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41 reviews for:
The Summer of 1876: Outlaws, Lawmen, and Legends in the Season That Defined the American West
Chris Wimmer
3.55 AVERAGE
41 reviews for:
The Summer of 1876: Outlaws, Lawmen, and Legends in the Season That Defined the American West
Chris Wimmer
3.55 AVERAGE
I have read several books about Custer and the Little Bighorn Battle. This author does an excellent job of describing the event with detail as well as the big picture, and also tying the year as pivotal in a few other ways.
The Summer of 1876: Outlaws, Lawmen, and Legends in the Season That Defined the American West. Chris Wimmer. St. Martin's Press, 2023. 320 pages.
1876 is a landmark year in American history. The country celebrated its centennial with a major exposition in Philadelphia, where visitors marveled at exhibits showcasing inventions like the telephone. Baseball team owners joined together to create the National League. Mark Twain published The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Legendary Old West lawman Wild Bill Hickok was gunned down in a Deadwood saloon, and the James-Younger Brothers gang attempted to rob the bank in Northfield Minnesota. In June of 1876, the US military suffered its greatest defeat of the Indian Wars at the Little Bighorn when Lakota and Cheyenne warriors devastated the 7th cavalry.
In The Summer of 1876, Chris Wimmer attempts to weave together the stories of these men and events that made 1876 such a landmark year. He doesn't quite succeed. The stories are told well, but there's really nothing new here, and he never really ties everything together cohesively. However, it all makes for an interesting snapshot of a particularly significant summer.
1876 is a landmark year in American history. The country celebrated its centennial with a major exposition in Philadelphia, where visitors marveled at exhibits showcasing inventions like the telephone. Baseball team owners joined together to create the National League. Mark Twain published The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Legendary Old West lawman Wild Bill Hickok was gunned down in a Deadwood saloon, and the James-Younger Brothers gang attempted to rob the bank in Northfield Minnesota. In June of 1876, the US military suffered its greatest defeat of the Indian Wars at the Little Bighorn when Lakota and Cheyenne warriors devastated the 7th cavalry.
In The Summer of 1876, Chris Wimmer attempts to weave together the stories of these men and events that made 1876 such a landmark year. He doesn't quite succeed. The stories are told well, but there's really nothing new here, and he never really ties everything together cohesively. However, it all makes for an interesting snapshot of a particularly significant summer.
informative
fast-paced
Just wasn't terribly interesting. Confusing at parts with all the main players the book was trying to cover. Advertised as a surface level survey and that's what it was, except it still dragged.
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
The positive for this book was that I did learn a lot about General Custer and the battles that led to his demise. I also learned about the James-Younger Gang’s last robbery that definitely did not go as planned. The author did state in the beginning that this was not meant to be an in depth, definitive scholarly account of the events of the summer of 1876. The negative for this book was that SO much time was spent the events of 10 years prior to Custer’s Last Stand to introduce us to the main players, so much time devoted to the battles and then a large chunk of time to the James Gang and the following 2 week manhunt. Baseball and politics were thrown in at the end of chapters like palate cleansers between bloodshed. Mark Twain was literally only mentioned in the epilogue. I really wanted this book to be like Bill Bryson’s One Summer: America, 1927 - where more equal time was given to how events happened and connected to a bigger picture.
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
It was very heavy on General Custer. I just wish it explored more of the other listed topics/people like Calamity Jane, Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, etc.
informative
reflective
fast-paced
medium-paced
I was really excited to read this book, as the subtitle promised a collection of great stories from the old west. However, I was disappointed to find that the majority of the book was focused on Custer's last stand. Don't get me wrong, it was an interesting read, but I was hoping for more variety in the stories. If you're specifically interested in Custer and the Battle of Little Bighorn, this book would be a good choice. But if you're looking for a broader collection of old west tales, I'd recommend looking elsewhere.
It does branch out a bit to cover several other people and events in less detail.
The Summer of 1876 was a time of great activity and drama in American history. Many notable figures made their mark during this time, including George Armstrong Custer and his infamous last stand. Jesse James and his gang were also causing trouble with their daring robberies throughout the country. Meanwhile, Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp were making names for themselves in Dodge City. Sitting Bull was also a prominent figure during this time, leading his people in their fight against the United States government. And surprisingly enough, the National League of baseball was also making headlines, captivating crowds with their exciting games.
Full review can be found at: https://bunkerofbooks05.wixsite.com/bunker-of-books/post/the-summer-of-1876
It does branch out a bit to cover several other people and events in less detail.
The Summer of 1876 was a time of great activity and drama in American history. Many notable figures made their mark during this time, including George Armstrong Custer and his infamous last stand. Jesse James and his gang were also causing trouble with their daring robberies throughout the country. Meanwhile, Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp were making names for themselves in Dodge City. Sitting Bull was also a prominent figure during this time, leading his people in their fight against the United States government. And surprisingly enough, the National League of baseball was also making headlines, captivating crowds with their exciting games.
Full review can be found at: https://bunkerofbooks05.wixsite.com/bunker-of-books/post/the-summer-of-1876