Nine Years Among the Indians, 1870-1879: The Story of the Captivity and Life of a Texan Among the Indians Paperback – April 7, 2018

I read this book after reading Empire of the Summer Moon, which the latter refrences throughout it's text. It seemed interesting and is a quick read, so why not?It did not disappoint! Far exceeded expectations. Others have noted that it's detailed enough to get the picture, but not too much to bog it down. This account gives the reader a honestly brutal account of life among the Apache and Commanche tribes. In many cases, it shows how short those lives were. Sometimes it's heartbreaking, others grotesque, and sometimes harrowing. If you're looking for a quick and exciting read, look no further.

Very good narrative of the end of the Indian Wars from Mr.Lehman's unique perspective as a captive of the Apaches.

Good read.Never boring.

Anyone who likes western novels and history would like this book. Very informative of Indian practices. Some of which I had never known before.

For me this book was difficult to read. Yes, the Indians had a different way of life. Why did they hate us? This book doesn’t say that we stole their land, killed their sources of food and treated them as less than. Instead of reservations, why not divide the land and learn from one another in peace. The Indians have much knowledge we could use. Both sides were at fault.

Like many of the reviewers, I've read a few accounts of captives of Native Americans during the early settlement of the United States. In most cases, Native Americans took children to replace those of their own who had been lost; adult and child captives were taken to serve as, or be sold as, slaves.Herman Lehmann was taken at age 11 from near his family home in Texas, when he already had a strong sense of survival. He was first a slave, then a close friend of, an Apache warrior. He learned the Apache language, the culture, then to hunt, raid, steal horses, and be everything that the Apaches expected of a member of their tribe. Later, forced to flee the tribe after avenging the murder of his friend, he joined a Comanche tribe and learned their language, as well as their ways. As the days of the Native American were drawing to a close, Comanche elder Quanah Parker (son of captive Cynthia Parker) began trying to persuade a reluctant Lehman to surrender to the authorities on a reservation.What makes this book so significant is the constant depiction of violence as a way of life. With raiding a core part of the Apache culture, once Lehmann is adopted into the group, he seems to always be on raids, and an unapologetic part of the related brutality. He is a willing participant in kidnapping, horse stealing, and murder; unwilling to leave his free life and return to his birth family until, he tells us, he marries and returns to his childhood Christian religion.Today, as we have increased reverence for the complex culture of Native Americans, this depiction of violence may help readers to understand why so many travelers across the plains were able to view them only through a lens of fear. Very interesting book - my reprint (no publisher listed) was 138 pages, a few minor editing problems, no photos.

This is a real page turner

This was a great book! It was interesting to learn of the Indian way of life and their views on all things. I wish it had more writing on his integration back to society, but this book was a good short read.

I bought this for my husband - he is a history buff. There seems to be a series available in this larger style of book - very good info and the price is right!

Very interesting !!! Gives an honest insight in indian life and mentality , and in the life and mentality of the pioneers ! Recommended !

Nine Years Among the Indians is a wonderful book. If you're interested in history, this is a stark, factual account of life as an Indian. I couldn't put it down. I learnt how to make arrowheads, what parts of a beef to eat first, raw! I learnt about the stoic bravery of a young boy, stolen from his kin fighting to be accepted and survive.Thankyou Herman Lehmann for putting pen to paper and furnishing us with this amazing unadorned first hand account of Indian life.

Ein sehr spannendes und interessantes Buch, welches die vielfältigen Brüche der indianischen Lebensweise und Kultur in der Zeit der Besiedlung Nordamerikas durch Europ. Einwanderer sehr authentisch beschreibt.Gerade weil es aus Sicht eines von Indianern entführten Jungen geschrieben ist, wird deutlich, was die von den "Einwanderen" begangene Landnahme und Zurückdrängung der indianischen Völker auf wenige Reservate bedeutete, nicht nur völkerrechtliches Unrecht, sondern die Vernichtung der wirtschaftlichen und kulkturellen Basis für ein freies Leben der gesamten amerikanischen (Ur)Bevölkerung.Es wird beschrieben, wie junge Menschen sich nicht mit dieser traurigen Situation abfanden, aus den Reservationen auszubrechen versuchten, um ein freies Leben wie Ihre Vorfahren zu führen. Es wird hautnah geschildert, wie Indianer über Ihre ehemaligen Stammesgebiet zogen, die Bisonherden waren verschwunden Ihre Jagdgründe waren zu Weideland geworden - , sodass Sie letztendlich Ihren Lebensunterhalt durch Diebstähle bei Siedlern zu bestreiten versuchten. Dass die Siedlerfamilien ihren Besitz mit der Waffe zu verteidigen versuchten und dass die Indianer ebenso bewaffnet vorgingen - führte zur rigerosen Verfolgung der 'freien Indianer' durch paramilitärische Rangertruppen - die daraus folgende Eskalation wird ohne Beschönigung beschrieben: auf Beiden Seiten gab es bestialische Racheaktionen, meist an zivilen Opfern, sowohl ganze Indianer- also auch Siedlerfamilien wurden umgebracht.Trotz oder gerade auch wegen der schonungslosen Schilderung der damaligen Realität; eine sehr lesenswertes Buch - für Erwachsene.

Passionnant ! Une vie incroyable et totalement chamboulée suite à cet enlevement. Que c'est dure pour un enfant et passionnant à lire. Violence parfois insupportable