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Albert L. Hurtado

John Sutter: A Life on the North American Frontier Hardcover – Illustrated, October 9, 2006

by Albert L. Hurtado Ph.D (Author)

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In the history of the American frontier, John Sutter (1803–1880) looms large. A Swiss expatriate who attempted to create a personal empire in California’s Sacramento Valley, he founded New Helvetia, a cosmopolitan settlement whose economy depended on Indian slaves and free laborers. New Helvetia drew overland immigrants to California in the 1840s and then—after gold was discovered by Sutter’s employees—a flood of fortune seekers. Sutter was poised to become one of the richest men in the West, but rapacious settlers and his own poor business sense sent his dreams crashing.

Albert L. Hurtado has written the definitive biography of Sutter, mining a wealth of sources to create the first fully documented account of the man and his times. John Sutter explores Sutter’s life in the broader context of America’s rush for westward expansion while plumbing the inner dynamics of this erstwhile empire-builder.

Sutter was a quintessential outsider driven by anxiety over status—a man of talent, vision, and heroic ambitions who nevertheless became the victim of his own inadequacies as a businessman and his inability to adjust to a rapidly changing frontier. Sutter was full of contradictions. While building a reputation as a humanitarian friend of destitute immigrants, he callously exploited Indians. Nevertheless, this penniless dreamer became one of the most important men in California and a major player in the American conquest of the West.

Print length

434 pages
Language

English
Publisher

University of Oklahoma Press
Publication date

October 9, 2006
Dimensions

7 x 1.31 x 10 inches
ISBN-10

080613772X
ISBN-13

978-0806137728
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Hurtado, a historian at the University of Okla., captures the rise and fall of an important and colorful immigrant to 19th-century California. Swiss expat John Sutter (1803-1880) arrived there in 1839 and founded a settlement called New Helvetia on the Sacramento River. But his thriving agricultural and commercial endeavors were crippled by the Gold Rush, as many of his laborers quit and headed to the mines. The strength of this study is Hurtado's willingness to portray Sutter's faults: his reliance on cheap, even enslaved, Indian labor; his efforts, when California entered the Union, to prohibit Indian suffrage. And Hurtado captures Sutter's excesses: he was a lousy businessman who loved to spend rather than accumulate money, and he lived lavishly, purchasing "splendid clothes," portraits of himself, and other trappings of wealth and success. Yet Hurtado often misses opportunities to bring Sutter's story to life. The author's treatment of the destruction by arson of Hurtado's home, Hock Farm, in 1865 would have been vivid in the hands of a more artful writer, but Hurtado passes over the incident with a single paragraph. While this is likely to be the definitive scholarly biography of Sutter, it's too plodding to appeal to a broad audience. 21 b&w illus., 3 maps.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Albert L. Hurtado is Professor and Paul H. and Doris Eaton Travis Chair of Modern American History at the University of Oklahoma. He is the author of several books, including John Sutter: A Life on the North American Frontier.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of Oklahoma Press; Illustrated edition (October 9, 2006)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 434 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 080613772X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0806137728
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.06 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 1.31 x 10 inches

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If you like history

Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2013

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As a student who was assigned the book, my approach towards the book was already pessimistic. The first couple of chapters held my interest, but during other parts of the book I found myself having to reread parts multiple times just to try and interpret what I was reading. However, the parts that I did find interesting, were well written and, well, interesting.
That being said, if you like history, especially Californian history, then you'll definitely like the read. The book is well written and goes into intricate details about the life and struggles of John Sutter. Often times he isn't exactly a prominent feature in the history textbooks. Most people know him for his affiliation with the Gold Rush and his contributions there. However, once you actually read the book, you'll discover there's a lot more to the man. The reader is taken through Sutter's life in an captivating journey from beginning to end. Hurtado sews the theme of failure throughout the book but accompanies it with Sutter's perseverance as well. In the end, Sutter's life ends up decently and he gets to settle. The book showed me a new side of man I definitely would have never read bout. So if you like history, and you aren't assigned the book, you'll enjoy it. Don't believe me? Guess you'll have to buy it!

