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Empire of the Summer Moon
- Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches
- Narrated by: David Drummond
- Length: 15 hrs and 4 mins
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Empire of the Summer Moon
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Summary
In the tradition of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, a stunningly vivid historical account of the 40-year battle between Comanche Indians and white settlers for control of the American West, centering on Quanah, the greatest Comanche chief of them all.
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 is 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 listeners may be more familiar with the tribal names Apache and Sioux, it was in fact the legendary fighting ability of the Comanches that determined just how and 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.
Against this backdrop Gwynne presents the compelling drama of Cynthia Ann Parker, a nine-year-old girl who was kidnapped by Comanches in 1836. She grew to love her captors and became infamous as the "White Squaw" who refused to return until her tragic capture by Texas Rangers in 1860.
More famous still was her son Quanah, a warrior who was never defeated and whose guerrilla wars in the Texas Panhandle made him a legend.
S. C. Gwynne's account of these events is meticulously researched, intellectually provocative and, above all, thrillingly told.
What listeners say about Empire of the Summer Moon
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mr. T. J. Wilkinson
- 14-05-23
Very good understanding American Indian History
Growing up in Britain you do not learn this about American History. Indian wars are what you saw from Hollywood films growing up. John Wayne In the Searchers is a classic film as are some of his other Indian Westerns but what this book gives is an understanding that the films do not. The savagery often hinted at or just a shadowy scene in a film is layed bare. Before you thought the film portrayal maybe have been poetic license or a justification for the actions against the Indians. The whole episode of how American Indians were treated is real stain on American History though the Indians actions are often beyond the barbaric.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- charles rissbrook
- 28-01-24
wonderful story, well told
Would make a fantastic Netflix series, Compelling narrative and well narrated. The Swan song of a native people, warts and all
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Ryan C.
- 03-08-21
Great Listen
My first Audiobook on Native American history and stories. Such an interesting and well put together listen. Good job by the narrator.
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9 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Colm Manley
- 20-01-23
A brilliant story
A fascinating account of a part of American history that many will be interested in, not just historians or Americans. If you ever were interested in the legends of cowboys and Indians this is a great book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Nickthemole
- 31-05-23
Fascinating, and well read
A very well researched and well-written history that is well balanced. It is empathetic to the Native Americans without glossing-over their savagery in battle. A vivid account, I have found myself listening to it again and again. Highly recommended.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- I L.
- 29-02-24
An unknown history to me
Fascinating insight into a part of history I knew virtually nothing about. Truly a superb book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Nigel
- 04-06-24
Extraordinary, Moving History
This is a staggering book.
Even within the extraordinary and moving literature of the history of the American Frontier, and the destruction of so many different ways of life, this must stand out. Particularly, the life of Quanah Parker, so skilfully shown in the context of that of his whole people, is unique and should be far more widely celebrated.
But to me, vital as the history is, there is something more here: a kind of beauty and validation in the persistence of life, and a vindication, profoundly rooted in particular realities, of a passionate way of being, in the world but not ‘of’ it - despite everything ….
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jacob Edwards
- 08-04-24
Comprehensive and Compelling
Covers many aspects of the time period, and gives a huge amount of context to give flavour and depth to the history being portrayed. An incredible time period and amazing story.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Miss T
- 06-02-23
Fabulous book
I loved this book. I was riveted. I had no idea the Comanches were so terrifying yet surreal in their connection to the spirit world. They had a beautiful way of life.
Stolen by the white man.
What a travesty America is built on.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 05-11-22
excellent history
having read some of the less favourable reviews, which suggested that this was a biased history, I was glad to have ignored them, hence listening to a fascinating, gruesomely honest, fair and balanced account of native Americans lives before and during the invasion by the settlers.
The author is able to be objective, whilst retaining a real sense of humanity in their writing.
The performance was really engaging as well.
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