Customer Reviews

Mangas Coloradas: Chief of the Chiricahua Apaches (Civilization of the American Indian Series)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

Like Goyathlay (Geronimo), I've always regarded Mangas Coloradas as a mentor...teacher, one who spoke the truth and never relaxed in his determined endeavor to bring salvation to the Apache People and deliver them from evil. Man of honor! Man of integrity! Great leader! Good book! So, buy it and read it!

very enlighting,author keeps your intrest hightend ! living for 3+ years in new mexico i had heard of mangas but new hardly anything of this great apache leader,now i do!

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.

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.

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.