Vaqueros, Cowboys, and Buckaroos: The Genesis and Life of the Mounted North American Herders (M.K. Brown Range Life Series) [Hardcover]

Lawrence Clayton (Author), Jim Hoy (Author), Jerald Underwood (Author)

Book Description

Series: M.K. Brown Range Life Series | Publication Date: November 15, 2001

Herding cattle from horseback has been a tradition in northern Mexico and the American West since the Spanish colonial era. The first mounted herders were the Mexican vaqueros, expert horsemen who developed the skills to work cattle in the brush country and deserts of the Southwestern borderlands. From them, Texas cowboys learned the trade, evolving their own unique culture that spread across the Southwest and Great Plains. The buckaroos of the Great Basin west of the Rockies trace their origin to the vaqueros, with influence along the way from the cowboys, though they, too, have ways and customs distinctly their own. In this book, three long-time students of the American West describe the history, working practices, and folk culture of vaqueros, cowboys, and buckaroos. They draw on historical records, contemporary interviews, and numerous photographs to show what makes each group of mounted herders distinctive in terms of working methods, gear, dress, customs, and speech. They also highlight the many common traits of all three groups. This comparative look at vaqueros, cowboys, and buckaroos brings the mythical image of the American cowboy into focus and detail and honors the regional and national variations. It will be an essential resource for anyone who would know or portray the cowboy-readers, writers, songwriters, and actors among them. The late Lawrence Clayton's books, articles, and reviews focused largely on the contemporary cowboy and ranch life. Jim Hoy, of Emporia, Kansas, writes about the folklife of ranching, from the Australian Outback to the Flint Hills of Kansas. Jerald Underwood, of Uvalde, Texas, is a published authority on the vaquero.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 296 pages
• Publisher: University of Texas Press; lst ed edition (November 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0292712383
• ISBN-13: 978-0292712386
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,113,271 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good Idea-Big Disapointment, November 1, 2002

By 

Marco Antonio Abarca (Colorado) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Vaqueros, Cowboys, and Buckaroos: The Genesis and Life of the Mounted North American Herders (M. K. Brown Range Life Series,) (Paperback)

The idea behind this book is very good. A comparative history of vaqueros, cowboys and buckaroos is needed. These three groups share much in common but they are nevertheless historically distinct. I was hoping to understand the uniquess of each experience by learning about the common threads that tie the three groups together.

Unfortunately, the authors were not up to task. The authors are amateurs who share a great love for the subject. Unfortunately, there is large chasm between an enthusiast and a professional author. Sadly,the writing and analysis was weak. While reading the book, I wanted them to succeed but in the end, this was a book written by enthusiasts. This book only proves that gifted amateurs are a rare bird.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful comprehesnsive book, November 26, 2002

By 

Sarah Tebeau (Clovis, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vaqueros, Cowboys, and Buckaroos: The Genesis and Life of the Mounted North American Herders (M. K. Brown Range Life Series,) (Paperback)

This book is all you could hope for in the truth about vaqueros, cowboys, and buckaroos. These authors have done a wonderful job compiling all the true facts about these three similar, but not exactly a-like groups. This a must for anyone ineretsed in expanding your knoweleg. It is perfect for research or just fun. I would never part with my copy, and I wish I could have owned it sooner. Don't waste your time with other more falshy books, this is the only one you'll need.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absulutly nessary for any reader, November 26, 2002

By 

Sarah Tebeau (Clovis, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vaqueros, Cowboys, and Buckaroos: The Genesis and Life of the Mounted North American Herders (M. K. Brown Range Life Series,) (Paperback)

This the most comprehensive collection of Vaquero, cowboy and buckaroo history. Comparing in equal page length the diffrences and similarities of each group of horsemen. This is a wonderful book. I can't recomend it highly enough. It is perfect for research work or just to expand you knowlege. It is amust have for any person who enjoys the thruth behind the mythic cowboy. Wonderfuly complete, not a thing left out in this book. I don't know how I survived without it. Comgradualtions to the authors on such a complete job.