Arizona, 1848. Les Apaches chiricahuas dominent une grande partie du Sud-Ouest américain. A leur tête, un stratège hors-pair : Cochise. En guerre depuis plus d'un siècle avec le Mexique, les Apaches s'inquiètent de l'arrivée des Américains. Pris entre deux armées, le grand chef s'ingénie à négocier une paix qui sauverait son peuple. Mais en 1861, les Chiricahuas sont accusés à tort d'un rapt d'enfant : c'est le début d'une guerre qui durera dix ans. La rencontre de Cochise avec l'aventurier Thomas J. Jeffords permettra au chef apache de changer le cour de l'Histoire.
Elliot Arnold was an American newspaper feature writer, novelist, screenwriter, and became a feature writer with the New York World-Telegram. Among his books, Elliott Arnold is probably best known for his novel Blood Brother that was made into the acclaimed 1950 motion picture Broken Arrow and an ensuing 1956 television series of the same name. Among his other works, his 1949 biography of Sigmund Romberg was made into the 1954 musical film, Deep in My Heart. Elliott Arnold died in New York City in 1980 at the age of sixty-seven. He was married to actress Glynis Johns.
The paperback I had was copyrighted in 1947 and 1954. This was the first printing: in 1966. The type was so small I went half-blind reading today wile convalescing. Yet the novel is definitely worth reading. I learned a lot about Apaches in general and the Chiricahuas in particular. I learned about Cochise himself, and Tom Jeffords. Fascinating!