Book Description
Trade paperback version of science fiction novel. Book is large format, printed on bright white paper, perfect bound, with full color, plastic laminated covers. Books are autographed by the author.
Customer Reviews:
Gibralter Earth.......2006-05-10
Outstanding. Much in the flavor of the Life Probe sieries.
If you liked them, you'll like this one. We'll see how he completes it in Gibralter Sun. Should be a good read.
A Classic Space Opera.......2002-07-10
In a couple hundred years humanity has started to explore nearby stars. Humans are investigating a new star system when two alien spaceships appear, fight with each other, and destroy each other. The humans are able to rescue one alien survivor. They learn of a Galactic Empire ruled by the ruthless Broa who tolerate no equals. All other alien races are slaves.
So what should humanity do? Several options are discussed, and finally our heroes go to get more data by studying the empire some. There are a number of surprises along the way.
This is a fun book; it is the first of three. I had trouble putting it down. It has a very classic space opera feel. We have the Milky Way Galaxy for the backdrop, there are lots of alien races, all of humanity is at risk, and the pace moves along fairly quickly.
If you like E. E. Doc Smith, David Webber, or James Schmitz, I think you'll enjoy this book.
Product Description
The expedition to the Crab Nebula has returned to Earth and the news is not good. Out among the stars, a million systems have fallen under Broan domination, the fate awaiting Earth should the Broa ever learn of its existence. The problem would seem to allow but three responses: submit meekly to slavery, fight and risk extermination, or hide and pray the Broa remain ignorant of humankind for at least a few more generations. Are the hairless apes of Sol III finally faced with a problem for which there is no acceptable solution?
While politicians argue, Mark Rykand and Lisa Arden risk everything to spy on the all-powerful enemy that is beginning to wonder at the appearance of mysterious bipeds in their midst...
Customer Reviews:
A million to one odds, can humanity live as a free people?.......2006-06-24
Recently I read Gibraltar Sun by Michael McCollum. Gibraltar Sun is the second in a trilogy. Most stories have the hero struggling against overwhelming odds. Sometimes the hero is outnumbered two to one, or five to one, or greater. In the Gibraltar series humanity is outnumbered about a million to one. The Broa has conquered every alien race they meet. Earth has learned of the Broa and survives as an independent race only because the Broa don't yet know about Earth.
Gibraltar Earth (the first book) sets the stage as humans learn about the Broa. While out exploring another solar system a human space ship rescues the lone survivor of a space battle. Humanity finds out there is a huge civilization of a million solar systems, and this civilization is run by the Broa.
Gibraltar Sun is the story of how humanity decides to fight the Broa. The first half of the book is mostly focused on the various factions on Earth that are pushing for different responses. Some want to hide. Some want to fight. A few want to contact the Broa and surrender. Our heroes are not willing to be slaves, or hope to hide forever. They recognize they can't win in a straight head on war, so they decide to see if they can trigger rebellions and help the thousands of races who are slaves to the Broa break their chains.
The second half of the book is about our heroes sneaking back into Broa space to do some scouting. Before taking a step in their war on the Broa humans need to find out exactly where the Broa systems are located. There is great excitement as negotiate with a conquered race.
I enjoy Michael McCullum's world building. The two Gibraltar books paint an interesting universe. Michael does a good job of making the Broa universe seem real.
This is a fun book. I read it in one sitting. A lot happens, but there is so much more hinted at, that I wonder how Michael McCollum will be able to wrap up everything.
If you like classic space opera, then I think you'll enjoy Gibraltar Sun.
Book Description
Gibraltar is not only an archetypal fortress, preserving in its dominating topography and walls, bastions and emplacements a rich testament to extended periods of human conflict, but it is also a unique record of the evolution of the sciences of fortification and associated defensive structures over a period of more than six centuries. Gibraltar has a complex and varied military history, lying as it does at the gateway to the Mediterranean and the meeting points of the continents of Europe and Africa. Its history, always shaped by its unique combination of strategic position and topography, begins in ancient times with successive occupations by Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Romans. It then passed through Arab, Castilian and Spanish hands, and has been a British possession since 1704. The Rock served as a base for Nelson's fleet in the Napoleonic Wars and, in World War II, for the Royal Navy's Task Force 'H' and as as a vital stopping place for supply convoys plying to and from the East through the Suez Canal and supporting the Allied effort in the Mediterranean Theater. An unprecedented amount of tunnelling took place on Gibraltar, making it a veritable warren that housed aircraft hangars, ammunition stores, hospitals and even a secret chamber (the Stay-Behind Cave) that was to be manned as an observation post in the event of a hostile takeover.
