I have read several books on native americans, but hadnt covered the comanches yet. Since its debut in 2010 and paperback release in 2011, sales have approached 500,000. I am a direct descendent of cynthia ann parker and from this book i learned a lot about her life i did not know. This wonderful book tells of the life of quanah parker, one of the last chiefs to surrender to the military.
Some images display only as thumbnails outside the library of congress because of rights considerations, but you have access to larger size images on site. Beth heldebrandt, public relations director at booth library, gives an overview of the story of quanah and cynthia ann parker, as well as the family of elder john parker, which was influential in settling the land and organizing the government of charleston and coles county, il. Parker family heritage quanah parker was born in approximately 1850, the son of comanche war chief, peta nocona. Taken from her family in 1836, when she was only nine years old, cynthia ann parker adapted to the comanche way of life and married peta nocona. Empire of the summer moon spans two astonishing stories.
So you can be sure, in my book i will be writing about them. He later became the main spokesman and peacetime leader of the native americans in the region, a role he. This is a brief but informative book on the life of quanah parker, a mixedblood comanche who was prominent in the history of what is today southwest oklahoma from 1875 to his death in 1911. They are written very simplyi would consider them young adult booksand are fast reads. Native american relations quanah parker to governor campbell, 1909 back to native american relations restoration of fort parker, near presentday groesbeck, texas, from which cynthia ann parker was captured by comanches on may 19, 1836. Cynthia ann parker was 9 or 10 when she and her brother john were captured by comanches. Finalist for the pulitzer prize this stunning historical account of the fortyyear battle between comanche indians and white settlers for control of the american west was a major new york times bestseller. Quanah parker and the rise and fall of the comanches, the most powerful indian tribe in american history. Quanah parker and the rise and fall of the comanches, the most powerful indian tribe in. Sam gwynne talked about this book, empire of the summer moon. Quanah was the son of chief peta nocona and cynthia ann parker, a white woman captured by the comanches as a child.
One cannot write about far west texas without writing about comanches, and one cannot write about comanches without writing about quanah parker, and one cannot write about quanah parker without writing about the native american church and peyote. Following the trail of quanah parker comanche chief quanah parker, circa 1890, standing in front of what looks to be the doorway of his star house, a twostory frame house built for him at the behest of the founder of the 6666 ranch, texas cattleman burk burnett. I enjoyed this book however, it had a lot of information found in other books about quanah parker. Overall, the book covers their battles with the spaniards and mexicans before it turns into the 19th century. Gwynne is about a very long war between the native americans and the united states and a male native american named quanah parker who is a part of the comanche tribe and how the tribe who was the most powerful tribe. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Published by the texas state historical association.
Life and times of quanah parker new edition by neeley, bill isbn. Although readers may be more familiar with the tribal names apache and sioux, it was in fact the legendary fighting ability of the comanches that determined just how and when the american west opened up. Read quanah parker by bill dugan available from rakuten kobo. Following the trail of quanah parker true west magazine. Photo, print, drawing funeral of quanah parker, chief of the comanches, at post oak mission, near cache, okla. The life and times of quanah parker kindle edition. Quanah parker and the rise and fall of the comanches, the most powerful indian tribe in american history book online at best prices in india on. Quanah parker only comes onto the stage in the final quarter of the book, which is logical as he was one of their last great leaders. Quanah parker and the rise and fall of the comanches, the most powerful indian tribe in american history, however, took american readers by storm. Chief quanah parkers story written and narrated by his great grandsons. Sturm found quanah, whom he called a young man of much influence with his people, and pleaded his case. Quanah parker also led his people on the reservation, where he became a wealthy rancher and influential in comanche and european american society. Sturm, a physician and post interpreter, to solicit quanahs surrender. C gwynnes mesmerizing empire of the summer moon, quanah parker explains to a friend named miller how the white man had pushed the indian off the land.
