About this book
Empire of the Summer Moon tells the story of the Comanche nation, whose mastery of horses made them the dominant power across a vast area of the southern Plains for well over a century. It traces their long conflict with Spanish, Mexican, Texan and American forces until their final surrender in the 1870s.
S. C. Gwynne threads this larger history through the lives of Cynthia Ann Parker, a settler girl captured by Comanches who grew up among them, and her son Quanah, who became a renowned war leader and later a figure who helped his people adapt to reservation life. Gwynne describes the violence on all sides frankly, so some passages are hard reading.
The book is a fast, dramatic narrative suited to readers who like their history told as a story. For a very different chapter of Native American history, read Killers of the Flower Moon; for the deeper background of the continent, try 1491.
Who it’s for
For readers who enjoy gripping narrative history of the American West; accessible, though frank about violence.
Editions vary by publisher and format. Check the retailer’s listing for the edition, translation and format before you buy.