Customer Reviews:
The Mystery Uncovered.......2007-02-27
This book will answer most of anyones qustions on the development of Fortress Gibraltar from medieval times through the modern era. There is not other book that will provide such detail and great illustrations in less than 60 pages although a few more expensive books exist, but even the best of those are no longer on the market. With this, the campaing book on Gibraltar is also highly recommended since they complement each other.
Book Description
After Spain declared war against Britain on 21 June 1779, a siege by land and sea was deployed against Gibraltar. For four years the garrison of Governor Elliot was blockaded and starvation was never far away. Despite constant Spanish bombardment, the garrison maintained high spirits thanks to the resolute attitude of Elliot, who embodied all the virtues of steadfast resistance and defiance against the odds. Frustrated by failure, the Spanish called in French forces under the Duc de Crillon. The French built armoured battering ships, designed to be immune to British fire while they pulverized the defences, but this too failed to capture ‘the Rock’. The seige was finally broken in 1782, breaking too the Franco-Spanish spirit and was a prelude to the final British victory in February 1783. This book examines this fascinating siege and people involved in it.
Customer Reviews:
A Unknown Battle of the American Revolution .......2007-06-04
All in all, this book does a fine job of describing the great siege. The author, Rene Chartrand, provides an excellent chronological breakdown that is easy for the reader to follow. Significant events of the siege, such as the British sortie into the Spanish lines and the attack of the floating batteries are covered in just the right amount of detail. Mr. Chartrand also does an excellent job of discussing other significant elements of the battle such as the British use of red-hot shot in their cannons.
The author does a good job of describing the early history of Gibraltar. The story of how Britain acquired Gibraltar from the Spanish is essential to understanding the political dimension of this siege. This siege occurred during the American Revolution. Although references to the conflict in North America are scarce, Mr. Chartrand provides enough background information for the reader to fully understand the global dynamic involved in this siege. Chartrand fills out the story by telling of Spain's repeated attempts to acquire Gibraltar back from the British over the preceding years.
The chapter on the opposing commanders is well organized, with the names of the various individuals highlighted in bold print. Most importantly, the commanders in this chapter are actually discussed later in the book. Although this should be obvious, it is not always the case in other Osprey books. Regardless, the author chose well in selecting which individuals to highlight.
The illustrator, Patrice Courcelle did an excellent job of showing the disposition and movement of forces on the color maps. The maps are clear, uncluttered, and easy to read. The 3D maps are also very informative. On page 76, the 3D map includes a list of ships in the battle with the number of guns per ship. This statistical data is interesting and provided in a manner that does not clutter the book with an overabundance of useless information.
On the down side, the color and black & white plates that show various uniforms are weak. The images are a bit amateurish; although this may be an indication of the type of art used in the 18th Century. Nevertheless, these multiple plates showing only minor uniform variations are redundant and somewhat useless. Another shortcoming is the insertion of irrelevant data. The map on Page 87 shows the location of the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. This battle had nothing to do with the siege of Gibraltar and should not be cluttering up the maps.
The author ends the book by discussing the aftermath of the siege. Mr. Chartrand essentially brings the reader up to the 21st Century. He describes this history in a short, concise manner. All things considered, this is an excellent way to end the book. Bottom line: the book is an easy read. The author does an excellent job of covering the great siege. He focuses on the major events while still providing just the right amount of coverage to background history and other minor events.
No Wonder the Union Jack still Flies over Gibraltar..........2006-10-27
As usual, veteran military historian René Chartrand delivers an incisive and well-written narrative in Gibraltar 1779-83, number 172 in Osprey's Campaign series. The strength of this work lies in its originality, good use of source material from all three sides involved and a staunchly objective perspective. Thanks to Mr. Chatrand's research and writing skills, the reader is presented with a coherent account that views the Great Siege of Gibraltar from both the Franco-Spanish and the British perspectives. There is also plenty of hard data in this volume, concerning orders of battle, casualties, reinforcements, etc. In sum, this is an excellent addition to the Campaign series and provides fresh insight into a campaign that is not generally well known.
