Nine Years Among the Indians, 1870-1879

The Story of the Captivity and Life of a Texan Among the Indians

By: Herman Lehmann

Narrated by: John McLain

Length: 5 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

As a young child, Herman Lehmann was captured by a band of plundering Apache Indians and remained with them for nine years. This is his dramatic and unique story.

His memoir, fast-paced and compelling, tells of his arduous initial years with the Apache as he underwent a sometimes torturous initiation into Indian life. Peppered with various escape attempts, Lehmann's recollections are fresh and exciting in spite of the years past.

Lehmann provides us with a fascinating look at Apache, and later, Comanche culture. He tells of their rituals and medicinal practices and gives an insight into Native American manufacture of arrowheads, saddles, and shields.

After a few years, Lehmann became completely integrated into the warrior life, joining in on raids throughout the Southwest and Mexico. Nine Years Among the Indians tells of violent clashes with white rangers and other Native American tribes, scalpings, and the violence of life in 19th-century Western America.

Public Domain (P)2018 Tantor

Not PC

This is a first person narrative if the brutality of Native American life. It should be required teading in public schools. Revisionist history would have us believe the Nazis were misunderstood peaceniks. Being able to read and write and understanding that killing someone in order to steal their belongings is not "cultural imperialism". Fuck that.

Amazing story!

This was a super remarkable story, I’m surprised I haven’t heard about it. Anyway, this is a very strong recommend for just about everyone. Even my wife enjoyed it, some of it she couldn’t listen to however.

Interesting read

I liked the story and the way it is told. The narration could be better but mostly good.

Heart breaking

The narrator dies a great job telling this unique story. It’s heartbreaking, gut wrenching and unsettling but in the most human way.

Great!

Nothing like primary accounts. This book gets the reader into those near-lost spaces of history.

Seems a bit "disconjointed"

The whole story seemed a little bit discon. Jointed hodgepodge here in there, but I did like it and I was able to follow the story.

Vivid Memoir of Apache/Comanche Life in 1870’s

Unadorned and explicit account of life of a German immigrant boy, Herman Lehmann, captured by the Apache in 1870’s Texas. After torture and training, he participated in nomadic and warrior life. He later flees the Apache after his vengeance killing of a medicine man and joins the Comanche. He becomes one of them and fights in several battles before surrendering with the guidance of Quanah Parker at Fort Sill Oklahoma where he becomes a member of the Quanah Parker family. His return to his family in Mason County, Texas and restoration to white culture is described. This provides a great historic view of West Texas life and Indian wars of the period.
A few of the individual experience accounts seem like they couldn’t possibly be true and might be exaggerated recollected memories. Other of the matter-of-fact descriptions of raids, murder, kidnapping, horse-stealing, torture and battles with Texas Rangers and US Army ring true with, and in some instances, correct other published histories and memoirs.

Gritty, tragic and not politically correct

This book should be required reading for all high schools in the United States. An informative firsthand account living among the Comanche and Apache. Read it before it is banned for its non P.C. account.

Solid book start to finish.

The performance, tremor and cadence to the narrators voice fits in what I would imagine for this story. The story is just incredible, the only thing I was left wanting was more of his stories and accounts. Overall wanting more I think is a good indicator of a good book.

Gritty and Excellent

An excellent 1st hand account of living life in the harsh Apache environment. True testament of how adaptable humans are, as well as how extreme hatred can cause for extremely shocking results. Narrator did a nice clear job.