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Legends of the West: The Life and Legacy of Kit Carson
*Includes pictures of important people and places.
*Includes Carson's quotes about events in his life, and Fremont's quotes about him.
*Includes a bibliography for further reading.
"His name, in the Rocky Mountains, has been familiarly known for more than a quarter of a century; and, from its association with the names of great explorers and military men, is now spread throughout the civilized world. It has been generally conceded, and the concession has become strengthened by time, that no small share of the benefits derived from these explorations and campaigns, as well as the safety of the commands themselves, was and is due to the sagacity, skill, experience, advice and labor of Christopher Carson.” – DeWitt C. Peters
Space may be the final frontier, but no frontier has ever captured the American imagination like the “Wild West”, which still evokes images of dusty cowboys, outlaws, gunfights, gamblers, and barroom brawls over 100 years after the West was settled. A constant fixture in American pop culture, the 19th century American West continues to be vividly and colorful portrayed not just as a place but as a state of mind. In Charles River Editors’ Legends of the West series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of America’s most famous frontier figures in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known.
Of all the legends and folk heroes who lived in the 19th century, men such as Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett, few actually accomplished as much as Kit Carson. A frontier boy who hopped onto the Santa Fe Trail as a teen, Carson became the quintessential mountain man during the 1830s and was literally a trailblazer for John C. Fremont’s historic expeditions through the West in the 1840s. Along the way, Carson learned so many Native American dialects that he was considered nearly as proficient talking with them as he was fighting them. In fact, Carson engaged in a duel with another man over their romantic affections for an Arapaho woman named Singing Grass.
Carson’s reputation as a frontiersman turned him into one of the country’s best known dime novel heroes. At one point, he led a group in an attempt to rescue a woman and daughter kidnapped by Native Americans, only to discover that they had been reading a tale about Kit Carson rescuing someone from Native Americans. Of course, the stories embellished so much that when one man found out how diminutive Carson truly was, he responded, “You ain’t the kind of Kit Carson I’m looking for.”
Carson’s still remembered in large part due to the frontier folk hero status that he acquired among his contemporaries, but he was also crucially important as an Indian agent in the West during the 1850s and 1860s. While he helped the federal government reach treaties with certain tribes, including the Utes, he was also involved in the forced removal of the Navajo from their homelands. Thousands of Navajo died during the “Long Walk”, and Carson remains notorious for his involvement in it, despite the fact he had attempted to resign and avoid his duties on multiple occasions.
Legends of the The Life and Legacy of Kit Carson chronicles the Western icon’s life and examines the myths and legends in an attempt to separate fact from fiction. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Kit Carson like you never have before, in no time at all.
*Includes Carson's quotes about events in his life, and Fremont's quotes about him.
*Includes a bibliography for further reading.
"His name, in the Rocky Mountains, has been familiarly known for more than a quarter of a century; and, from its association with the names of great explorers and military men, is now spread throughout the civilized world. It has been generally conceded, and the concession has become strengthened by time, that no small share of the benefits derived from these explorations and campaigns, as well as the safety of the commands themselves, was and is due to the sagacity, skill, experience, advice and labor of Christopher Carson.” – DeWitt C. Peters
Space may be the final frontier, but no frontier has ever captured the American imagination like the “Wild West”, which still evokes images of dusty cowboys, outlaws, gunfights, gamblers, and barroom brawls over 100 years after the West was settled. A constant fixture in American pop culture, the 19th century American West continues to be vividly and colorful portrayed not just as a place but as a state of mind. In Charles River Editors’ Legends of the West series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of America’s most famous frontier figures in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known.
Of all the legends and folk heroes who lived in the 19th century, men such as Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett, few actually accomplished as much as Kit Carson. A frontier boy who hopped onto the Santa Fe Trail as a teen, Carson became the quintessential mountain man during the 1830s and was literally a trailblazer for John C. Fremont’s historic expeditions through the West in the 1840s. Along the way, Carson learned so many Native American dialects that he was considered nearly as proficient talking with them as he was fighting them. In fact, Carson engaged in a duel with another man over their romantic affections for an Arapaho woman named Singing Grass.
Carson’s reputation as a frontiersman turned him into one of the country’s best known dime novel heroes. At one point, he led a group in an attempt to rescue a woman and daughter kidnapped by Native Americans, only to discover that they had been reading a tale about Kit Carson rescuing someone from Native Americans. Of course, the stories embellished so much that when one man found out how diminutive Carson truly was, he responded, “You ain’t the kind of Kit Carson I’m looking for.”
Carson’s still remembered in large part due to the frontier folk hero status that he acquired among his contemporaries, but he was also crucially important as an Indian agent in the West during the 1850s and 1860s. While he helped the federal government reach treaties with certain tribes, including the Utes, he was also involved in the forced removal of the Navajo from their homelands. Thousands of Navajo died during the “Long Walk”, and Carson remains notorious for his involvement in it, despite the fact he had attempted to resign and avoid his duties on multiple occasions.
Legends of the The Life and Legacy of Kit Carson chronicles the Western icon’s life and examines the myths and legends in an attempt to separate fact from fiction. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Kit Carson like you never have before, in no time at all.
- GenresHistory
38 pages, Paperback
First published July 24, 2013
17 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 7, 2021
This is a brief, but very informative view of Kit Carson's life. He did more things than one can imagine in one short life. He was an excellent rifleman, trapper, guide overland (he had total recall of previous trips over the same land), government transcontinental courier, tracker, Indian agent, and more. He hobnobbed with the movers and shakers of the era, including John C Freemont and presidents.
The most fascinating fact I learned was that Carson was virtually illiterate, he could not read or write. However, he was articulate in several languages and at least 7 different Native American tongues and some dialects. Carson could never say no because he felt he needed to do what more educated people told him (even when he knew better than they did). Thus, Carson always felt inferior to others because of his inability to read and write. With his great communication skills, he was highly valued by whites and Native Americans alike. Carson was immortalized because he had more attributes than most and fewer vices than most.
The most fascinating fact I learned was that Carson was virtually illiterate, he could not read or write. However, he was articulate in several languages and at least 7 different Native American tongues and some dialects. Carson could never say no because he felt he needed to do what more educated people told him (even when he knew better than they did). Thus, Carson always felt inferior to others because of his inability to read and write. With his great communication skills, he was highly valued by whites and Native Americans alike. Carson was immortalized because he had more attributes than most and fewer vices than most.
August 3, 2018
A very Good Read about the old Wes life style
This is a very good book why we need to get as much knowledge and wisdom as we can. Kit Carson was a good man in changing the old west into a civilized country. But he could of used more wisdom and knowledge that all of us need.in our lives
This is a very good book why we need to get as much knowledge and wisdom as we can. Kit Carson was a good man in changing the old west into a civilized country. But he could of used more wisdom and knowledge that all of us need.in our lives
April 17, 2018
Kit Carson
Very nice telling if the highlights of ski Carson and his adventures. Well written and researched a good beginning book to read
Very nice telling if the highlights of ski Carson and his adventures. Well written and researched a good beginning book to read
September 28, 2020
Easy read on a true self-made mountainman.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews