Blood and Thunder

An Epic of the American West

By: Hampton Sides

Narrated by: Don Leslie

Length: 20 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the author of Ghost Soldiers comes a magnificent 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.

©2006 Hampton Sides (P)2006 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

“Riveting . . . monumental . .. . Not only does Blood and Thunder capture a pivotal moment in U.S. history in marvelous detail, it is also authoritative and masterfully told.”
—The Washington Post Book World

“Stunning. . . Both haunting and lyrical, Blood and Thunder is truly a masterpiece.”
—Los Angeles Times

“We see a panorama and a whole history, intricately laced with wonder and meaning, coalesce into a story of epic proportions, a story full of authority and color, truth and prophecy . . . Sides fills a conspicuous void in the history of the American West.”
—N. Scott Momaday, The New York Times Book Review

A very well told story

This is a masterful retelling of how flawed characters conquered the southwest. Great narration, too. A must for anyone interested in the Navajos, New Mexico or Kit Carson.

not a bad book

to me it's one of those books that would be better to actually read instead of listen to. found it hard to stay on track alot of time as.my mind wonder. but overall the story is good. would recommend reading instead of listening

Excellent Historical Account

Importantly the Narrators delivery is key, Don Leslie has the Best mono-tone voice I have experienced, in all the Audible books I have heard, in short this book was such an Informative and Enlightening book of United States past, Hampton Sides weaves the information so Wonderfully, he takes you on a Journey, and puts you in the Picture of our checkered Past

Thrilling

I grew up in the southwest, and knew a bit about the history, but the story and detail that is captured by Hampton Sides is wonderful! It is easy to imagine yourself a participant as events unfold and we love to listen to it while on road trips in the great southwest. Don Leslie's narration is stellar. This is one that we will listen to again and again.

Great storytelling

Very enjoyable take of the history of the U.S.’s seizing and pacifying of the Southwest. Sides pulls no punches and gives a nuanced view of all the key characters and peoples. I learned a ton about my own state’s history (California) and a lot besides. Sides has a good sense of what about this history is compelling and yet he avoids pandering or telling you what you want to hear.

I downloaded this right after I finished reading his account of the Chosin Reservoir campaign, which was also excellent and much more in my area of interest ... yet this is even better.

Glory OR Sadness, Were You a Native American ?

Would you listen to Blood and Thunder again? Why?

It was almost like hearing about the Jewish Holocaust for the first time. Could OUR U.S. Government do this to a race of people?. Yes, they could and they DID !

What other book might you compare Blood and Thunder to and why?

There were too many faucets of good, bad and evil to compare this book to others. At first I loved KIt Carson , then I learned all he did and hated him!

What does Don Leslie bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Very well narrated...

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Americas's Holocaust...the true story

Any additional comments?

Hampton Sides really did his homework on this piece of American history. The success is in the details!!

Sadness

I️ was very sad to see this book come to an end. Excellent overall book.

Great Listen

This was an objective and honest book. Not canonizing Kit Carson but totally complementary in its reading

wow

what can I say you have got to get a copy of this and really let it sink in.

Accurate account of the Southwest

I consume a ton of American history. Blood and Thunder is an excellent piece of American history!!!