Book Review: Geronimo

I always hate to pay shipping, so when I need to order something from Amazon I try to make sure I meet the minimum $25. This book was an "add-on" to avoid shipping charges. And am I glad I ordered it! It was a quick but fascinating read. I knew vague, scattered details about Geronimo, but that was all. And since we have loved all the Ralph Moody books about his own life, I thought it would be interesting to see how he treated the life of someone else.


Geronimo was the grandson of a great Apache chief and his father intended to train him up to become another great chief. The lessons were begun when he learned to walk. Warriors in training were taught to go for days without food or water. Geronimo's father taught him to shoot a bow and arrow, track animals (or men) where there appeared to be no trace of a trail, and to observe his surroundings so that not the smallest detail escaped his notice. 


Geronimo was, from the earliest years of his life, determined to be the best at every skill a warrior needed. And when he made his first "kill," he came back to camp ready to participate in the tribal ritual of bragging on it. It was a life long disgrace to lie, but when a hunter made a kill, he was allowed to turn his conquest into the biggest tall tale anyone ever heard. He excelled at this part, too, and came quickly to be known as a braggart and a haughty, proud boy. The fact that he was actually better as a young teen at the warrior skills than many seasoned warriors made his haughtiness hard to bear. He was disliked by most of the tribe and as he grew up, it only became worse.


The conflict with white men had begun for the Apache land and the tribe was split between those who wanted to run all whites out of the territory and those who were willing to live at peace with white men. Because of the greed and unscrupulous behavior of some white men, relations became very tense. Geronimo, intending to fan the smoldering disagreements into flame began raiding settlers homes and villages. He wanted war. He wanted it because he hated the white men and because he thought, through his leadership in war, he would be chosen chief of the Apaches. 


His ruthless cruelty caused such an outcry among the western settlers, that he actually brought much hardship to the Apache nation. It wasn't long before he was hated as much by his own people as he was by the white men. 


It is tragic how just a few men making wrong choices on both sides of the disagreement changed the course of history for an entire people. 


The last few chapters tell of the attempt by Apache scouts and the army to capture Geronimo and bring him to justice. As Moody explains, Geronimo led his enemies on the most incredible rounds of hide and seek ever known. It was  incredible to read of the determination and endurance of the Apache trackers. They could run for miles and miles at a steady pace that would even wear down horses. Geronimo had the skills and cunning to have made a great chief for his people, but because of his arrogance and deceitfulness, he destroyed his dream through consuming ambition and cruelty. 


This is #24 in the 52 books in 52 weeks challenge.  

http://www.read52booksin52weeks.com/