The Great Chiefs

by Text by Benjamin Capps, Time-Life Books

Chapters An assembly of eagles; guerrilla fighters in a rugged domain; final champion of Comanche glory; protecting a way of life; pacifist on the warpath; and the threatened world of Sitting Bull.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Westerns, Biography, Native Americans, Native American

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Pat Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another of the Time Life Old West series. This one focuses on the Native Chiefs of the American Natives in the 1800's. Like all Time Life books this is interesting and easily read. Lots of illustrations and fotos are in it. There are some exciting accounts of the battles the native tribes had with one another and the whites who were encroaching the middle and western parts of the U.S. , including the battle of the Little Big Horn where Custer was defeated. Other little bits of history were included such as friendships between the whites and the chiefs, and in some cases prominent whites. The effect of the white migration across the Native land on the chiefs is a constant through the book. The book ends with the Battle of Wounded Knee and fotos of the aftermath is what concludes the book. It wasn't a battle though. It was a massacre of a defenseless, small tribe.

[Jason Crow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great chapter in Time/Life's "The Old West" series. This volume differs from "The Indians" in that, as the title would indicate, it covers the leaders of the North American tribes and their varying responses to the American expansion in to the western frontier. Some fought to the end, others urged peace, others did a little of both. This book demonstrates the complexities of the Indian wars and the conflict between Native Americans and European-descended settlers. A great read with more information than might be expected from a non-scholarly history.

[Sherrill Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

See Stephen Peterson's review.

A thoroughly researched book about the history of the American Indians, especially the chiefs, from approximately the 1800 to 1890 from the white man's first contact. They were living peacefully across the States, with some squabbles among themselves. Time and time again we broke our promises to them because of our greed and our superior numbers, relegating them to smaller and smaller territories / reservations. "Losing ground in the white man's West" is a kind summary of this sympathetic book.

There are photographs on nearly every page, showing the Indian's trying to adapt to the stern Catholic ways of the white man and the smaller and smaller areas they were forced into. There is a photograph of Sitting Bull with a head-to-toe regalia of eagle feathers that I had never seen.

"Last convulsion of the Indian wars" is one of the final epitaphs. There is a final two-page photo of Chief Big Foot in the frozen snow, arm upraised, "with a trooper's bullet in his head."

Unbelievable, man's inhumanity to man.

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice addition to the Time-Life "Old West" series. Here, the focus is on the chiefs in the West. The book begins by putting the role of a chief in terms of tribes and sub-tribes. Chiefs were not autocrats, but had to earn respect and trust.

A map on page 16 lays out the territories of the various tribes. The various chapters outline some of the major leaders (Geronimo to Sitting Bull to. . .), the differing peoples of the Old West, the encroachment of whites. . .

Many photos and illustrations make this a pleasing volume to read. The leather cover is a nice touch.

All in all, a worthy entry in the Old West series.

[Mary D · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for some basic historical information about Native Americans and I stumbled across this book at a book sale. It was very interesting.

[Amethyst Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good companion read to Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee.

[Mike Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical Time-Life book. Great overview of what was often a shameful period in US History. Several famous chiefs are recapped in this book. Pretty amazing pics. Worth reading.