Blood and Thunder: A Epic of the American West

Blood and Thunder is a riveting, deeply researched history of the American conquest of the West—a story brimming with drama, conflict, and the complicated legacy of Manifest Destiny. National bestseller Hampton Sides brings the era to life, beginning in 1846 as the Army of the West marches through Santa Fe, setting off a decades-long struggle over the vast and wild territories claimed by both the United States and Mexico.

At the heart of this sweeping narrative is Kit Carson, the legendary trapper, scout, and soldier whose life intersected with nearly every major event of the era. Sides paints Carson as a man who understood and respected the Native tribes—especially the Navajo—even as he became an instrument of their undoing. Through Carson’s eyes, readers witness the collision of cultures, the ambitions of empire, and the tragic consequences for the original inhabitants of the land.

Rich in detail and spanning more than thirty years, Blood and Thunder offers a clear-eyed look at how the West was really won—full of authority, color, and hard truths. It’s essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the real story behind the legends, and the cost of America’s relentless push westward.

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