Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe...
- ISBN-10
- 1416597158
- ISBN-13
- 9781416597155
- Category
- History
- Pages
- 384
- Language
- English
- Published
- 2010-05-25
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Author
- S. C. Gwynne
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.
Get the book
Other editions
-
- 2010
- 371 pages
- Paperback
- Simon and Schuster
Similar books
-
Hymns of the Republic: The Story of the Final Year of the American Civil War
By S. C. GwynnePopular history at its best, Hymns of the Republic reveals the creation that arose from destruction in this “engrossing…riveting” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) read.
-
The Perfect Pass: American Genius and the Reinvention of Football
By S. C. Gwynne"New York Times bestselling, award-winning historian S.C. Gwynne tells the incredible story of how Hal Mumme and Mike Leach--two unknown coaches who revolutionized American football in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s--changed the way the game is ...
-
Nine Years Among the Indians, 1870-1879
By Herman LehmannNine Years Among the Indians, 1870-1879
-
Rebel Yell: The Violence, Passion, and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson
By S. C. GwynneFinalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, the epic New York Times bestselling account of how Civil War general Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson became a great and tragic national hero.
-
Empire of the Summer Moon
Empire of the Summer Moon
-
David Yarrow Photography: Americas Africa Antarctica Arctic Asia Europe
By David YarrowThe must-have photography monograph of the year, this lavish oversized volume celebrates David Yarrow's unparalleled wildlife imagery.
-
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West
By Dee BrownThis ebook features an illustrated biography of Dee Brown including rare photos from the author’s personal collection.
-
The Comanche Empire
By Pekka HämäläinenA study that uncovers the lost history of the Comanches shows in detail how the Comanches built their unique empire and resisted European colonization, and why they were defeated in 1875.
-
Great Houses of Mississippi
By Mary Carol MillerAnyone searching for the architectural splendor of the antebellum South will happily find it in the 95 stunning, full-color photographs and fascinating descriptions of the 35 homes showcased in this beautiful, full-color book.
-
Quanah Parker, Comanche Chief
By William T. Hagan... Duane K. Hale, Iananita Pahdopony, Towana Spivey, John Lovett, Robert Kvasnicka, and Mary Frances Morrow. ... I also benefited greatly from readings of the manuscript by Richard W. Etulain, R. David Edmunds, and Thomas W. Kavanagh.