Joe Walker

by Martha Ture

JOE WALKER was a famous 19th century explorer, known for founding and naming Independence, Missouri. He was the first Euro-American to enter California across the Sierras; and the first to see Yosemite. In 30 years of leading men into unmapped wilderness, he was renowned for never losing a man. Thirty years after his first California expedition, during the middle years of the Civil War, 65-year-old Walker took an expedition of untrained men into the Arizona wilderness to prospect for gold. He led his men into the midst of the war between the U.S. Army and the Mimbreno and Chiricahua Apaches. Walker’s story is about relentless enemies - old age, leadership, racial animosity, war, the passing of an era, and a man’s rage to make his life significant, in spite of failure.

370 pages, paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Charles Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating story that mixes history and fiction. Interesting characters in compelling situations that not only hold a reader's interest, while at the same time exposing the reader to the history of the period. My only criticism is that the story is not divided in chapters, which would make for easier reading. A 300-page book without chapter headings can be somewhat confusing. Otherwise,the author has written a promising book.

[Martha Ture]

As author, I can tell you that I got great joy out of learning about this man and his time, and I hope you enjoy it too.

[Richard Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good men all.

Well laid out and felt real. I would like it to have been with them feeling. I will read more of these..