Blood and Thunder Audiobook By Hampton Sides cover art

Blood and Thunder

An Epic of the American West

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Blood and Thunder

By: Hampton Sides
Narrated by: Don Leslie
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About this listen

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the author of Ghost Soldiers comes an eye-opening history of the American conquest of the West—"a story full of authority and color, truth and prophecy" (The New York Times Book Review).

In the summer of 1846, the Army of the West marched through Santa Fe, en route to invade and occupy the Western territories claimed by Mexico. Fueled by the new ideology of “Manifest Destiny,” this land grab would lead to a decades-long battle between the United States and the Navajos, the fiercely resistant rulers of a huge swath of mountainous desert wilderness.

At the center of this sweeping tale is Kit Carson, the trapper, scout, and soldier whose adventures made him a legend. Sides shows us how this illiterate mountain man understood and respected the Western tribes better than any other American, yet willingly followed orders that would ultimately devastate the Navajo nation. Rich in detail and spanning more than three decades, this is an essential addition to our understanding of how the West was really won.

©2006 Hampton Sides (P)2006 Books on Tape
Indigenous Peoples Military & War State & Local United States Old West Solider Wild West War Military Navajo History Military Nonfiction
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Critic reviews

“Riveting . . . monumental . .. . Not only does Blood and Thunder capture a pivotal moment in U.S. history in marvelous detail, it is also authoritative and masterfully told.”
The Washington Post Book World

“Stunning. . . Both haunting and lyrical, Blood and Thunder is truly a masterpiece.”
Los Angeles Times

“We see a panorama and a whole history, intricately laced with wonder and meaning, coalesce into a story of epic proportions, a story full of authority and color, truth and prophecy . . . Sides fills a conspicuous void in the history of the American West.”
—N. Scott Momaday, The New York Times Book Review

What listeners say about Blood and Thunder

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic

I listened to this title while driving across the traditional homeland of the Navajo, which in some ways made the words more alive than they would be if listened to elsewhere, but even allowing for the dual enchantment of the land combined with the words, Blood and Thunder is a masterpiece. I've subsequently listened to the entire book again, and it was as good as the first time.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The West

This is a terrific audiobook. The narrator held my interest the entire time, and I liked his voice, which fit in very well with this tale of the West. I also enjoyed learning many details about the life of Kit Carson, and how men like Carson and Fremont lived on the frontier. The battle scenes were excellently described, and it was a very exciting listen. I would highly recommend it to those who like history books.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding

An excellent book about a part of the country I love. Powerful, inspiring, and we'll read.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A very well told story

This is a masterful retelling of how flawed characters conquered the southwest. Great narration, too. A must for anyone interested in the Navajos, New Mexico or Kit Carson.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

not a bad book

to me it's one of those books that would be better to actually read instead of listen to. found it hard to stay on track alot of time as.my mind wonder. but overall the story is good. would recommend reading instead of listening

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Historical Account

Importantly the Narrators delivery is key, Don Leslie has the Best mono-tone voice I have experienced, in all the Audible books I have heard, in short this book was such an Informative and Enlightening book of United States past, Hampton Sides weaves the information so Wonderfully, he takes you on a Journey, and puts you in the Picture of our checkered Past

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Thrilling

I grew up in the southwest, and knew a bit about the history, but the story and detail that is captured by Hampton Sides is wonderful! It is easy to imagine yourself a participant as events unfold and we love to listen to it while on road trips in the great southwest. Don Leslie's narration is stellar. This is one that we will listen to again and again.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great storytelling

Very enjoyable take of the history of the U.S.’s seizing and pacifying of the Southwest. Sides pulls no punches and gives a nuanced view of all the key characters and peoples. I learned a ton about my own state’s history (California) and a lot besides. Sides has a good sense of what about this history is compelling and yet he avoids pandering or telling you what you want to hear.

I downloaded this right after I finished reading his account of the Chosin Reservoir campaign, which was also excellent and much more in my area of interest ... yet this is even better.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Glory OR Sadness, Were You a Native American ?

Would you listen to Blood and Thunder again? Why?

It was almost like hearing about the Jewish Holocaust for the first time. Could OUR U.S. Government do this to a race of people?. Yes, they could and they DID !

What other book might you compare Blood and Thunder to and why?

There were too many faucets of good, bad and evil to compare this book to others. At first I loved KIt Carson , then I learned all he did and hated him!

What does Don Leslie bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Very well narrated...

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Americas's Holocaust...the true story

Any additional comments?

Hampton Sides really did his homework on this piece of American history. The success is in the details!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Sadness

I️ was very sad to see this book come to an end. Excellent overall book.

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