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Three Years Among the Comanches
First published in 1859, Nelson Lee’s Three Years Among the Comanches is perhaps the most widely known story of all Indian captivity narratives. Lee was a Texan Ranger captured by marauding Indians in the 1850s and forced to live with them as a slave for three years before making his escape. His account includes detailed descriptions of life in a nomadic Comanche village, his marriage to a young squaw, buffalo hunts, Comanche versus Apache conflicts, Comanche mythology and gut-wrenching descriptions of the terrible fates of his fellow-captives who were tortured before him, his life being spared only because of a silver alarm clock he possessed, the loud workings of which mystified his superstitious captors.
161 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1859
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
April 4, 2021
Advertised as a book about the Comanche tribe, there is actually very little written about them within this book! Also 'many' facts within here seem very exaggerative or just downright wrong. Historians contest the reliability of this text and I must agree. Still interesting to read from the voice of someone living in the 19th c.
November 11, 2024
Five and a Half Hours With the Raconteur
"Three Years Among the Comanches" is a relatively short book, which has this "read in one breath" quality to it. It's like watching one of these good old westerns with John Wayne. And not only it's packed with the rollicking breathtaking adventures but also has the added bonus of being a true story. At least, if it's a memoir, there must be some truth to it, right?
Well, that's what I thought as I was reading (mainly listening to the audiobook version, although I also had the ebook). But then, upon finishing, I ventured looking up the author, Nelson Lee, in the Wikipedia. Not surprisingly, Wikipedia contains a whole bunch of different Nelson Lees. I was aiming at the one with Texas ranger or at least writer in disambiguation, but the only one who met the description turned out to be Nelson Lee (raconteur).
In the book Nelson Lee claims he began his adventurous life journey as a seaman, then repeatedly served as a Texas Ranger, afterwards earned his living by catching and reselling wild mustangs, during which equine enterprise he was captured by the Comanches. His description of the wonderful regularity of Comanche towns and a few other details did ring a few doubtful bells in my head, but Wikipedia's sentence on the matter went far beyond doubts:
In 1859 an account of his life was published by a group of editors "not quite in his own words". Like some other Indian captivity narratives of the 19th-century, its "chief concern, was neither accuracy of sensation nor fidelity to the hard facts of frontier life, but rather the salability of pulp thrillers." He tells us that he took part in various campaigns (his name does not appear on the relevant muster rolls) and had dramatic adventures (such as saving his life among the Comanches by the use of a particularly loud alarm watch).
He also describes Comanche customs (agriculture and fixed, organized, towns) that had no relation to reality.
His work is regarded as a hoax. It has nevertheless been much-reprinted, used by serious anthropologists, and appears in many collections of captivity narratives.
Well, at least the audiobook is only five and a half hours and not twenty five, and this recommended reading popped up as I finished it: Comanches: The History of a People. And also it appears I already have Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History, so it could serve as a nice antidote to the raconteur's tales.
To summarize: "Three Years Among the Comanches" is very much like Farley Mowat's "Never Cry Wolf" -- an amazing bestselling story of adventures among wolfs, which rings very true, but is actually a bestselling hoax.
"Three Years Among the Comanches" is a relatively short book, which has this "read in one breath" quality to it. It's like watching one of these good old westerns with John Wayne. And not only it's packed with the rollicking breathtaking adventures but also has the added bonus of being a true story. At least, if it's a memoir, there must be some truth to it, right?
Well, that's what I thought as I was reading (mainly listening to the audiobook version, although I also had the ebook). But then, upon finishing, I ventured looking up the author, Nelson Lee, in the Wikipedia. Not surprisingly, Wikipedia contains a whole bunch of different Nelson Lees. I was aiming at the one with Texas ranger or at least writer in disambiguation, but the only one who met the description turned out to be Nelson Lee (raconteur).
In the book Nelson Lee claims he began his adventurous life journey as a seaman, then repeatedly served as a Texas Ranger, afterwards earned his living by catching and reselling wild mustangs, during which equine enterprise he was captured by the Comanches. His description of the wonderful regularity of Comanche towns and a few other details did ring a few doubtful bells in my head, but Wikipedia's sentence on the matter went far beyond doubts:
In 1859 an account of his life was published by a group of editors "not quite in his own words". Like some other Indian captivity narratives of the 19th-century, its "chief concern, was neither accuracy of sensation nor fidelity to the hard facts of frontier life, but rather the salability of pulp thrillers." He tells us that he took part in various campaigns (his name does not appear on the relevant muster rolls) and had dramatic adventures (such as saving his life among the Comanches by the use of a particularly loud alarm watch).
He also describes Comanche customs (agriculture and fixed, organized, towns) that had no relation to reality.
His work is regarded as a hoax. It has nevertheless been much-reprinted, used by serious anthropologists, and appears in many collections of captivity narratives.
Well, at least the audiobook is only five and a half hours and not twenty five, and this recommended reading popped up as I finished it: Comanches: The History of a People. And also it appears I already have Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History, so it could serve as a nice antidote to the raconteur's tales.
To summarize: "Three Years Among the Comanches" is very much like Farley Mowat's "Never Cry Wolf" -- an amazing bestselling story of adventures among wolfs, which rings very true, but is actually a bestselling hoax.
July 5, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It is the story of Nelson Lee who was captured by the Comanches and lived with them for three years. I enjoyed this book for two reasons: First, it is very well written. It is fascinating and vivid. It gives you the feeling you are out there, in the wild and dangerous west and you travel with the author in unknown places that exist no more. Nelson Lee is certainly a good story teller.