One person found this helpful

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Heejeong Kim

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Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2013

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This book was a description of the western frontier in the United States and how John Sutter's contributions affected certain events. John Sutter is mainly known for his relations to the Gold Rush, but Hurtado reveals other relations that Sutter had to significant events in the western expansion. Sutter migrates to New York after financially failing in Switzerland and moves many times in the U.S. because of debts he manages to pile on. Eventually, he arrives in San Francisco, California in 1839, making political connections and acquaintances which becomes crucial to his stay at California. Sutter creates a settlement near the Sacramento River, becomes involved in the territorial conflict between Mexico and the U.S, makes Native American relations, and adds more debt to mountain of expenses that need to be paid. Meanwhile, he welcomes immigrants and historically significant figures that arrive in the west coast through his generosity and hospitality, even famous ones such as the Donner Party, John C. Fremont, and Kit Carson. He contributes to the gaining of California's independence in several ways such as his settlement becoming a military base for Captain Fremont and creating militias. When gold was discovered by Sutter's Mormon workers at his mill, news of the discovery spread, bringing a huge demographic increase in California; however, Sutter fails to make a profit from the new people and gets financially hurt. The book also addresses his family, which he abandons by leaving for America but is reunited with him after many years. His eldest son comes to his rescue by paying off a large portion of his debts through his investments in Sacramento and other business matters. Not only does Sutter helps to give California independence and populate the state, but he also contributes in gaining California's statehood. Sutter becomes a part of a delegation to advocate for the admission of California as a U.S. state, which is achieved in 1850. Despite his political significance and power, Sutter falls into a financial crisis after making rash decisions, which were usually deluded with alcohol, and loses his ownership of his great settlements and moves to Lititz, Pennsylvania. He continues with his life through reimbursements from the government until his death on June 18, 1880.
Although I didn't quite enjoy how Dr. Hurtado incorporated background knowledge of specific events throughout the book since I thought, at the time, the timing was arbituary, the book opened my eyes to the unknown significance of John Sutter to the Californian history. I thought it was pretty interesting how Sutter's life touched basis on many common trends of the lifestyles of the frontiersmen. The periodic humorous stories kept my interest in the book as well. I give it four stars because it didn't become my favorite book but it still remained an interesting historical source.

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Albert Bolter Author of The C.A.T. Principle: Change, Action, Trust - Words to Live By

This was simply a great read; I thoroughly enjoyed this book

Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2015

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This was simply a great read; I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Dr. Hurtado did a wonderful job of not only placing John Sutter in perspective, but also the epoch that he lived in. Often, it felt as if I was carried back to the times of the American West, and what it would have been like to have experienced that unique period of history. Although a lengthy book, Dr. Hurtado's writing style kept my attention, always wanting to turn to the next page. For anyone interested in learning about the American West, early California, and the fascinating character of John Sutter, this is a must read. You won't be disappointed. Thank you Dr. Hurtado!

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AMD

Must read for any CA history buff!

Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2020

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This is a must read for any CA history buff. Incredibly well written with insightful character observations. Well done Albert Hurtado!

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Patricia White Lily

Good book about Sutter

Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2012

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Being a native Californian, I am totally interested in the history of my state. Knowing about John Augustus Sutter is very important to anyone who wants to know the origins of the state. Sutter was an entrepreneur of the highest category. Coming out of Switzerland as a nearly penniless emigrant, he managed to survive and survive well in a difficult world. For many years he lived at the top of the heap, until the Gold Rush which started on his own property, became the cause of his financial ruin. Very interesting history for those who want to know the real details.

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Paula J Peper

Hurtado's research presents the real John Sutter

Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2015

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Solid research by an outstanding and much-honored historian on the real Sutter rather than the revisionist history version. Sutter lied his way through life, creating a false history for himself once he arrived in the US (having abandoned his family in Switzerland so he could escape debtor's prison). He kidnapped and traded Native American children from the Sacramento area to pay his debts off to coastal ranchers. And there's worse. Well-researched with all sources cited. Excellent work.

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Amy Jane Harding

What a heinous man. I am ashamed there are ...

Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2015

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What a heinous man. I am ashamed there are streets and schools named after him. He was a pedifile and NDN killer.

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john mcpherson

Great book

Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2013

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Thanks. John Sutter was huge in California history. His plan for building the state and his New helvenia never was completed because of the discovery of gold.

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Gavril

John Sutter a life on the North American frontier by Hurtuado

Reviewed in Italy on February 19, 2018

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Libro estremamente interessate, per chi desidera conoscere tutti gli strani dettagli della storia del vecchio West Americano (tipo Corsa all?oro, California etc.)

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