In the opening section, the author outlines the British capture of Gibraltar in 1704 and its subsequent development as a fortified naval base, as well as the capture of Minorca in 1708. Throughout this volume, the author links events at Gibraltar with the fate of the British garrison in Minorca (which was recaptured in 1782). The section on opposing commanders is brief, but covers 10 individuals. The section on opposing armies is good, detailing aspects of the garrison and the besiegers. The campaign narrative proper is about 54 pages long, and the initial sections skim along over the first three years rather quickly, stopping to examine major events such as the Spanish fire ship attack, the fall of Minorca and the British sortie. Much of the narrative also focuses on the British relief convoys that sustained the besieged fortress. The main event, the `grand attack' of September 1782, is covered in about 20 pages and is clearly the centerpiece of this volume. In the aftermath section, the author details following the immediate end of the siege, as well as outlining continued Spanish claims upon Gibraltar stretching up to the present day.
Gibraltar 1779-83 contains five 2-D maps (naval movements in the Gibraltar area, 1704; western Mediterranean theater, 1780-82; Gibraltar 1779-83, British and Spanish positions; fleet movements January 1780; Western Mediterranean theater after the siege) and two 3-D maps (the sortie, November 1781; the attack of the floating batteries, September 1782), as well as two Battle scenes (the sortie, November 1781; the attack of the floating batteries, September 1782) by Patrice Courcelle. The second battle scene was rather disappointing and crudely-drawn, which was surprising given Mr. Courcelle's well-known reputation as a military history artist. Nevertheless, the overall graphic content of this volume is quite good.
Reading Chartrand's narrative, one comes away with the impression that the Spanish siege efforts of the first three years were pretty lame, lacking any drive or imagination. The main Spanish tactic appears to have been starvation, but this couldn't work because the Spanish fleet failed to enforce a tight blockade of Gibraltar. Based upon what the author writes, the siege does not appear to have begun in earnest until the French arrived in 1782. The French had both drive and imagination, as well as expertise in siege warfare, and they promptly organized a `grand attack' using floating batteries. As Chartrand describes it, the grand attack was a good idea but poorly executed due to failure of the Spanish fleet to support it as well as disharmony in the French command. The defending British are portrayed throughout the volume as the stolid, unflappable red coats who can take anything and still dish out worse to their enemies.
This volume could have been enhanced if it had been designed a bit more like a volume in the Fortress series, but it was a bit weak on describing some of the defenses of `the Rock.' For example, I was not really clear why the Spanish could not dominate the artillery duel over the `neutral ground' or even sure how many guns the British had covering this key area. The volume is also a bit vague about the general layout of British defenses, focusing only on the areas that were attacked. Minor point, but it's hard to evaluate if there were better alternatives. Overall, this is a very good volume.
Pretty effort on the large subject.......2006-10-25
Osprey's latest addition deals with the great siege of Gibraltar that took place during the American Revolution between the years 1779-83. This is a pretty heavy subject and probably deserves a modern book of 400-500 pages. But I thought Rene Chartrand did a pretty good introductionary effort on this complex military operation.
The book lies with the usual Osprey Campaign format. There's an initial introduction area where background information was given, then it move on to the strategic situation and finally to the siege itself. The writing proves to be uncluttered and informative. Good details on the military efforts of both sides were described and while the tactical maps given in this book proves to be rather inadequate, area of operation was small enough that you didn't need all the details. The book gives a great deal of credit to the British garrison who held out with certain amount of skill, daring and determination. Their commander, General Eliott got the lion's share of glory here. The book also deal with a bit on the French captured of Minorca and how that affected the siege in the long run.
The French involvment brought upon the introduction of the floating batteries which proves to be an innovative military concept but their failure reflects the limitation of the technology of the period as well as determination of British's burning red shots that disabled them.
Overall, its a pretty good introduction to the siege. The previous reviewer was right about one thing though, there isn't much written about the fortification structures of the Fortress Gibraltar. That appears to be a major oversight and perhaps the space spent on the background material could have been better spent on that subject. Anyone reading this can regard my "four stars" as more like a 3.75 or something.
