Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History

by S.C. Gwynne

Book Overview

The Epic New York Times Bestseller
Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize
Finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award
A New York Times Notable Book
Winner of the Texas Book Award
Winner of the Oklahoma Book Award

This stunning historical account of the forty-year battle between Comanche Indians and white settlers for control of the American West "is nothing short...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416591052
• ISBN13: 9781416591054
• Release Date: May 2010
• Publisher: Scribner Book Company
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.5" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Terrifying history of the southern plains

This book tells the brutal truth of the western world as the New Americans came west colliding with the culture of the Comanche natives who dominated the southern plains. Again and again the settlers failed to understand the culture of the Comanche nation and where taught harsh lesson after lesson. The History of this part of the west includes the Spanish conquerors, who where stopped in their northward expansion by the Comanche and the settlers who were stopped again and again by the southern tribes. This also tells the tale how the civil war turned this nation into a much different nation. Army's with new weapons and a commitment to wipe out the enemy finally prevailed over the unbeatable Comanche. That and wiping out the Buffalo culture. Also in this book is the story of sara Parker who has been mentioned in many books and articles involving Texas and the old west. although the author jumps around a lot, this is a fascinating history and is well worth the read. Just be glad you did not live in those days as the torture and killing were common. And the suffering great.

The good, the bad, and the ugly

I have a love/hate relationship with books that account the fall of the Native Americans. It’s a part of our nations history that I think everyone should know. But, it’s a shame all the same. The two cultures could hardly exist in harmony given the different ways ownership and property rights were viewed. That said, I enjoyed reading about Quanah and his mother.

Great book!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book! If you are the least bit interested in this part of history, you need to read this book. Highly recommended.

Very interesting

An engaging history

Excellence through objectivity

Gwynne does an excellent job in balancing the romanticism of the west and the southern horse tribes with the harsh reality that was. If you're looking for a book that perpetuates a revisionist narrative of indigenous people...look elsewhere. If you desire an objective historical view into life on the southern plains during the mid to late 19th century, this book will impress.

incredible!

The book is filled with page after page of very good information about life on the plains and the dangers of Comanches.