Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History

Written by S. C. Gwynne

Narrated by David Drummond

*Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award*
*A New York Times Notable Book*
*Winner of the Texas Book Award and the Oklahoma Book Award*

This New York Times bestseller and stunning historical account of the forty-year battle between Comanche Indians and white settlers for control of the American West “is nothing short of a revelation…will leave dust and blood on your jeans” (The New York Times Book Review).

Empire of the Summer Moon spans two astonishing stories. The first traces the rise and fall of the Comanches, the most powerful Indian tribe in American history. The second entails one of the most remarkable narratives ever to come out of the Old West: the epic saga of the pioneer woman Cynthia Ann Parker and her mixed-blood son Quanah, who became the last and greatest chief of the Comanches.

Although readers may be more familiar with the tribal names Apache and Sioux, it was in fact the legendary fighting ability of the Comanches that determined when the American West opened up. Comanche boys became adept bareback riders by age six; full Comanche braves were considered the best horsemen who ever rode. They were so masterful at war and so skillful with their arrows and lances that they stopped the northern drive of colonial Spain from Mexico and halted the French expansion westward from Louisiana. White settlers arriving in Texas from the eastern United States were surprised to find the frontier being rolled backward by Comanches incensed by the invasion of their tribal lands.

The war with the Comanches lasted four decades, in effect holding up the development of the new American nation. Gwynne’s exhilarating account delivers a sweeping narrative that encompasses Spanish colonialism, the Civil War, the destruction of the buffalo herds, and the arrival of the railroads, and the amazing story of Cynthia Ann Parker and her son Quanah—a historical feast for anyone interested in how the United States came into being.

Hailed by critics, S. C. Gwynne’s account of these events is meticulously researched, intellectually provocative, and, above all, thrillingly told. Empire of the Summer Moon announces him as a major new writer of American history.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Sep 20, 2016
• ISBN: 9781508229568

S. C. Gwynne

S.C. Gwynne is the author of His Majesty’s Airship, Hymns of the Republic, and the New York Times bestsellers Rebel Yell and Empire of the Summer Moon, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award. He spent most of his career as a journalist, including stints with Time as bureau chief, national correspondent, and senior editor, and with Texas Monthly as executive editor. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife.

Reviews for Empire of the Summer Moon

[Matthew Barnes · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Honestly, this book is pretty amazing! I listened to a podcast with the author twice, and decided to listen to the book in the midst of work and am ready to listen again. It's a truly tragic tale of the harsh reality of the world and the nature of people.
On a personal note, after hearing the hardships of the people in this time, I'll never complain again. We live soooooooo comfortably.

[Iska George · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent book, it gives a nostalgia for the frontier and the types of men that populated it. It manages to paint a realistic Picture of the grusomeness while at the same time keeping the romance of the bygone era.

[Dustin Palmer · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

An awesome book but the narrator really takes you out of it. He's too stiff. It reminds me of having Siri read back something. Plus a little research on his part would have been nice. One thing in particular, the Llano Estacado is pronounced Yano. Not lano.

[luke wright · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Facts not stories shed light on both sides lots of facts

[Dan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very interesting and well written book about the relationship between Comanches and there adversaries.

[Aaron Mattley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Outstanding accounts of historical revenge battles over the Great Plains

[Jason Brickner · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great listen. Ignore the woke one star review that said it was too racist to keep reading. It gives an accurate account, both good and bad of whites and natives, taken directly from historical documents a lot of the time.

[Desander Más · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Outstanding work long overdue. Amazing story of a great Comanche chief and the final hurrah of America’s Plains Indians.

[jakek.hibdonfire · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Heard about this Book on JRE
And I couldn’t possibly recommend it more!
Great book and great author

[Thomas Cook · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I LOVE s.c. and love this story. Since McCulloughs death s.c. is the leader in American history writing. (Sorry Barbara Tuchman)

[augger · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a very interesting audiobook. It made an unknown history about America a lot more clear. So good I would listen to it sitting in my driveway.

[C.J. Upton · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book but all I can say is this : f*** the Comanche and everybody like 'em; savages. No, wait...that does dishonor to savages. I think we shall have to invent a new word to describe these absolute and unparalleled demons of history. However, S.C. Gwynne has certainly done his homework here and deserves all the accolades he has received. Very well worth the read/listen; although I couldn't get AI out of my head as I listened to the stilted, monotone delivery of the 'narrator'. Highly recommend the book itself, though.

[rolando.ayala210210 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is great. I’ve read it and listened to it 5 times each and each time I notice something different. So much detail on the story takes a few reads to digest it all.

[Ben Jackson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely amazing book. I will read it again and again. I especially loved listening to the audiobook while I read the physical book.

[Keith Thompson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very good, listen to in-depth history of the native American

[Sarah Stirman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

INCREDIBLY insightful look into a little known period of America's history as it relates to the Plains Tribes of the Midwest and South.

The author's research is superb and I loved how he interlaced personal biographical statements into the story to give this riveting tale full color!

A must read for anyone interested in Native American history, culture, and social life from 1830-1900.

[Joel Swanstrom · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fantastically written, easy to follow, couldn't stop listening. Highly recommended.

[Alexandra Squiers · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a moving, detailed and rich account of a very particular moment in history. This book was riveting from beginning to end.

[Thomas Kopec · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A book that woke culture could never understand....great book telling a story of a wild west so wild and savage its hard to put down.

[JOHNSON CRAIG · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well written history is a delight. McKenzie dired with frontal lobe dementia due to sequels of his head injury.

[GARY WIMBERLY · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great. Book. Described. Role. Of. American. Indians. In. Formation of. Texas. And. The. American. West

[Bruce Koostachin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This audiobook, while listening although myself of Aboriginal heritage This does shine some light on other Aboriginal groups outside of my very own First Nations the local history of where I now do live at…. It is good to also listen to other historians about various vanished peoples, typical history right across the board Around our world.

[Elwyn Hudson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A rough life these people lived yet they seemed to enjoy it.

[brenda joseph · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful story of life as a Comanche and the transition to captivity. Through it all Parker’s indomitable spirit shines through

[Edward Proctor · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a spectacular book. I have read a large amount of American history concerning the Plains Indians; there always seemed to be a vacuum in the area of Texas and Oklahoma. It was a desert, no one lived there, nothing to see. This book, through wonderful writing, provides the background for that “vacuum”, and also tells the story of the Colt revolver, and in the most striking manner, how it helped to change the balance of power on the Plains.S.C. Gwynn’s is great author.

[Edgar Haimerl · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A must read if you are interested in US history and the gaining of power of the federation.

[John S. Peterson · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

it's a f****** documentary. boring as f*** who played s***

[Melanie Cornelius · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very interesting well researched story of the wars with the native American peoples, Cynthia Ann Parker and her son Quanah Parker who lived between the two worlds of settlers and the Comanche people.

[bill · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well written and contains some great information about the land and the people.

[Paul Hortobagyi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My true belief is if this book would be mandatory in our schools our next generation could far more compassionate and much better informed than our current generation. The standard demagogue will be nothing but a copy of us.