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NATIONAL BESTSELLER From the author of Ghost Soldiers comes an eye-opening 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.

Reviewer: Tripower53
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Excellent!
Review: 5 starsThis book is a comprehensive and in-depth study of Christopher “Kit” Carson; his life and times. Mr. Sides has obviously done exhaustive research into not only Carson, but the settlement and growth of the West as well. His detailed book touches on several well known subjects of the West from the ill-fated Donner party, the wars with Mexico to the Civil War and the eventual attempt to subdue and “conquer” the Native Americans. While the book mainly discusses the Navajo tribes, it also touches on the other Native tribes as well. Thus the reader learns a great deal about the Navajo and their legendary leader Narbona. He was a peace-loving chief who tried his best to get along with the soldiers. There were those in his tribe who violently disagreed with his policies, however. Chief among them was his own son-in-law. Narbona was widely respected though, not only among his own people, but among other tribes as well.The book discusses the various tribes that inhabited the plains, their customs and beliefs. It was some of these beliefs that got the Americans (as they are termed in the book), in trouble with the Natives. While there was one or perhaps two well meaning Americans who dealt with the Natives, by and large they were hard men who did not even try to understand their way of life.The reader learns about the travails and hardships of traveling across the West from Missouri and other places in the East all the way to California. Soldiers who knew nothing about the area set out to conquer the Mexican army and annex California and all lands east for the United States of America.Kit Carson plays a part in many exchanges with the Natives. He was married to a young Native woman who gave him a daughter. Essentially a shy man who spoke little, he was very decisive in his actions. He was clever, could not stand bullying and had a fiery temper when provoked. He traveled with some of the big names in history such as Fremont, Bent, Kearney and so on, but made his home near Taos in what is now New Mexico. He had a lifelong embarrassment about being illiterate. He can to hate the way of life in the East. He preferred the outdoor life he had chosen for himself when he left Missouri as a young boy and became a trapper and mountain man. When trapping petered out, he became a scout and soldier with the US Army. Although he was a great friend to the Navajo, his eventual actions led to their downfall and devastation.This is a very excellent book. I believe it is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the settling of the West and the tragedy of the Native Americans. It is reminiscent in some ways to Larry McMurtry's writings, it is wholly non-fiction. Mr. Sides is not a dry author. He makes history interesting and engaging. The book doesn't just quote facts and figures, but tells the reader about the people. We get to learn about who they were apart from their actions; their fears, their weaknesses and interests.

Reviewer: Tularosa
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Wonderfully written absorbing enlightening
Review: I've gained an enormous appreciation for the complexities of the interactions of the various cultures in the American southwest during the 1800s. Hampton sides brings the characters to life in a very engaging way. Really recommend this book

Reviewer: Garth
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Good book
Review: Fascinating history

Reviewer: Gary Farmer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A great book
Review: I love this book. I like history of the west and this book does it very well.

Reviewer: Abe
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great read. Great history lesson
Review: Enjoyed the book very much.

Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Superb narrative
Review: As history about a mostly overlooked facet of 19th C. America, this book is almost impossible to put down. Fine maps, perfect index, vast bibliography and an unforgettable narrative that builds suspense and interest chapter by chapter, this book is not to be missed. As biography, none can be better.Hampton Sides is the Kit Carson of both literary genres. His “A Note on Sources” examples that perspective. The book is a beauty for everyone who wants a fabulous introduction to the many neglected topics included in this wonderful story.

Reviewer: CKE
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Very good history of the American West
Review: Hampton Sides has written a very solid account of the wild American West. While Kit Carson is the primary focus I would hardly call this a biography - in fact, it appears to be more of a true period history with Kit Carson weaving in and out of the narrative. Oddly, this is my main complaint - parts of Kit Carson's most interesting adventures were only touched upon. I am amazed that Sides did not include more one Carson's travel with Fremont. For an excellent account of these adventures I would highly recommend A Newer World : Kit Carson John C Fremont And The Claiming Of The American West and Pathfinder: John Charles Fremont and the Course of American Empire as excellent companion books. While I am a bit baffled at the omission of the John Fremont/ Kit Carson adventures it really is my only complaint. Otherwise, Hampton Sides has written a fair and compelling account that speaks to harshness and brutality of the American West. Sides paints a vivid account of the settler/indian skirmishes that plagued the 1800's. Sides shows that both parties had its villains and its peacemakers. Kit Carson is portrayed as 2 parts indian killer and 3 part peacemaker. "Blood and Thunder" centers on the life of Kit Carson, however the Navajo indians play much more than a secondary role. Sides tells a history of the Navajos that is rarely seen in popular writing. We see that they have flawed characters and utter inability to understand the culture that was thrust on them. The histories of the Navajos and Kit Carson collide when he is forced to embrace a scorched earth policy that drove the Navajos into submission. Sides has an engaging writing style and while parts get bogged down in detail "Blood and Thunder" typically reads quickly. I also enjoyed the amount of effort that was put into research - while it is true that most of the sources are secondary Sides did an excellent job compiling the facts into a free-flowing narrative.IF you enjoyed "Blood and Thunder" I would also highly recommendA Newer World : Kit Carson John C Fremont And The Claiming Of The American WestThe Age of Gold: The California Gold Rush and the New American Dream (My personal favorite)Pathfinder: John Charles Fremont and the Course of American Empire All three books tell stories that are equally unbelievable and gives you a new respect for the early western pioneers.Overall 4 1/2 stars rounded to 5

Reviewer: john roman
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: AAAA+++

Reviewer: salinier
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: La livraison a tardé car le volume n'était pas disponible facilement mais le livre a bien été conforme à mes attentes.Je tiens cependant à souligner que les livraisons en Guyane Française sont devenues hors de prix et vont très certainement freiner mes commandes ultérieures

Reviewer: T. Bernard
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Hampton Sides versteht es, anhand der Beschreibung einzelner Personen und Lebensläufe die Geschichte greifbar zu machenAbsoluter Kauftipp!

Reviewer: Vittorio Baldini
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Molto ben scritto ed appassionante!

Reviewer: Mr. P. G. Aylott
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: For those who are interested in the old West this is a must.The story of Kit Carson runs through the text. Whilst, I knew his name from my chidhood, I never realised quite what a legend he was. Well balanced it gives the Native American version of events. An excellent history well worth a read for those who want to know more about this part of history.