The life and times of quanah parker by bill neeley is a compelling book of quanah parker who was born into both the red and. The son of white captive cynthia ann parker, quanah parker rose from able warrior to tribal leader on the comanche reservation. His book chronicles quanahs entire life, beggining with the capture of his white mother at parkers fort. Gwynne traces the rise and fall of the comanche nation against the backdrop of. Impeccably researched, rich with reallife characters and period detail, this powerful historical novel vividly recounts the decline and fall of the comanche people and their extraordinary leader, quanah parker, from the battlefield to the reservation. After winning the mexican war, white texans turned their attention to expanding control over the vast lands of west texa. Updated and expanded with supplemental information, illustrations and maps. The last comanche chief the life and times of quanah. If you know me and this sites facebook page, you know that one of my favorite chief is mr.
Quanah parker and the rise and fall of the comanches, the most. Quanah parker and the rise and fall of the comanches, the most powerful indian tribe in american history, has finally sated my curiosity. Quanah parker last chief of the comanche legends of america. 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. It gives true documentation of events as they happened. The story of cynthia ann parker and the last days of the comanche, by lucia st. Both lives of quanah, who led his people during the wars on the southern plains and then guided them through the reservation years, are competently chronicled in bill neeleys biography, the last comanche chief. He is remembered for his leadership, dignity, business savvy, and intelligence. After his wifes recapture, quanahs father was a broken and bitter man. It also is very informative of the whole of north texas and oklahoma indian territory during the difficult time of settleing the area.
The scene toward the end of the book when quanah and his fellow comanche are allowed off the reservation for a buffalo hunt is heartbreaking. Son of chief peta nocona and cynthia ann parker, quanah fought until it was no longer possible to live the life of the free plains comanche. The familys history was forever altered in 1860 when texas rangers attacked an indian encampment on the pease river. Bill neeley is recognized as the preeminent authority on quanah parker. Quanah parker and the rise and fall of the comanches, the most powerful indian tribe in american history summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching empire of the summer moon. 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. Quanah parker ebook by bill dugan 9780062242 rakuten kobo. Updated and expanded with supplemental information.
Quanah parker and the rise and fall of the comanches, the most powerful indian tribe in american history questions from. Studies of quanah parker and the comanches arent new. As a nineyearold girl, parker was abducted by comanche indians from her prairie home in 1836 texas. 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. The life and times of quanah parker neeley, bill on. I learned a lot about quanah and, at the same time, have a greater understanding of indian life in the mid 1800s to the early 1900s.
Quanah parker and the rise and fall of the comanches, the most powerful indian tribe in american history. I have read many books on the subject, but this was the best, most accurate account, from both sides. One of the few native american war leaders that made the transition from warrior to productive u. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. In this biography, the author tells the real story of this fearless leader, who led attacks on buffalo hunters, including the famous battle at adobe walls. The book gives insight into the daily lives on the american frontier thru what is known about rachel plummer, cynthia ann parker and her son, quanah, as well as a some of the white soldiers. There are no buffalo to be found, and they are reduced, instead, to hunting. The book not only describes the famous battles that they fought, but also the way of comanche living, etc. The biography of cynthia ann parker on may 19, 1836, cynthia ann parker was captured by a band of comanche and kiowa indians.
Quannah parker was the last great chief of the comanche. Quanah later added his mothers surname to his given name. It told the story of quanah parker the last comanche chief. Quanah was born around 1845 to chief peta nocona and cynthia ann parker, a white captive of the comanche, near the wichita mountains of oklahoma. A journalist by trade, gwynne maintains impartiality throughout the book. Quanah parker and the rise and fall of the comanches, the most powerful indian tribe in american history questions from professional tutors at. The epic new york times bestseller finalist for the pulitzer prize finalist for the national book critics circle award a new york times notable. Mar 05, 2020 quanah was the son of chief peta nocona and cynthia ann parker, a white woman captured by the comanches as a child.
Cynthia ann parker october 28, 1827 march 1871, also known as naduah comanche. This book is very misleading by the title and blurb. An incredible book about the early life of the comanches on the staked plains. During a raid, commanche, kiowa, and caddo indians in texas kidnap cynthia ann parker who was around 9 or 10 years old and kill her family. Gwynne, first published in 2010, tells the entertaining and informative, somewhat scholarly account of the comanche tribe. Len hilts traces the life of the american indian chief who led the comanches in the battle for their homeland and remained their leader on the reservation where he guided the people in accepting their new life. Quanah parker and the rise and fall of the comanches. Narua, was an angloamerican who was kidnapped in 1836, around age 10, by a comanche war band which had attacked her familys settlement. In the tradition of bury my heart at wounded knee, a stunningly vivid historical account of the fortyyear battle between comanche indians and white settlers for. Quanah parker has been a fascinating historical figure to me for many years. Immediately download the empire of the summer moon. She was captured in 1836 at age nine by comanches during the raid of fort parker near presentday groesbeck, texas. Nov 06, 2019 quanah parker s mother, cynthia ann parker born ca.
Later, she married chief peta nocoma and had a son,quanah who became a feared leader of the comanches. The story of cynthia ann and her son, chief quanah parker, is told in s. But while this is a nonfiction book about war, it is equally a book about two nations trying to control their destinies by whatever means necessary. In the tradition of bury my heart at wounded knee, a s. Chicago turabian author date citation style guide gwynne, s. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Quanah parker and the rise and fall of the comanches, the most powerful indian tribe in american history audiobook by s. Young texan girl kidnapped during native american raid history.
Later, she married chief peta nocoma and had a son, quanah who became a feared leader of the comanches. Bio of cynthia ann parker, captured and raised by the. Following the trail of quanah parker true west magazine. Quanah parker and the rise and fall of the comanches, the most powerful indian tribe in american history ebook written by s. 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. Quanah parker and the rise and fall of the comanches, the most powerful indian. She began her writing career in high school and is a member of the international womens writing guild and the pocono writers. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read empire of the summer moon. Len hilts quanah parker, the son of a comanche chief and a white woman, became a great chief who valiantly led his people in an attempt to save their homeland.
The story of cynthia ann parker and the last days of the comanche. Overall, the book covers their battles with the spaniards and mexicans before it turns into the 19th century. May 10, 2011 empire of the summer moon npr coverage of empire of the summer moon. The texas history behind john fords the searchers texas. This wonderful book tells of the life of quanah parker, one of the last chiefs to surrender to the military. Born about 1845, comanche leader quanah parker lived two vastly different lives. Empire of the summer moon is an intriguing book of the comanches in general, and quanah parker in particular.
The last few chapters of the book chronicle quanahs life on the reservation after his band surrendered. Quanah was the son of chief peta nocona and cynthia ann parker, a white woman captured by the comanches as a child. 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. She lives in east stroudsburg, pennsylvania, where she is active in local libraries. Bill neeleys book the last comanche chief, the life and times of quanah parker is the most comprehensive account of the greatest comanche chief ever to roam the plains. I have read several books on native americans, but hadnt covered the comanches yet. Quanah parker and the rise and fall of the comanches, the most powerful indian tribe in american history by s. Read quanah parker by bill dugan available from rakuten kobo. Empire of the summer moon npr coverage of empire of the summer moon. Biography of cynthia ann parker cynthia ann parker was born in 1825 to silas m. Quanah parker last chief of the comanche legends of. Quanah parker and the rise and fall of the comanches, the most powerful indian tribe in american history audiobook written by s. Quanah then led his people to the reservation, and turned his attention to ranching and governance. Gwynne handles a nice style of writing and makes the stories come alive.