Comanches

The History of a People

De: T. R. Fehrenbach

Narrado por: Jonathan Yen

Authoritative and immediate, this is the classic account of the most powerful of the American Indian tribes. T. R. Fehrenbach traces the Comanches' rise to power, from their prehistoric origins to their domination of the high plains for more than a century until their demise in the face of Anglo-American expansion.

Master horseback riders who lived in teepees and hunted bison, the Comanches were stunning orators, disciplined warriors, and the finest makers of arrows. They lived by a strict legal code and worshipped within a cosmology of magic. As he portrays the Comanche lifestyle, Fehrenbach recreates their doomed battle against European encroachment. While they destroyed the Spanish dream of colonizing North America and blocked the French advance into the Southwest, the Comanches ultimately fell before the Texas Rangers and the U.S. Army in the great raids and battles of the mid-nineteenth century. This is a classic American story, vividly and poignantly told.

©1974 T.R. Fehrenbach (P)2024 Tantor

TEXAS ADOPTED COMANCHE SPIRIT

To defeat the Comanche Texas Rangers inhabited the spirit of their aggressive opponents. I have long been impressed with the Texas Rangers history. Not until I listened to the history of the Comanche did I realize that they were the first Texas Rangers! By their ferocity and quick action they repelled all threats. Apaches ran from the Comanches but to all others they were known as enemies.
When the Texas Rangers were involved in the war with Mexico they were called THE DEVIL TEXANOS. SAME TACTICS AS COMANCHES rolled back Mexican resistance. The Mexican army was not afraid of the American army! No one wanted to fight Comanches or Texas Rangers for the same reasons.

excellent

To many know to little of America's true history. Great book. Sad on many levels.

Interesting and disturbing slice of American history

While popular history highlights the racial prejudices and shortcomings of the white settlers, Comanches provides a history revealing that not all the savages were noble. Conflict was inevitable and coexistence without compromise by the Amerindians was not possible. It is a world of many injustices, but I enjoyed learning about the settlement of the southwest and accompanying conflict it created.

So intense

Very well narrated. A vey different and descriptive account of all the brutality and the quest for survival by the American Indian.

Explains both sides

Fehrenbach tells it like it was. He explains it in great detail, warts and all. There was no way the amerindians and the settlers could exist together.

A sad story

Since I live in West Texas, this story was particularly relevant. A vital part of our history.

Clash of worlds, old and new

I wish I had read this book years ago. It explains so very much about the world today, as it explains the wild West and native American Indian conflicts of yesterday. Truly a clash of worlds, religions, cultures.

Violent reality of Comanche existence.

Did not idealize Comanche existence. Both sides resort to brutality. There was no alternative, perhaps.

In Depth

It's great. It has more depth on the subject than just about anything out there.

Good book

The author provided one of the best write ups on the Spanish Colonial administration that I've ever read. There was also great detail on Native society prior to the arrival of the Europeans. I definitely recommend.