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Empire of the Summer Moon Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History S C Gwynne 9781416591054 Books

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Empire of the Summer Moon Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History S C Gwynne 9781416591054 Books

This book surveys the role of the Comanche in the western plains. The centerpiece of the narrative is the war Chief, Quanah, and his mother, Cynthia Ann Parker. But the story begins long before that.

First, this is the chronicle of the Comanche. It really begins with the access to horses, scrawny but tough, coming from Spanish mounts. The Apache, the Comanche, and others adapted to the new resource and began using the horses for mobility, hunting, and warfare. The Comanche, according to the book, adopted them more thoroughly than other native Americans (including Apaches) for combat, learning to shoot their arrows while riding their mounts. Apache, for instance, would ride to the point of combat and then fight dismounted--a serious disadvantage against Comanche. Their tactics and their ferocity gave Comanches control over a huge range of land. Often allied with Kiowa, the Comanche established a bastion of strength, as the book details it (referring to it as Comancheria).

Second, the narrative highlights the relationships between Europeans (Spanish, French, Americans, Texans) and the Comanche. The style of fighting by Spanish and later Mexican troops gave the advantage to the rapidly moving Comanches. The book explains this nicely. Later, as Texas became an independent country and later a state, Texans, too, did not handle Comanche well. Only as Texas Rangers became more mobile and armed with six shooters did they begin to have success.

Third, this book is personalized, given a human element, by reference to Cynthia Ann Parker, who was part of a family attached by Comanches. Some were killed, some escaped, and some were captured. She was one of those captured. She later became a wide of a powerful war chief. One of her children was Quanah, who later became an important war chief among the Comanches. We learn of Comanche life, to some extent, by the life of Cynthia, the work that she carried out. Later, she was "rescued" when a polyglot force of soldiers, Rangers, and others attacked the camp where she was living. She was "freed" from her captivity, although she appears to have been pretty miserable for the rest of her life among Texans.

After her death, the narrative follows her son's career. The book traces Quanah's life, from lonely orphan to brave to war chief. We also learn of those who tried to quell the Comanches, with the major figure here being the Civil War general (now much lower in rank), Ranald Mackenzie. We learn how the Americans began to turn the tide against the Comanches. We also learn, after the Americans triumphed, how Quanah was still able to have a major role to play among Comanches. He even gained a certain respect from Americans. An interesting comparison of his later life with that of Geronimo is instructive.


Tags : Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History [S. C. Gwynne] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. <b>Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize</b><BR> In the tradition of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, </i>a stunningly vivid historical account of the forty-year battle between Comanche Indians and white settlers for control of the American West,S. C. Gwynne,Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History,Scribner,1416591052,Native American,United States - 19th Century,United States - State & Local - Southwest (Az, Nm, Ok, Tx),Comanche Indians;History.,Comanche Indians;Kings and rulers;Biography.,Comanche Indians;Wars.,BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY Cultural, Ethnic & Regional Native American & Aboriginal,Biography,Biography Autobiography,Comanche Indians,GENERAL,General Adult,HISTORY Native American,HISTORY United States 19th Century,HISTORY United States State & Local Southwest (AZ, NM, OK, TX),History,HistoryAmerican,HistoryNative American,HistoryUnited States - 19th Century,HistoryUnited States - 20th Century,History: American,Kings and rulers,NATIVE AMERICANS - HISTORY,Native Americans,Non-Fiction,U.S. HISTORY - WESTWARD EXPANSION,United States,Wars,Sam Gwynne; Sam Gwyn; Sam Guinn; S.C. Gwynne; S.C. Gwyn; S.C. Guinn; Comanches; Native Americans; Indians; Summer Moon; empire; tribe; native tribe; Native American trobe; Old West; Cynthia Ann Parker; Quanah; pioneer; half-breed; half-blood; chief; native american chief; chieftan; Apache; Sioux; American West; Spanish; Mexicans; Mexico; French; Louisiana; expansion; Texas Rangers; six-gun; Indian wars; Native American wars; American nation; Big History; Spanish colonialism; Civil War; machines; buffalo; railroads; 19th century America; 1800s America; 1800s; Teddy Roosevelt; Stephen Ambrose; American History; Native American History; 19th Century History; Texas; Arkansas; Dee Brown; Larry McMurty; John Ehle,Sam Gwynne; Sam Gwyn; Sam Guinn; S.C. Gwynne; S.C. Gwyn; S.C. Guinn; Comanches; Native Americans; Indians; Summer Moon; empire; tribe; native tribe; Native American trobe; Old West; Cynthia Ann Parker; Quanah; pioneer; half-breed; half-blood; chief; native american chief; chieftan; Apache; Sioux; American West; Spanish; Mexicans; Mexico; French; Louisiana; expansion; Texas Rangers; six-gun; Indian wars; Native American wars; American nation; Big History; Spanish colonialism; Civil War; machines; buffalo; railroads; 19th century America; 1800s America; 1800s; Teddy Roosevelt; Stephen Ambrose; American History; Native American History; 19th Century History; Texas; Arkansas; Dee Brown; Larry McMurty; John Ehle;,BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY Cultural, Ethnic & Regional Native American & Aboriginal,HISTORY Native American,HISTORY United States 19th Century,HISTORY United States State & Local Southwest (AZ, NM, OK, TX),HistoryNative American,HistoryUnited States - 19th Century,HistoryUnited States - 20th Century,Native Americans,Biography Autobiography,Biography,Comanche Indians,Kings and rulers,Wars,Native Americans - History,U.S. History - Westward Expansion,History,History: American

