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Post by Marv on May 13, 2020 1:11:43 GMT
"Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the most powerful indian tribe in American history"
Just started it today, currently about 3 chapters in, and I like it a lot. Ive got a soft spot for the American west. I love western films and the lore there so learning more about one of the biggest tribes and the life of a half white half comanche 'chief' and the positives and negatives he undoubtedly brought to the Comanche people sounds right up my alley.
Reading the description of how adept the Comanche grew with their horses is really cool. I feel like you can see them easily as probable inspiration for the Dothraki in the Ice and Fire world.
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Post by Marv on May 14, 2020 19:13:46 GMT
It's a very good book, I read it twice in the space of a couple of years, and would happily do so again. I'm not a military buff as some are, but the description of the Comanche as the best light cavalry on the planet has stayed with me. Quanah Parker himself was a fascinating character too. It's an interesting tale so far...like I said im only 4 chapters in and it basically jumped from the Fort Parker raid by the Comanche, where Cynthia Ann Parker gets kidnapped, and jumps backward a few hundred years to the nomadic Comanche going from getting pushed around seemingly to the Spanish bringing horses to north America, to the Apache utilizing horses for hunting and warfare...to the Comanche who's entire lifestyle lent itself completely to adapting to horse-riding quickly surpassing all other tribes in the art of horse bound warfare. Its really intriguing to see one element advance a tribe that seemed so behind the times to such a dominant force.
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Post by Marv on May 17, 2020 18:23:17 GMT
"While riding along about dark we heard a wolf howl behind us. My Indian guide stopped short and assumed a listening attitude. In a few moments another answered, way to the right. Still the Indian listened so intently that his form seemed perfectly rigid. Then another set up a howl on our left. 'Umph, lobo." said the Indian, in a tone of relief. I can't say that I admired the music of the wolf at any time, but it certainly never had a more unmusical sound than on that occasion, and when I saw that even an Indians ears were uncertain whether it was a wolf or a Comanche, I felt the cold chills creeping over me."
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Post by politicidal on May 17, 2020 18:44:36 GMT
If you hadn't read it yet, read Glenn Frankel's The Searchers: The Making of an American Legend. It's about the backstory for the John Ford movie. It talks a lot about the Comanche culture and their history. Including Quanah Parker.
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Post by Marv on Jun 2, 2020 1:53:30 GMT
Just finished it....it was a very interesting read. I really enjoy learning more about the American West and the more books I read on specific subjects piece the entire world together more and more each time. The Comanche were fierce and are very well described in this novel for all aspects of their culture. Its a fairly easy read that's only about 300 pages long...I felt a bit of a slog in the middle where it took time to describe Cynthia Ann's reintroduction to white society, which she declined, but was quickly followed by the rise of Quanah as a barrel chested badass so that was pretty great. Definitely check it out if you have any interest in this tribe or the American West in general.
4/5
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