Given the comanche name nadua foundling, she was adopted into the nokoni band of comanches, as foster daughter of tabbynocca. Presents a riveting account of quanah parkers struggle to reconcile two worlds and two ways of life and, ironically, two races whose blood was intermingled in his own veins. Quanah parker, wikipediahis memorial on find a grave reports the grave on the new marker placed upon his reinterment in ft sill military cemetery, ft sill, oklahoma. Traces the life of the american indian chief who led the comanches in the ba. Only one chief had both the courage and the wisodm to know that war, no matter how valiantly fought, would end in defeat and humiliation. Empire of the summer moon is an intriguing book of the comanches in general, and quanah parker in particular. Rather a direct quote from the book states, quanah parker, the great comanche proselytizer of peyote, at first opposed to it, was cured of a stomach ailment in 1884 and became one of the most enthusiastic. The life and times of quanah parker neeley, bill on. The son of white captive cynthia ann parker, quanah parker rose from able warrior to tribal leader on the comanche reservation. Not much of this book details quanahs early life before his relegation to the comanchekiowa reservation after the red river war of 187475. Quanah parker, the son of a comanche chief and a white female captive, rose to lead his peoplenot into abject slavery, but into proud coexistence with an unfolding history that was unstoppable. The second entails one of the most remarkable narratives ever to come out of the old west. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read empire of the summer moon. Between 1875 and his death in 1911, quanah dealt with local indian agents and with presidents and other high officials in washington, facing the classic dilemma of a leader caught between the dictates of an occupying power and the wrenching physical and spiritual.
Quanah parker, son of warrior peta nocona and cynthia ann parker, is the subject of. Gwynne handles a nice style of writing and makes the stories come alive. Sam gwynne is a master storyteller and a dogged reporter, and in this book he makes history come to life in a way that everyone will find irresistible. The life of quanah parker is today seen as the extraordinary story of a person successfully living in two worlds, two minds, two eras. Quanah parker and the rise and fall of the comanches, the most powerful indian tribe in american history by s. Quanah parker, cynthia ann, and topsannah were all moved to ft. Although readers may be more familiar with the tribal names apache and sioux, it was in fact the legendary. If you know me and this sites facebook page, you know that one of my favorite chief is mr. This month texas monthly published a brief feature on the comanche chief quanah parkers headdress.
He died in 1911, but the headdress he wore is now in the panhandleplains. Parker, quanah the handbook of texas online texas state. Comanche movie clip cavalry scout jim read dana andrews briefs general miles john litel, commissioner ward lowell gilmore and a mexican diplomat on indian chief quanah parker, in comanche, 1956. Many of his relatives remain active in fort worth and in the area. Empire of the summer moon npr coverage of empire of the summer moon. She is a frequent presenter of historical information and the author of the book, cynthia ann parker.
Parker, cynthia ann the handbook of texas online texas. Unlike cynthia ann, quanah came to embrace white culture. The most wellknown of the comanche, quanahs name is still spoken with reverence in west texas. The second is the epic saga of the pioneer woman cynthia ann parker and her mixedblood son quanah, who became the last and greatest chief of the comanches. Cynthia ann parker has been a hero of mine since childhood and its wonderful to know more of quanahs later years. Named for the famous comanche, quanah parker, who died in 1911. She was given the name nauda and she adapted to the comanche way of life. Quanah parker and the rise and fall of the comanches, the most powerful indian tribe in american history audiobook written by s.
Produced to preserve history by whistling boulder productions in conjunction with. Quanah parker was one of the most remarkable of the native americans. His mother was cynthia ann parker, a white woman from parkers fort. After winning the mexican war, white texans turned their attention to expanding control over the vast lands of west texa. The life and the legend southwestern studies hacker, margaret schmidt on. In the year 1875 it became very clear to quanah that the white people were far too numerous and too well armed to be defeated. Parker was a success as a cattle rancher and horseman, as befits someone from the comanche tradition. Includes an unflinching chronicle of the last brutal wars between the comanches and texans on the southern plains. Quanah parker back to exhibit back to exhibit prints and photographs collection, texas state library and archives commission. Quanah later added his mothers surname to his given name. Actually, he was the son of a comanche chief and a white woman named cynthia ann parker, who was taken captive in a raid. This story of quanah parker, greatest of the comanche war chiefs, is one of a series on native american leaders by bill dugan.