Empire of the Summer Moon Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History S C Gwynne 9781416591054 Books Reviews

One of my favorite books this year and an interesting account of an often forgotten person. I read the novel just before my trip to Palo Duro Canyon State Park near Canyon, Texas. History came alive as I relived the battles while hiking along the canyon and visiting the highly acclaimed Panhandle-Plains Museum in Canyon, Texas. Quanah Parker is an interesting, complex historical figure whose journey from feared Comanche warrior to respected politician is very well presented here.
I normally get all books from the library, which is where I first got this one. In the past 15 years I have actually bought to keep in my small "library" 2 books--Carl Sagan's "The Demon Haunted World," & this one. Published in 2010, it is the only book I've ever found that tells the history of American expansion into the west without a strong bias toward whites, and with phenomenal documentation (nearly a quarter of the volume is a listing of citations).
The fact that for over 40 years I've lived in the middle of the area primarily concerned makes it more personal to me, as well as that one of my grandmothers was born in "Indian Territory" (as Oklahoma was called at first), & my mother told of some of her childhood memories of meeting Indians in her home town as a young girl, all add to my own interest. But the main attraction is the unbiased telling of the story, "no punches pulled." The author doesn't shy away from the details of the brutallity on both sides, so it can be disturbing at times; but it also shows the admirable aspects of both sides.
There is no question that Quanah was a truly great leader, but you'll have to read the whole story to understand just how great.
My only complaint about this book is redundancy. That said, I couldn't put this down. It invaded my thoughts and dreams. There is such a deep sadness about this chapter if American History and this book just crystallized the impossible situation.

I live in the area of Texas and Oklahoma covered in the book. I have family papers used by relatives three generations ago to establish Indian connections for the purpose of personal gain. I have visited the forts and parks, missions, and roadside historical signs related to this time period. This book helped me put the pieces together.

If you think one group is all bad and the other all good, you will hate this book. If you want to take a hard look at what happens when cultures clash, this book tackles the subject in a compelling and interesting way.
We live in Oklahoma - the middle of modern day Comanche County. My best friend growing up was the great-granddaughter of Chief Quannah Parker. She was even named after Cynthia Ann Parker. She has been my friend for over 60+ years. Therefore, I knew some of the history of the Comanche way of life, but from their side. I still cherish those memories of the stories told to me by her Grandmother (which was really her great-aunt, but called Grandmother by Comanche culture). She told of how afraid of the soldiers they were as children on the reservation near Fort Sill. I was a child hearing these stories, not really understanding... My family (white settlers) had settled in Oklahoma Territory from the Llano, Texas area before the turn of the century. They had lived thru the battles and loss of lives. Some went on to Arizona, but that's another story.
EMPIRE OF THE SUMMER MOON really awakened some of those memories - but from both sides. It was a horrible time for the settlers and the Indians! I have read many books on the subject, but this was the BEST, most accurate account, from both sides. It gives true documentation of events as they happened. We have given this book to so many family members and friends. A few weeks ago, we gave it to a Comanche friend. He said he learned so much about his people from this book. We HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone wanting to know the true history of the west from both sides.
This book surveys the role of the Comanche in the western plains. The centerpiece of the narrative is the war Chief, Quanah, and his mother, Cynthia Ann Parker. But the story begins long before that.

First, this is the chronicle of the Comanche. It really begins with the access to horses, scrawny but tough, coming from Spanish mounts. The Apache, the Comanche, and others adapted to the new resource and began using the horses for mobility, hunting, and warfare. The Comanche, according to the book, adopted them more thoroughly than other native Americans (including Apaches) for combat, learning to shoot their arrows while riding their mounts. Apache, for instance, would ride to the point of combat and then fight dismounted--a serious disadvantage against Comanche. Their tactics and their ferocity gave Comanches control over a huge range of land. Often allied with Kiowa, the Comanche established a bastion of strength, as the book details it (referring to it as Comancheria).

Second, the narrative highlights the relationships between Europeans (Spanish, French, Americans, Texans) and the Comanche. The style of fighting by Spanish and later Mexican troops gave the advantage to the rapidly moving Comanches. The book explains this nicely. Later, as Texas became an independent country and later a state, Texans, too, did not handle Comanche well. Only as Texas Rangers became more mobile and armed with six shooters did they begin to have success.

Third, this book is personalized, given a human element, by reference to Cynthia Ann Parker, who was part of a family attached by Comanches. Some were killed, some escaped, and some were captured. She was one of those captured. She later became a wide of a powerful war chief. One of her children was Quanah, who later became an important war chief among the Comanches. We learn of Comanche life, to some extent, by the life of Cynthia, the work that she carried out. Later, she was "rescued" when a polyglot force of soldiers, Rangers, and others attacked the camp where she was living. She was "freed" from her captivity, although she appears to have been pretty miserable for the rest of her life among Texans.

After her death, the narrative follows her son's career. The book traces Quanah's life, from lonely orphan to brave to war chief. We also learn of those who tried to quell the Comanches, with the major figure here being the Civil War general (now much lower in rank), Ranald Mackenzie. We learn how the Americans began to turn the tide against the Comanches. We also learn, after the Americans triumphed, how Quanah was still able to have a major role to play among Comanches. He even gained a certain respect from Americans. An interesting comparison of his later life with that of Geronimo is instructive.