of the Summer Moon announces him as a major new writer of American history.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Journalist Gwynne tracks one of the U.S.'s longest-running military conflicts in this gripping history of the war against the Comanche Indians on the high plains of Texas and Colorado. The Comanches stood for decades as the single most effective military force on the southern plains; their mastery of horseback warfare and their intimate knowledge of the trackless desert of the plains stymied the armies of Spain and Mexico, and blocked American westward expansion for 40 years. Gwynne's account orbits around Quanah Parker (ca. 1852 1911), the brilliant war chief whose resistance raged even as the Comanche, increasingly demoralized by the loss of the buffalo and the American military's policy of total annihilation, retreated into the reservation. Rigorously researched and evenhanded, the book paints both the Comanches and Americans in their glory and shame, bravery and savagery. The author's narrative prowess is marred only by his fondness for outdated anthropological terminology ( low barbarian, premoral culture). That aside, the book combines rich historical detail with a keen sense of adventure and of the humanity of its protagonists.
Customer Reviews
Wow
This book tells the truth about Quanah Parker and his tribes. A beautiful story with sad elements of history. It was a corybantic read at times hoping the outcome would be better. The relationships are explored well throughout this book. It is a winner. I read this last year and so pleased it is a finalist for the Pulitzer prize.
Gritty, honest, factual
Authors tend to write "history" from there own point of view, due to personal bias or desire to sell more units. This author lays out the details, researched and noted, and when any personal opinion is given, is pointed out clearly to the reader. This truly gives the reader a clear view of the Comanche history and let's emotions and opinions be formulated by the reader. I found myself loving and hating the native Americans at different points throughout this adventure. The same can be said of my outlook on both white man and the Texan culture. I completely enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone interested in American western history.
Empire of the Summer Moon
Excellent: a well written account of one who made a difference and the Comanche plains culture that is long gone. My generation learned of this from Hollywood; hopefully today's youngsters are being taught the real history of the "Wild West."