Decent introduction.......2006-09-16
The author begins with the early history of Gibraltar and its capture in 1704, which is interesting enough, but we must wait until page 18 of a 95 page book to get to the 1779-83 siege. Description of British fortifications is sparse, possibly so we'll buy the specialized book on Gibraltar in the Osprey fortress series. Unfortunately, there are few maps, and the art is not as good as that in many other books in the campaign series. The land approach was narrow, and the Spanish, and later the French, could not gain superiority over the British guns, although the reasons for this are not made entirely clear. Much of the attention given to the landward side of the siege is directed toward the famed British sortie in November 1781. The Spanish navy, with a convenient base at Cadiz, was key to the allied effort, but it failed to consistently block shipments of food and ammunition to the British garrison, which arrived in either individual ships or in massive relief fleets. This re-supply effort virtually guaranteed British success. Chartrand gives the most attention to the attack of the French floating batteries, the most dramatic event of the siege. Reinforced with additional wooden planking on one side, and protected with armored roofs, the floating batteries seemingly had a chance to gain superiority over the British guns, which would have allowed the allied army to assault the British lines. Hot shot, however, eventually destroyed the ships, which had been committed to battle before they were ready, dooming the allied siege. This book, although flawed in some ways, is a decent introduction to the siege.
Average customer rating:
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Fort Smith: Little Gibraltar on the Arkansas
Edwin C. Bearss , and
Arrell M. Gibson
Manufacturer: Univ of Oklahoma Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0806112328 |
Customer Reviews:
Nice guide to beautiful walks in paradise.......2004-10-27
Walking in Mallorca is a great traveling book for Mallorcan visitors. Although I was unable to travel ALL of the recommended trails, many of the suggestions - particularly some in the North near Deia - were wonderful finds. The book makes much more sense once you get there and get a good feel for the island. I read the book in advance and was very confused about how or what to do -- once you are there (and in car, preferably) the walks all just work themselves out. I only wish the book had colour plates of more walks, etc. The ratings and descriptions of the trails were accurate at the time I explored using this book (2002/2004).
Average customer rating:
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Gibraltar: International Financial Centre
Chris White
Manufacturer: Tottel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1845921089 |
Book Description
Gibraltar has been a major landmark ever since the first ships ventured into the Atlantic. To Greeks and Romans it was one of the two pillars of Hercules--the end of the known world and the beginning of the "Stream of Ocean."
Gibraltar's location dictated that it would become a fortress. Over the ages it has served different masters...Roman, Arab, Spanish, English. Today, despite all the technology the 20th century can muster, Gibraltar remains as strategically vital as ever.
"Bradford is a natural storyteller. His books make fine listening... HANNIBAL, THE GREAT SIEGE, ULYSSES FOUND, CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, among others, all contribute immeasurably to our understanding of where we are and how we got here." (B-O-T Editorial Review Board)
Customer Reviews:
The History of the Rock.......2004-08-25
Gibraltar is one of those micro-countries that make traveling in Europe so much fun. A huge limestone promontary at the toe of Iberia, only miles away from Morocco and in plain sight of the Atlas Mountains, Gibraltar has been a British possesion since 1713, when was won from Spain by England's Admiral Rooke during the War of the Spanish Succession. Although Spain has been claiming it back ever since, Spain itself only held Gibraltar for a comparatively brief period - until the 15th century, the Muslims occupied it (Gibraltar is an Arab name). And if we go even further back we find Gibraltar has a place in Phoenecian, Greek, Roman, Vandal and Gothic culture. The best bits of this biography deal with Governor Elliot's defense of the epic siege of 1781-83; a moment of unalloyed glory for Britain during the otherwise traumatic Wars of the American Revolution. The narrative cuts off in the 1960s, when Franco was pressuring Britain by blocking off the land frontier with Spain; since then the border has re-opened and the "Gibraltar question" remains unanswered.
Average customer rating:
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The Gibraltar: Socialism and Labor in Butte, Montana, 1895-1920
Jerry W. Calvert
Manufacturer: Montana Historical Society Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0917298144 |
Book Description
In the early morning hours of June 23, 1914, over twenty dynamite blasts leveled the Butte Miners' Union Hall. That dramatic event informed the nation and the world that Butte, Montana-the "Gibraltar of Unionism" and the toughest mining town in western America-was divided against itself. Underlying that violence and antecedent to it is one of the most important stories in Montana's political and labor history-the decades-long tension between labor and management in a world-class copper camp and the role that socialism and militant unionism played in that struggle. In this volume, author Jerry W. Calvert presents the first analytical study of socialist politics in Butte. Calvert takes readers inside union meetings, city council sessions, and electoral campaigns to explain the rapid ascendancy, dominance, and sudden decline of socialist Butte. The socialist triumph in Butte was hailed by Socialist Party of American leaders as the beginning of a sweep of municipal elections across the country. But the SPA's success was short-lived and the socialist insurgency in Butte sputtered and died, as it did elsewhere in the nation. As Calvert explains, Butte's socialists could not overcome internecine disputes and the arrayed and entrenched interests of capitalist power. Jerry Calvert has captured the drama and buoyant personalities that made politics in "The Gibraltar" idiosyncratic, dynamic, and sometimes dangerous. He writes about men and ideas in conflict and about political decisions that changed Montana's history. And he argues convincingly that despite their failure Butte's socialists succeeded in setting a new standard in reform and municipal politics in Montana.
