The Beaver Men: Spearheads of Empire (Bison Book) [Paperback]

Mari Sandoz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1978 | Series: Bison Book

Covering more than two centuries, The Beaver Men ranges from the beginning of the beaver trade along the St. Lawrence to the last great rendezvous of traders and trappers on Ham's Fork, in what is now Wyoming, in 1834.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is not so much an historical study as a careful and intelligently drawn portrait of a world. . .that of the Great Plains during the period 1630-1834. [Mari Sandoz''s] point of focus is the hunting of the beaver, but the cumulative effect of the study is much broader than the conventional historical examination. Her essential concern is ecological: the relations of living creatures with each other and with their physical world. It is this perspective, unique among chroniclers of the fur trade, that gives the book its very considerable value. . . . Miss Sandoz''s treatment of the Indian role is a good deal more complete than most studies; her sources include Indian documentation as well as the more conventional white man''s documentation."—Colorado Magazine

(Colorado Magazine )

"The fate of the Plains Region was inextricably bound up with the fate of the buffalo; they fell together. This is the story Miss Sandoz has to tell, and she tells it beautifully, forcefully, epically. . . . A procession of interesting frontier figures, red and white [Wild Bill Hickok, Lonesome Charlie Reynolds, Buffalo Bill, Sheridan, Custer, and Indian chiefs Whistler, Yellow Wolf, Spotted Tail, Sitting Bull, passes through the narrative, briefly but sharply characterized."—New York Times Book Review

(New York Times Book Review )

"A brilliant, dioramic narrative, as vast in scope as the far-flung Great Plains."—Saturday Review of Literature

(Saturday Review of Literature )

Product Details

• Paperback: 343 pages
• Publisher: University of Nebraska Press; 1st Thus Edition edition (March 1, 1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803258844
• ISBN-13: 978-0803258846
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,027,272 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Informative, December 6, 2001

By 

William J Higgins III (Laramie, Wyoming United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Beaver Men: Spearheads of Empire (Bison Book) (Paperback)

This book gives a rare chronological history of how important the beaver was to relationships between France, Spain, England and the United States from the early 1600's of eastern Canada up to the last mountain rendezvous of 1840 in Wyoming. Although very informative, the writing style is oftentimes difficult to grasp, (especially in the first half of the book), and leaves one somewhat mentally handcuffed. I did enjoy the historical information, but reading the same sentence or paragraph several times to comprehend the subject matter was simply aggravating.

5.0 out of 5 stars yes..., December 9, 2010

By 

Robert J. Davidson (grand rapids mich) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Beaver Men: Spearheads of Empire (Bison Book) (Paperback)

Ahhh , the book takes me back in time to a rough and tough simpler time .

Great read .

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars " THE BEAVER MEN: " M. SANDOZ, December 19, 2010

By 

Lange (DUBUQUE , IOWA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Beaver Men: Spearheads of Empire (Bison Book) (Paperback)

SMOOTH , SPEEDY TRANSACTION !! A ++++++++++++ SELLER !! BOOK FURNISHES INTERESTING REVIEW OF "THE GLORY YEARS" OF FUR TRAPPING IN THE AMERICAN WEST DURING THE PERIOD OF 1830'S IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS , ETC. !!!!