Kit Carson: The Life of an American Border Man

Oklahoma Western Biographies #27

by David Remley

History has portrayed Christopher "Kit" Carson in black and white. Best known as a nineteenth-century frontier hero, he has been represented more recently as an Indian killer responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Navajos. Biographer David Remley counters these polarized views, finding Carson to be less than a mythical hero, but more than a simpleminded rascal with a rifle. Kit The Life of an American Border Man strikes a balance between prevailing notions about this quintessential western figure. Whereas the dime novelists exploited Carson's popular reputation, Remley reveals that the real man was dependable, ethical, and—for his day—relatively open-minded. Sifting through the extensive scholarship about Kit, the author illuminates the key dimensions of Carson's life, including his often neglected Scots-Irish heritage. His people's dire poverty and restlessness, their clannish rural life and sternly Protestant character, committed Carson, like his Scots-Irish ancestors, to loyalty and duty and to following his leader into battle without question. Remley also places Carson in the context of his times by exploring his controversial relations with American Indians. Although despised for the merciless warfare he led on General James H. Carleton's behalf against the Navajos, Carson lived amicably among many Indian people, including the Utes, whom he served as U.S. government agent. Happily married to Waa-Nibe, an Arapaho woman, until her death, he formed a lasting friendship with their daughter, Adaline. Remley sees Carson as a complicated man struggling to master life on America's borders, those highly unstable areas where people of different races, cultures, and languages met, mixed, and fought, sometimes against each other, sometimes together, for the possession of home, hunting rights, and honor.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History

320 pages, Hardcover

First published May 5, 2011

Reviews

[Greg Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected this to be an academic read, filled with references, inane details and minutia but instead it was a fascinated look at a little-known American hero. Instead of flying through the book I found myself rationing. It certainly gave me a window in on the period especially the Civil War as fought out West. Not for everyone but a must-read if you love history.

[Dale Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remley attempts to provide a balanced view of Kit Carson's life. For the most part he succeeds. We see many positive attributes of a man who was reputed to be a stone cold killer. In the end he one on the the Native American Indian's most loyal proponents.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superbly researched biography of a very interesting, complicated man. Right off the bat the text opens with a section on the historiography of Kit Carson. I found this particularly interesting because it seems to be me to be a movement in reaction to first Kit as a hero and then Kit as a villain. The text includes multiple statements dedicated to pursuit of balance. I wonder if this is a movement with historians or just a few subjects? The wisdom that the interpretation of the history tells us more about modern times than it does about the morals of the subject is profound to me.

The book was very short and I felt somewhat dry. In my opinion this gives me confidence that it gets the history right and the sensationalism short. With that being said there were fine moments of action and drama. I always find the final scenes of Kit's life to be so compelling but my favorite part was the early days. When Kit practiced violence what was he thinking? The text does not really state only poses the questions and gives us options from other sources. Fair treatment always.

I might give more Oklahoma Western Biographies a shot because they seem to really get it right!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A balanced biography of Kit Carson. For some he is a hero fighting the Indians and for others he is a nemesis filled with cruelty. As with most people we should consider both sides and understand that as a product of his time and his Scots-Irish background, he did what he thought was right. He was also a man who could be kind. I appreciate the biographer's points of view and now have a more nuanced opinion.

[Marina Antolini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great biography, very well researched. The prologue was perfect, it said exactly what needs to be considered before reading any biography of a person who lived in a world we can barely imagine.
Having said that, I was looking for a more linear, novel-style reading and this is not that. It felt "chopy" at times and difficult to focus on Kit Carson when so many other details about other characters were given.

[Marieta Grissom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Remley provides more family religious (Scots-Irish Presbyterian) background for the Carson family than other authors, and when telling the same stories other authors have researched and told, he uses a different angle, drawing upon the prevalent common justification of time and place (mid-1800s New Mexican border territory).

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kit is my 5th great uncle, so I read this with great fascination. He lived during an amazing time in our country. There are those who believe he was anti-Native American, but from what I read, I cannot find this true. He had two Native American wives and had at least two children with them. Sadly only 1 child lived to maturity. He in spite of being illiterate spoke several languages, Spanish, Ute, and other Plains Indian languages. He was called upon to serve many times by the U.S. government, often without pay and he served his country well. Prior to the horrid situation with the Navajos he tendered his resignation, multiple times and was refused. I believe he mourned over doing this duty and his health declined after this time. I was unaware that his wife preceded him in death, by a few weeks. She died as a complication of childbirth.

[Linda Howe Steiger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well done, balanced, credible biography of an important and admirable western character by an author with serious academic credentials. I most enjoyed Remley's descriptions of Carson's travels with General Fremont. Some may feel Carson nothing but an unrepentant Indian killer--The author takes pains to debunk the simplistic view, placing Carson within his own 19th century context and reminding the reader of Carson's complexity as opposed to dime-novel heroism. The discussion of his changing understanding of the meaning of justice has contemporary application. I recommend it.

[Steve · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a book I struggled through. I received it in a group of history books I purchased and thought it would be a good read. It is quite detailed in the life of Kit Carson and all of that detail made it a tough read. Carson is not a historical person of interest to me which I'm sure affected my rating of this book. If you are interested in the life of Kit Carson, I would recommend you give this book a try, but if you are just looking for an entertaining book to read, this is not that book.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Remley sets out to write a book about the real Kit Carson and does a good job. We see a man who at times seems to be quick to violence with no regard for remorse and at other times a man who is quick to peace. A good book, but a bit dry reading.