Book Review - Empire of the Summer Moon

     A fascinating historical account of  the brief southern plains empire of the Comanche Indians, which dated from their mastery of the newly arrived horse to their final defeat by the US Army.  Their superb horsemanship and cavalry skills enabled them to conquer and hold the biggest, choicest portion of the southern buffalo range against rival Indian nations, then beat back successive waves of invaders in the form of Spaniards, Mexicans, and Texans.  They then largely held off the Americans for approximately thirty years before succumbing.  The final chapters revolve around Quanah Parker, the son of famous white captive Cynthia Ann Parker, who was a renowned young war chief among the last Comanche holdout bands, before he adopted many of the white man's ways while looking out for Comanche interests.

      Highly recommended.