This edition includes "Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the Mountains" and "Chief of Scouts", two autobiographical sketches of Captain William F. Drannan, Scouts Chief in which he describes his days in the Far West. The author has narrated in his own plain, blunt way, the incidents of his life. However, later researches and accounts have labeled Drannan as more of a great pretender than a fearless scout. Although the authenticity of these books are questionable they nevertheless represent classics of frontier literature.
Howes and others give scathing review of this work as unreliable. Drannan's wife may have actually written most of the book, based on her husband's stories. Drannan has himself as the rescuer of Olive Oatman, and a companion of Kit Carson.
Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the Mountains is autobiographical account of Captain William F. Drannan, Scouts Chief. The author has narrated in his own blunt way the incidents of his life in the West. He starts out with the most notable events of his boyhood days, then come his flight and a trip, to St. Louis, hundreds of miles on foot, his accidental meeting with that most eminent man of his class, Kit Carson. The author also gives sketches of the springing into existence of many of the noted cities of the West, and the incidents connected therewith that have never been written before. This book represent one of the classics of frontier literature.
Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the Mountains is autobiographical account of Captain William F. Drannan, Scouts Chief. The author has narrated in his own blunt way the incidents of his life in the West. He starts out with the most notable events of his boyhood days, then come his flight and a trip, to St. Louis, hundreds of miles on foot, his accidental meeting with that most eminent man of his class, Kit Carson. The author also gives sketches of the springing into existence of many of the noted cities of the West, and the incidents connected therewith that have never been written before. This book represent one of the classics of frontier literature.
In 'Capt. W. F. Drannan, Chief of Scouts, As Pilot to Emigrant and Government Trains,' William F. Drannan provides a gripping first-hand account of his experiences as a scout navigating the treacherous frontier of the American West in the mid-19th century. Drannan's vivid storytelling and attention to detail immerse the reader in the harsh realities of life on the frontier, making this book a valuable historical document that sheds light on the challenges faced by early pioneers. Written in a straightforward and unembellished style, Drannan's narrative serves as a unique glimpse into the tumultuous era of westward expansion and the crucial role played by scouts in aiding emigrant and government trains. The unforgiving landscapes and encounters with Native American tribes depicted in the book provide a sense of authenticity that is both informative and engaging. William F. Drannan's personal experiences as a scout and guide inform his perspective in this compelling account of the American frontier. His intimate knowledge of the terrain and deep understanding of Native American cultures lend credibility to his narrative, offering readers a valuable glimpse into a bygone era of American history. I highly recommend 'Capt. W. F. Drannan, Chief of Scouts, As Pilot to Emigrant and Government Trains' to anyone interested in the history of westward expansion, Native American studies, or the challenges of life on the American frontier.
Texas has been home to so many colorful characters, out-of-staters might wonder if any normal people live here. And it's true that the "Texian" desire to act out sometimes overcomes even the most sober citizens—which makes it a real challenge for the genuine eccentrics to distinguish themselves from the rest of us. Fortunately, though, many maverick Texans have risen to the test, and in this book, Gene Fowler introduces us to a gallery of Texas eccentrics from the worlds of oil, ranching, real estate, politics, rodeo, metaphysics, showbiz, art, and folklore. Mavericks rounds up dozens of Fowler's favorite Texas characters, folks like the Trinity River prophet Commodore Basil Muse Hatfield; the colorful poet-politician Cyclone Davis Jr.; Big Bend tourist attraction Bobcat Carter; and the dynamic chief executive of the East Texas Oil Field Governor Willie. Fowler persuasively argues that many of these characters should be viewed as folk performance artists who created "happenings" long before the modern art world took up that practice in the 1960s. Other featured mavericks run the demographic gamut from inspirational connoisseurs of the region's native quirkiness to creative con artists and carnival oddities. But, artist or poser, all of the eccentrics in Mavericks completely embody the style and spirit that makes Texas so interesting, entertaining, and culturally unique.
What can the life writing of post-famine Irish immigrants tell us about Irish diasporic memory? Of Memory and the Misplaced considers the endurance and nature of Irish American memory across the twentieth century. Guided by 30 memoirs written between 1900 and 1970, Sarah O'Brien shows the prevalence of intimate and taboo themes in ordinary immigrants' writing, such as domestic violence, same-sex love, and famine-induced trauma. Importantly, Of Memory and the Misplaced critiques the role of the Irish landscape as a site of memory and shows how the interiority of the domestic world has provided Irish women with the language needed to reclaim their own lives. Combining literary and historical theory, Of Memory and the Misplaced highlights voices that have traditionally been silenced and offers a rare and unexplored collection of primary source autobiographical texts to better understand the experiences of Irish immigrants in the United States.
