A magnificent history of the American conquest of the West; "a story full of authority and color, truth and prophecy" (The New York Times Book Review). In the summer of 1846, the Army of the West marched through Santa Fe, en route to invade and occupy the Western territories claimed by Mexico. Fueled by the new ideology of “Manifest Destiny,” this land grab would lead to a decades-long battle between the United States and the Navajos, the fiercely resistant rulers of a huge swath of mountainous desert wilderness.
At the center of this sweeping tale is Kit Carson, the trapper, scout, and soldier whose adventures made him a legend. Sides shows us how this illiterate mountain man understood and respected the Western tribes better than any other American, yet willingly followed orders that would ultimately devastate the Navajo nation. Rich in detail and spanning more than three decades, this is an essential addition to our understanding of how the West was really won.
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"A great book about how the American West came together through manifest destiny and the skill and courage of Kit Carson - although more about the former. Honestly, it's an easy read, informative and very enjoyable, especially for a fan of American history like myself. " — Steve (4 out of 5 stars)
"A great book about how the American West came together through manifest destiny and the skill and courage of Kit Carson - although more about the former. Honestly, it's an easy read, informative and very enjoyable, especially for a fan of American history like myself. "
Riveting . . . monumental . .. . Not only does Blood and Thunder capture a pivotal moment in U.S. history in marvelous detail, it is also authoritative and masterfully told.
" Very interesting stories interwoven. "
" An outstanding and even handed assessment of the opening of the American West told through the life and exploits of Kit Carson. Anyone who enjoys a good Western will like this book and you will come away with some history in the bargain! "
" It's the kind of book I want in my permanent library. Written to entertain a non-fanatic of history books such as myself. "
" The book had some interesting information but I think it tried to cover too broad a topic. "
" Mesmerizing, well-told fascinating story of the Conquest of the American West. "
" Interesting stuff. Don't usually read historical fiction, but gave me a great sense of place. It was very dense and takes a long time to read. "
" Great character descriptions. Solid historical approach. Gets a bit bogged down sometimes - Minding the fact that I had a galley and the finished product might have been better. "
" Anything Hampton Sides writes is something I want to read. I loved reading about Kit Carson and his adventures. What an amazing life! I would recommend this to anyone who loves history. "
" Read this one while traveling in AZ and NM. Very well written. Nothing dry about this history except the climate. "
" I read this book upon moving to NM. I figured I should know something about where I live. IT is a fascinating book. And, apparently, it is going to be turned into a mini series! LOVE LOVE LOVE this book! "
" I am learning from this book that the conquest of the Western U.S. was not as black and white as it is traditionally made out to be. "
" A very different view of the Navajo nation and of Kit Carson. Well written, fascinating and a must for anyone interested in the history of the Southwest. "
" Joe somewhat resembles Kit Carson... "
" It was interesting in some places, but very textbook-y in others "
" This is an outstanding history of Kit Carson. Not only of Carson, but of the mountain men, explorers, Indians, generals, soldiers, and women who shaped the American West, and especially New Mexico. "
" Nothing like a history book that reads like a novel... This gave me a totally new perspective of the Carson/Navajo story and helped me understand the region a lot better. "
" A great contribution to our understanding the history of how we settled the west. "
" This is the sort of thing I wish they taught us in high school! "
" I would not have thought I would enjoy this book this much. I like Hampton Sides' writing and the narration was good. I did relate to some of the places this took place having lived in Southern Colorado and in Idaho for years. "
" A thumping good read. Sides has done some deep research on the American West, deftly balancing a distinctly two-sided subject, and just happens to be a bang-up writer as well! "
" One of the most compelling history books I've read. The narrative flows like a novel in this larger-than-life story of Kit Carson and America's westward expansion into Indian and Mexican territory. "
" It is an excellent biography of Kit Carson, a more significant and interesting character than we realize. In addition it is a very good overview of Southwestern history, centered around the 1840. And, it is the best writing on the Navajos I have read. "
" One of the best non-fiction works I have ever read. "
" Fascinating, informative and very readable story about Kit Carson and Manifest Destiny. "
" Although not a time period of history I am familiar with, I enjoyed this book. It was a wonderful read that helped me learn about a person, Native American tribes in the west, the Mexican-American War, trappers, and the expansion west. "
Hampton Sides, a native of Memphis, is an award-winning editor of Outside and the author of the bestselling histories Blood and Thunder and Ghost Soldiers. He lives in New Mexico with his wife and their three sons.
Don Leslie has appeared on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theaters throughout the country. He has been heard in thousands of commercials, promos for all the broadcast networks and most cable stations, political campaigns, movie trailers, and over fifty audiobooks.
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