Empire of the Summer Moon

Empire of the Summer Moon is the story of the most powerful, but little known tribe, the Comanches. Quanah Parker was their last major chief. The son of a white captive woman and a Comanche, Parker assumed the last name of his mother. Interestingly, the mother didn't want to be rescued from her tribe. She loved her Indian husband and children and was an accepted member of the Comanches. Nevertheless, she was taken back to her white relatives and was prevented from escaping back to her Indian home. She lived only a short time and never saw her children or Indian husband again. Her relatives never understood why she wanted to go back to her Indian family. Quanah grew up and lived the life of a Comanche chief going on raiding parties and stealing horses. He was involved in battles with whites. However, when the Comanche people were defeated, he became a successful peacetime chief. He looked out for his tribe's interests, took care of their daily needs, such as food supplies, horses, and clothing. He knew the times had changed and his people had to adapt. At one time he was very prosperous, but at the time of his death he had very little money. He always remembered his mother and kept a picture of her in his home. He never turned away anyone in need of clothes or food. He took his responsibilities as a chief very seriously and tried to lead his tribe away from their nomadic life into a settled existence. The book reads more like a historical novel than a history.