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Blood and Thunder: The Epic Story of Kit Carson & the Conquest of the American West by Hampton Sides
nikhender's review against another edition
5.0
This is a remarkable story of how America conquered the West, robbing it from the Native Americans, and even the Mexicans. The entire tale is told through Kit Carson’s heroic life. From daring expeditions with Fremont, to horrific walks the Native Americans made to their reservations, Kit Carson was there for it all.
Sides does an amazing job bringing the Wild West to life. This book includes battles against the Mexicans in California, the horrific Mountain Meadows Massacre, the trials the Navajo faced, and many many more. Kit Carson somehow was intertwined through it all. He may have been overly-idolized, but after reading this book, I realized he really did deserve the monumental and heroic stature that fictional stories portrayed. Especially after learning he was actually such a small, humble, and imperfect man.
As I read and envisioned the West, I learned of brave heroes and awful atrocities, sadly the two were intermingled a lot. No one seemed completely abstained from wrongdoing, John Chivington being a perfect example. But that was the West.
I’m so grateful for the wonderful trip through the West (especially New Mexico) that Sides took me through. This is an absolute must-read for a better grasp of the Wild West; of how it was not just won, but how it was stolen.
Sides does an amazing job bringing the Wild West to life. This book includes battles against the Mexicans in California, the horrific Mountain Meadows Massacre, the trials the Navajo faced, and many many more. Kit Carson somehow was intertwined through it all. He may have been overly-idolized, but after reading this book, I realized he really did deserve the monumental and heroic stature that fictional stories portrayed. Especially after learning he was actually such a small, humble, and imperfect man.
As I read and envisioned the West, I learned of brave heroes and awful atrocities, sadly the two were intermingled a lot. No one seemed completely abstained from wrongdoing, John Chivington being a perfect example. But that was the West.
I’m so grateful for the wonderful trip through the West (especially New Mexico) that Sides took me through. This is an absolute must-read for a better grasp of the Wild West; of how it was not just won, but how it was stolen.
castlelass's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best narrative histories I’ve read in recent years, Hampton Sides’ impressive work cuts through the legends and myths that have developed around Kit Carson, provides a balanced view of his personality and, in the process, draws a vivid picture of what life was like in the 1820’s – 1860’s in western America. Carson became famous during his time, but shunned celebrity. He was unschooled but spoke many languages. He was seen both as a hero and villain, depending on perspective. This book explores his complex personality, fierce loyalty, quiet demeanor, and decisive actions. Almost like an 1800’s version of Forrest Gump, Carson had a knack for being at the center of significant historical events. Sides focuses on Carson’s remarkable life as a focal point and common thread in conveying the often-brutal history of the American West, covering the panoramic drama that shaped the history of the region.
I gained an appreciation for the personalities involved – not only Kit Carson, but also John C. Fremont, James K. Polk, Stephen Watts Kearny, Edward Canby, Thomas Hart Benton, Jessie Benton Fremont, James Henry Carleton, Navajo leaders Narbona, Manuelito, and Barboncito, and a host of others. This book covers Carson’s many roles as a trapper, scout, explorer, soldier, and family man. It never strays too far from his life in relating historic events. It covers a vast swath of history: the expansion of the United States into current-day California, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico, the Mexican-American War, the American Civil War battles in New Mexico, and the internecine clashes with the Navajo and other tribes. A significant portion is devoted to the encroachment of white civilization on the aboriginal people, as well as related salient issues such as reservations, relocation, and attempts to change their customs and ways of life.
I particularly enjoyed the author’s writing style, which flows artfully and elegantly. His descriptions of the terrain are stunning. He has a gift for telling a compelling story while imparting historic facts. The structure of this book is like a dog herding sheep, shifting among different perspectives, but keeping the multiple storylines moving along. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of American western expansion and corresponding impact on its people, land, and culture.
I gained an appreciation for the personalities involved – not only Kit Carson, but also John C. Fremont, James K. Polk, Stephen Watts Kearny, Edward Canby, Thomas Hart Benton, Jessie Benton Fremont, James Henry Carleton, Navajo leaders Narbona, Manuelito, and Barboncito, and a host of others. This book covers Carson’s many roles as a trapper, scout, explorer, soldier, and family man. It never strays too far from his life in relating historic events. It covers a vast swath of history: the expansion of the United States into current-day California, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico, the Mexican-American War, the American Civil War battles in New Mexico, and the internecine clashes with the Navajo and other tribes. A significant portion is devoted to the encroachment of white civilization on the aboriginal people, as well as related salient issues such as reservations, relocation, and attempts to change their customs and ways of life.
I particularly enjoyed the author’s writing style, which flows artfully and elegantly. His descriptions of the terrain are stunning. He has a gift for telling a compelling story while imparting historic facts. The structure of this book is like a dog herding sheep, shifting among different perspectives, but keeping the multiple storylines moving along. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of American western expansion and corresponding impact on its people, land, and culture.
areaxbiologist's review
4.0
Expertly researched. Drawing from diaries, documents, and other archival sources, Hampton Sides re-balances the view of the West, loosely centering his historical work on Kit Carson. At first, Carson sounds heroic, just like in the pulpy blood and thunders. But after a few massacres, and a few instances of just taking orders, Sides reveals just how central Carson was to the way Native American tribes were treated during the various wars that occurred in the first half of the 1800s. A must read to fill in the gaps your school history books left. Trust me, those gaps are gaping.
ssindc's review
3.0
All I can say is that I'm glad that this wasn't the first Hampton Sides book I read. That's not meant to be particularly negative, but, while I did enjoy this book, and I'm glad I read it, I've really enjoyed some of his other stuff - some newer, but at least one older. I think of Sides as one of my most reliable favorites, and his Ghost Soldiers is one of my all-time favorite pieces of military history, so maybe I just set the bar too high. I dunno.
There a lot of good history here - it's a treasure trove of interesting tidbits, and it's nicely assembled, but it never fully seized my attention. I picked this up ages ago, and then put it aside. (I was unwilling to give up on it because it was Sides, but it didn't grab me like his other stuff.) Then, when I picked it up again, I found I enjoyed it enough to keeping working through it, but that was about it ... even late in the book, I never really got sucked into it ... I found it easiest to digest mostly in (uniquely) small doses. (I realize that plenty of folks read, enjoy, and savor books in just this manner, but ... um ... it's just not my style.)
There a lot of good history here - it's a treasure trove of interesting tidbits, and it's nicely assembled, but it never fully seized my attention. I picked this up ages ago, and then put it aside. (I was unwilling to give up on it because it was Sides, but it didn't grab me like his other stuff.) Then, when I picked it up again, I found I enjoyed it enough to keeping working through it, but that was about it ... even late in the book, I never really got sucked into it ... I found it easiest to digest mostly in (uniquely) small doses. (I realize that plenty of folks read, enjoy, and savor books in just this manner, but ... um ... it's just not my style.)
ipsum's review
adventurous
medium-paced
5.0
One of my favorite non-fiction histories! Really well written about an interesting point in history!
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