Yet another book for my American Western Expansion 379 HIST class. This is the book hat inspired Larry McMurtry to write Lonesome Dove, and where the character of Gus originated -- he was Teddy Blue, cowpuncher extraordinaire.
I can't even begin to say how grateful i am for a Professor who assigns well-written primary source documents. Many Professors talk like they write -- stiff, formal, and full of bullshit. Not this one. She is a published historian herself, her newest offering being West from Appomattox. I haven't read that one, but she knows how to write well.
As for Teddy Blue's narrative -- this is one of the best books i know of about the great Texas trail herds in the 1870s and 80s. This guy was a character, and as he sowed to the wind he reaped the whirlwind. I'd buy the book just for the sense of humor the narrator had, and for the fact the writer just let him tell the story without inserting her academic ego into the mix. I enjoyed every page. Two thumbs up, tree outta four stars.
I can't even begin to say how grateful i am for a Professor who assigns well-written primary source documents. Many Professors talk like they write -- stiff, formal, and full of bullshit. Not this one. She is a published historian herself, her newest offering being West from Appomattox. I haven't read that one, but she knows how to write well.
As for Teddy Blue's narrative -- this is one of the best books i know of about the great Texas trail herds in the 1870s and 80s. This guy was a character, and as he sowed to the wind he reaped the whirlwind. I'd buy the book just for the sense of humor the narrator had, and for the fact the writer just let him tell the story without inserting her academic ego into the mix. I enjoyed every page. Two thumbs up, tree outta four stars.