Blood and Thunder, Hampton Sides (Doubleday, 2006) ****

 

I am so fortunate to have two daughters who regularly either give me books or recommend books that I might otherwise overlook.  It turns out that my oldest daughter, Karen, is married to a man who knew author Hampton Sides at an earlier age, so his books usually make it into my library.  His latest book, Blood and Thunder, is my favorite.  Because of the subject matter, I have a feeling that most of you would find the book as fascinating and informative as I did. 

 

Hampton writes a novelized but very well researched history of the settling of the southwest in the nineteenth century.  The story spans much of the southern United States from Missouri and Oklahoma to southern California and Oregon, but most of the action takes place in and around New Mexico, most of that in Santa Fe.  The tale is filled with ‘good guys’ and ‘bad guys’, ranging from rugged frontiersmen and naïve settlers to soldiers, both American and Mexican, and Indian leaders of numerous tribes.  The characters and events were all real, so you find yourself learning a great deal of history while thoroughly enjoying one of our country’s greatest adventures.

 

The story focuses on the life of frontiersman, scout and soldier Kit Carson and on the gradual defeat and subjugation of the southwest Indians, especially the Navajos.  But while telling us about these people and events, the author also includes an account of the defeat of Mexico in the Mexican American war, much of it taking place near San Diego.  He describes the impact of the Civil War on the settling of the southwest and the army’s role in defeating the Indians.  His accounts of some of the Indian wars and various battles with Mexican soldiers seem almost firsthand.  His description of the long and difficult treks Kit Carson made back and forth from the Mississippi to the west coast will transport you through places most of you have visited yourself.   .

 

I especially enjoyed the book because my grandparents and great grandparents on my mother’s side lived in this part of our country at the time much of this history was occurring.  My great grandmother told me (and other relative confirmed) that Geronimo, a chief of the Apaches in southern New Mexico, once held her infant son (my grandfather Tom) in his arms during a brief visit (a watering stop) near their ranch not far from Silver

City in New Mexico Territory.  Her son Tom later became a cattle rancher in the Texas panhandle (where my mother was born) before moving his family to northwestern New Mexico, where I spent some of my more formative years as a child during long summertime visits.  I learned a great deal from Hampton Side’s book that I hadn’t known about this country and its early settlers, which has only increased my appreciation of this place and its people.

 

The book includes extensive photographs and footnotes and an excellent index and bibliography for those who want to explore the topics further.  It would make an excellent reference on this part of our history but it excels primarily in the telling.  This is a book that once you start it, you will finish it.  And you will be informed as well as entertained.  It’s the kind of book that when you finish reading it, you feel like writing a letter to the author, thanking him for providing readers with such a remarkable book.  I highly recommend it to all of you.