63 pages • 2 hours read
Hampton SidesBlood and Thunder
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2006A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides is a narrative history detailing the transformation of America into a transcontinental power through the life of Kit Carson, a frontiersman who played a key role in the American West's conquest from the 1800s to the 1860s, covering events like the Mexican-American War, conflicts with the Navajo, and the Civil War. The book includes violence, colonization, and dispossession of Indigenous lands.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides is praised for its compelling narrative and thorough research, vividly recounting the American West's turbulent history. Critics commend its engaging writing and nuanced portrayal of Kit Carson. However, some note it leans heavily on dramatization, occasionally at the expense of historical accuracy. Overall, it's a captivating yet partially dramatized historical account.
Who Should Read Blood and Thunder?
Readers who enjoy dramatic historical narratives and tales of the American West will be captivated by Hampton Sides' Blood and Thunder. Fans of Dee Brown’s Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee and Stephen Ambrose’s Undaunted Courage will find Sides’ exploration of Kit Carson and the Western frontier equally compelling.