Book recommendation? (general, 70s, raids, empire)
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The last history book that I read was Empire of the Summer Moon, about the Comanche Indians. That was a really great read. It wasn't boring at all, and not overwhelming with detail. It's also the same subject matter as one of my most read fiction books, Blood Meridian, by Cormac McCarthy.
I just tried, and failed, to read Undaunted Courage about Meriwether Lewis. It got great reviews and does seem like a good book, but it's just way too much.
Any suggestions for something to read that is interesting and not too overwhelming? I don't have the mental focus to be able to stick with textbook size history books. Thanks in advance,
Little Big Horn? History written as a novel. Son of the Morning Star, Evan S. Connell. Simply brilliant. Not boring. It is like the old west in covering a wide breath of subjects in a story telling fashion. It rambles, here and there.
A personal favorite at how confusing the battle is to piece together is reading Custer in '76: Walter Camp's Notes on the Custer Fight. Walter Camp. A newer edition has come out.
Old Army on the Frontier? Fifty Miles a Day on Beans and Hay. Don Rickey
Lewis & Clark? Or Perish in the Attempt: Wilderness Medicine in the Lewis and Clark Expediton. David Peck- Engrossing read, seriously.Delivers more than what the title suggests.
Indian Wars?
Encyclopedia of Indian Wars: Western Battles and Skirmishes 1850-1890 and Forgotten Fights: Little-known Raids and Skirmishes on the Frontier, 1823 to 1890
Gregory Michino. You will not want to stop reading.
There is a general history of the Frontier west of the Mississippi I read as youngster which was an engaging read. Short quick chapters. 600=pp. Plenty of visuals. The Book Of The American West Jay Monahagan.
Not exactly Old West in the Cowboys-Indians sense, but I only recently finished (and wished I'd read much sooner) "Angle of Repose" by Wallace Stegner. It is the story of a current (1970s) history professor studying the frontier life of his grandparents during the mining boom days of the late 1800s, wandering from this mining camp to the next and the hardships endured therein.
Just an excellent book -- fiction but said to be based on a real situation. Won the Pulitzer Prize. Enjoy.
Any suggestions for something to read that is interesting and not too overwhelming? I don't have the mental focus to be able to stick with textbook size history books. Thanks in advance,
One of my favorite books is Jesse James: Last Rebel of the Civil War, by TJ Stiles. Stiles also won the Pultizer this year for Custer's Trials: A Life on the Frontier of a New America. He's a terrific writer.
Hmmm, no offense but I thought "Undaunted Courage" as pretty light mainstream reading.
Maybe you should got to one of many of Larry McMurtry's western novels.
Thanks for all the book recommendations; I'll be checking them out at the library.
The Book Of The American West by Jay Monahagan has it all from mountain men to cattle punching, wagon trains to indians tribes, firearms to vigilantes.
Sections here:
Part One: Opening of the West: Explorers and Mountain Men by Dale Morgan
Part Two: Transportation in the American West by Oscar Osburn Winther
Part Three: Treasures of the American West by Oscar Lewis.
Part Four: Indians and Soldiers of the American West by Don Russell
Part Five: The Law of the American West by Wayne Gard.
Part Six: Cowboys and Horses of the American West by Ramon F. Adams.
Part Seven: Guns of the American West Robert Easton
Part Eight: Wild Life of the American West by Natt N. Dodge.
Part Nine: A Sampler of Western Folklore and Songs by B. A. Botkin
Part Ten: A Gallery of Western Art with commentary and notes Clarence P. Hornung
Hmmm, no offense but I thought "Undaunted Courage" as pretty light mainstream reading.
Maybe you should got to one of many of Larry McMurtry's western novels.
No offense taken. But I disagree with the 'light' reading.
If you want light mainstream reading, try reading "The Revenant" (novel, not factual history). It was the literary equivalent of eating a saltine cracker for dinner.
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