Blood and Thunder

Hampton Sides

Oct 2007 · Sold by Anchor

About this eBook

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the author of Ghost Soldiers comes an eye-opening history of the American conquest of the West—"a story full of authority and color, truth and prophecy" (The New York Times Book Review).

In the summer of 1846, the Army of the West marched through Santa Fe, en route to invade and occupy the Western territories claimed by Mexico. Fueled by the new ideology of “Manifest Destiny,” this land grab would lead to a decades-long battle between the United States and the Navajos, the fiercely resistant rulers of a huge swath of mountainous desert wilderness.

At the center of this sweeping tale is Kit Carson, the trapper, scout, and soldier whose adventures made him a legend. Sides shows us how this illiterate mountain man understood and respected the Western tribes better than any other American, yet willingly followed orders that would ultimately devastate the Navajo nation. Rich in detail and spanning more than three decades, this is an essential addition to our understanding of how the West was really won.

Ratings and reviews

Blood and Thunder is a classic Western movie with a great cast and a thrilling story. The action is intense, the scenery is beautiful, and the characters are well-developed. If you're a fan of Westerns, you'll definitely enjoy this movie.

I did not read the words. I listened to the audio unabridged. One of the finest historical accounts I have ever come across. A must read for all Americans.

Awesome book...a commitment to read! Long but thorough.

About the author

HAMPTON SIDES is the author of The New York Times bestselling histories On Desperate Ground, In the Kingdom of Ice, Hellhound on his Trail, Blood and Thunder, and Ghost Soldiers, which won the PEN USA Award for Nonfiction. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.