Customer Reviews:
Butte's past.......2000-04-22
A combination of color and content that outlines the early labor and political movements in Butte and Western Montana.
Customer Reviews:
All Racism Aside.......2007-04-12
The review below is historically baseless with the reviewer only considers exceptionally biased sources as valid. 'Politically correct' or not, using biased sources will lead you to biased results and have NO place in serious examination, except as a side note showing prevailing attitudes behind the shameful actions taken by the US against the indigenous population.
That said, the book is so so and there are better books out there on the subject.
Don't Purchase This Book Until You Read This Review !.......2005-12-07
Beware of STORY TELLERS = present-day authors who take details connected to subjects long passed, and weave their own version of history ( their own fantasies and whims ) into a printed stew in order to lead the reader into a completely false, uttlery distorted point of view.
Sweeney, like Dan L. Thrapp, David Roberts, and others today, offers readers an assortment of long-hashed over details with a good amount of personal TASTE, WHIM, and FANTASY mixed in. Why do I say this? A number of reasons - most of which you can read about if you look at my reviews of Sweeney's "Cochise"; Thrapp's "Juh: An Incredible Indian"; and my article on Thrapp's "Victorio and the Mimbres Apaches" at amapedia.com.
Furthermore, Sweeney lives TODAY, not in the day of Mangas Coloradas, therefore he is utilizing only CERTAIN KINDS of information long available, and within this he liberally sprinkles his own tastes and biases to produce a book containing nothing new, but with his "stamp" on it. This book is just another case of a present-day writer with no connection to anyone who lived during the time he writes about, churning out books on subjects and personalities so remote that he cannot possibly have anything significant to say - just more of the same. But you may then wonder why these various authors like Sweeney, Dan L. Thrapp, and David Roberts produce books like these at all? What is motivating them? My personal theory is that they have a time-spanning love affair with these long-dead Indians, and even more so with the trumped-up and totally false image these Indians have been given by other people of their day. Here are just two of the main originating sources responsible for the false image hung onto the Apache of the late frontier era:
. Eastern Liberal "intellectuals" and philanthropists who never set eyes on a wild Indian in their entire lives, but who sought to romanticize them and make them appear noble, high-minded, innocent victims of European imperialism. In other words, the James Fennimore Cooper variety of Easterner who lived in a fantasy world holding the American Indian in the same absurd light as knights on noble chargers from their own culture's past.
. Grand-standing Army Officers who sought to enhance their own reputations by making untrue statements concerning the dangers they faced against enemy Apaches whom they eventually conquered. Their many hyped-up statements seemed to hold the not-so-subtle insinuation that "If these Indians were so great and terrible, but my men and I conquered them, then my men and I must be even more terrible and wonderful and great! Therefore, shouldn't you look at me as a savior-hero of the Wild Frontier?
People like Sweeney, Thrapp, Roberts, and others have not reseached the tribal history of the Apache extensively enough or far enough back to be able to make any sort of a logical, near-truthful conclusion of ANY ASPECT connected to these Indians! Instead, these authors are all guilty of accepting whatever statements were made about certain Apaches in the mid to late 1800's - taking this information mostly without question if it casts Europeans in a bad light, and if it makes the Apaches seem in any way "larger than life" and SUPERIOR. These authors do not appear to fall for the grand-standing of different Army commanders intended to make these commanders "look good", instead these authors have made a sort of Politically Correct mental switch so that the Apaches take on impossible characteristics making them into something far more wonderful and super-human than they ever were.
Sweeney, Thrapp, Roberts, and other present-day authors appear to be people who love an under dog. They have fallen in love with the image of the Apaches which holds that these Indians were noble, knightly warriors who were hunted, persecuted, and destroyed by enemies who were vastly inferior, but far greater in number. Which, as I have been saying, is an image that has no historic accuracy connected to it whatsoever. It is as ridiculous as the present image of the Sioux as promoted by the motion picture, "Dances With Wolves", and this can be verified by examining information available which goes much further back than simple Army records and various statments made by Europeans about the Apache between 1830 - 1886!
