Empire of the Summer Moon

Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History

By: S. C. Gwynne

Narrated by: David Drummond

*Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award*
*A New York Times Notable Book*
*Winner of the Texas Book Award and the Oklahoma Book Award*

This New York Times bestseller and stunning historical account of the forty-year battle between Comanche Indians and white settlers for control of the American West “is nothing short of a revelation…will leave dust and blood on your jeans” (The New York Times Book Review).

Empire of the Summer Moon spans two astonishing stories. The first traces the rise and fall of the Comanches, the most powerful Indian tribe in American history. The second entails one of the most remarkable narratives ever to come out of the Old West: the epic saga of the pioneer woman Cynthia Ann Parker and her mixed-blood son Quanah, who became the last and greatest chief of the Comanches.

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 when the American West opened up. Comanche boys became adept bareback riders by age six; full Comanche braves were considered the best horsemen who ever rode. They were so masterful at war and so skillful with their arrows and lances that they stopped the northern drive of colonial Spain from Mexico and halted the French expansion westward from Louisiana. White settlers arriving in Texas from the eastern United States were surprised to find the frontier being rolled backward by Comanches incensed by the invasion of their tribal lands.

The war with the Comanches lasted four decades, in effect holding up the development of the new American nation. Gwynne’s exhilarating account delivers a sweeping narrative that encompasses Spanish colonialism, the Civil War, the destruction of the buffalo herds, and the arrival of the railroads, and the amazing story of Cynthia Ann Parker and her son Quanah—a historical feast for anyone interested in how the United States came into being.

Hailed by critics, S. C. Gwynne’s account of these events is meticulously researched, intellectually provocative, and, above all, thrillingly told. Empire of the Summer Moon announces him as a major new writer of American history.

Difficult to endure narrator

The narrator is difficult to endure. The voice cadence is unnatural, inflection of tone also unnatural. Almost robotic. Book however is fascinating.

Fabulous

I enjoy Western history. I am no buff and have read a number of books overlapping this subject matter, but it was clear to me why this was a Pulitzer finalist. It was very accessible, a smooth read, and did not get repetitive or unnecessarily overdetailed. I highly rcommend this book to family and friends.

Outstanding

This book was an outstanding compilation of fact’s. It was introduced in a flowing narrative that kept my interest throughout. I deeply appreciate the lesson.

Fascinating but tragic

I enjoyed this story of the Comanches and also learned a lot. I read that Taylor Sheridan (of Yellowstone fame) has optioned the book rights. So we may get a tv series of this book which I would be very interested in.

The Last Chief of the Comanche

This is pretty great all around! This story of Quanah Parker manages to be deep without too heavy on the details, opting to create a narrative rather than a textbook. The source material is interesting, and really emphasizes the humanity of its central cast. Overall, great historical tale!