I will not detain the reader of this post much longer, but I will say that the following propositions concerning the Apache Indians are completely FALSE:
. The Apaches lived in their mountain "homelands" for ages and they valliantly defended these against invading Europeans regardless of being severely out-numbered.
. The Apaches were brilliant, fearsome warriors with wonderful courage and superb mental capacities, which enabled them to make fools out of their European enemies on a regular basis. Their leaders could out-think, out-fight, and out-maneuver the incompetent, weak, and blundering Europeans at every turn.
. The Apaches had to surrender or make treaties simply because they didn't have the warriors to continue fighting. But IF THEY HAD EXISTED IN GREATER NUMBERS, THEY WOULD HAVE CONTINUED THEIR STRUGGLE INDEFINITELY.
. The Apaches were a noble, but tragic people who suffered greatly at the hands of unreasonable and inhumane European enemies and they deserve our respect, our sympathy, and out never-ending tributes to their memories.
These propositions ( relentlessly promoted by authors such as Sweeney, Thrapp, Roberts, and others ) are utterly false. They are mere fantasy. They have no basis in fact whatsoever. To find out why, begin by reading my reviews of Sweeney's "Cochise", Thrapp's "Juh: An Incredible Indian", my article on Thrapp's "Victorio and the Mimbres Apaches" at amapedia.com, and then look into the following titles. They will tell you more about the history and the century-spanning trends in the Southwest which explain a very great deal about the Apaches.
Comanches (Pimlico Wild West)
The Kiowas (Civilization of the American Indian Series)
The Indians of Texas: From Prehistoric to Modern Times (Texas History Paperbacks)
Life among the Apaches (Bison Book)
Nine Years Among the Indians, 1870-1879: The Story of the Captivity and Life of a Texan Among the Indians
These will provide a very good base from which you can piece together a reasonable, logical, and truthful perspective on the Apaches. There are also very obscure texts avaiable ( but extremely hard to find ) which originate among the Officials and Spanish colonials who dealt with the Apaches long before Anglos ever saw them. These texts are very revealing, and blast to pieces the popular views of the Apaches which are promoted by these history-distorting, Politically Correct authors. However, if you rely on mere STORY BOOKS from the likes of Sweeney, Thrapp, Roberts, and other present-day writers who have stars in their eyes concerning the Apaches, you will be severely misled and you will have nothing to show for all the time spent reviewing their literature except a conception of these Indians that is pure fantasy.
The only primer on Mr., Coloradas.......2003-09-14
Mangas COloradas led his people for many years in New Mexico and on raids in Mexico and Arizona. He was related to Cochise, who sweeney has also written a book about. This is a wonderful read, fully researched and vivdly portrays the Apache chief in all his splender, letting you feel the southwest as well as detailing the minute negotiations and military conflicts that raged about him.
Well researched and founded history.......2002-04-03
Some of us go to the bookstore and seek out the history section and browse the displayed titles. History entice us, it shows our past and tells about the mistakes repeated time and again. Maybe, for some of us it is able to tell a warning or two.
History seems to me a most dangerous field to write in. Especially when in the case of this material, the concrete facts are so small and insignificant and what may or may not be the real answers to a lot of questions are buried by time and dust. One will perhaps never know what Mangas Coloradas did in his first life-years, historian Sweeney means he has found a good answer and presents it to the reader but he doesn't claim it to be the sole answer, he says it's possible. This is the respect every historian should have to his/her audience.
Of course, it's not only Mangas' first years that are lost in obscurity. Official mexican and spanish papers tell only half the story of his people, but Sweeney is extraordinary in his ability to sow a thorough and well founded history of this remarkable and gargantuan statesman. It also seems from the book's voluminous notes that Sweeney has been everywhere to find the tinyest bits of information.
All this makes noone wonder he has written his finest piece yet on the Apachean-Mexican/American relations.
The Greatest Chief.......2000-12-28
Before Geronimo, before Cochise, there was Mangas. Mangas Coloradas "red sleeves" is a facinating read. Having grown up in Apacheria I knew of Mangas. In fact I lived, and have relatives, at Apache Tejo, where he met his demise. If you want to truly understand what led up to the American/Indian wars of the late 1800's, and why they occurred, then this is a must read. It is written exquisitely. My only regret is that there weren't more maps to help show where the various battle sites were. A 5-star rating for a wonderful book. This one I'm keeping.
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