The book is full of exaggerations and unbelievable stories. The author claims that he has participated in the Black Hawk War, that he served as a seaman on the Delaware and Ontario chasing pirates between Africa and Brazil. He even sailed to Yucatán and his ship was sunk but he was saved in the nick of time by some wreckers. He claimed to have joined the Texas Rangers under John Hays and to have joined the Somervell and the Mier expedition. He also claimed that he served as a scout in the Mexican War and that he participated in the battle of Monterrey, and on Hays's march to Mexico City. He worked with livestock for many years, gathering and selling herds of horses and cattle; one day his party was attacked by Comanches and all members except Lee and three others were killed. His life was spared because the Indians were amazed by his alarm watch and they thought he had supernatural powers. During his captivity, Nelson Lee observed closely the way of life of his captors. He claims that the Comanches were farmers who planted corn and beans and sometimes, when in hunger, they ate their own horses. He also reports violent conflicts between Comanches and Apaches. His own escape from the Comanches is like a Hollywood movie. Actually the whole story looks like a movie. The hero survives a rattlesnakes' bite, is hunted by an alligator, spends nights alone in the wilderness surrounded by wild roaming beasts and survives many conflicts with Mexican bandits.
Because of all these flaws, many readers consider the book is pure fiction. Some scholars accept the authenticity of the book some others reject it. I think that many stories in the book are fictional, but the basic story is true and the descriptions of the life in the wilderness are too vivid to be imaginative. Even as pure fiction it is worth reading it.
The book is full of exaggerations and unbelievable stories. The author claims that he has participated in the Black Hawk War, that he served as a seaman on the Delaware and Ontario chasing pirates between Africa and Brazil. He even sailed to Yucatán and his ship was sunk but he was saved in the nick of time by some wreckers. He claimed to have joined the Texas Rangers under John Hays and to have joined the Somervell and the Mier expedition. He also claimed that he served as a scout in the Mexican War and that he participated in the battle of Monterrey, and on Hays's march to Mexico City. He worked with livestock for many years, gathering and selling herds of horses and cattle; one day his party was attacked by Comanches and all members except Lee and three others were killed. His life was spared because the Indians were amazed by his alarm watch and they thought he had supernatural powers. During his captivity, Nelson Lee observed closely the way of life of his captors. He claims that the Comanches were farmers who planted corn and beans and sometimes, when in hunger, they ate their own horses. He also reports violent conflicts between Comanches and Apaches. His own escape from the Comanches is like a Hollywood movie. Actually the whole story looks like a movie. The hero survives a rattlesnakes' bite, is hunted by an alligator, spends nights alone in the wilderness surrounded by wild roaming beasts and survives many conflicts with Mexican bandits.
Because of all these flaws, many readers consider the book is pure fiction. Some scholars accept the authenticity of the book some others reject it. I think that many stories in the book are fictional, but the basic story is true and the descriptions of the life in the wilderness are too vivid to be imaginative. Even as pure fiction it is worth reading it.
April 17, 2023
While the veracity of Lee’s accounts are debatable, this book is still a fascinating read and notable for the perspectives of Texans in the nineteenth century.
July 11, 2025
I recently had the misfortune to read a review of Roald Dahl's delightful autobiographical work, "Going Solo," and discovered, to my significant dismay and sad chagrin, that at least one of the author's fellow countrymen had once quite publicly cast considerable doubt as to whether a specific event related by Dahl in his book had actually even occurred in the first place! Worse still, his former (aka, more or less jilted) first wife, the beloved Hollywood actress, Patricia Neal (whose timeless performances I still, nevertheless, very much enjoy to this very day), reportedly also publicly expressed doubt about the veracity of her ex's personal account.
Okay. Fair enough, I suppose. After all, everyone's entitled to his or her "free speech" style opinion, eh? Likewise, we are all possessed of an equally active bunghole to match the all too often slander-spewing gaping hole hanging somewhere between our nose and chin, but if I may be so bold; here's a rather simple little question for any and all dubious doubters: JUST WHO THE HECK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
In other words, although I am 100+% sure that plenty of autobiographical narratives are (sometimes, more or less) fictionalized, otherwise exaggerated, or simply misremembered, etc., for crying out loud... so what? So, just exactly WHO are hoighty-toighty, pseudo-regal old YOU to pass judgement on someone or other who, in the case of this particular author, Nelson Lee, lived and died more than a century ago?
Actually, when you really think about it, I guess it's any good reviewer's honor-bound duty to at the very least express their skepticism over a given account, but again, I ask, how in God's name does anyone know what's real, what's fictional, and what is merely embroidered for the sake of good old fashioned storytelling?
In other words, WE don't. You don't know. I don't know. Nobody knows for sure. And in most cases, none of us are EVER going to know for absolute sure, so... whatever! But just keep yapping away, I guess. Until you too, your very own high-minded (but infinitely mortal nonetheless) self, are, like so many of our forebears, finally and perhaps mercifully, at long last, cold, dead, and returned to the dust from whence we all sprang.
At any rate, I cannot say that I always truly enjoyed reading Lee's often harrowing account of his three years being held captive by the Comanche Indian tribe, but that's only because the gory and sadly heart wrenching descriptions of some of the most brutal and inhumane things that the aforementioned "Native American" tribes people are known to have often done to their captives is, well... let's just say that a number of the incidents described in the book are most definitely NOT for the faint of heart.
In other words, at one point in his narrative, the author describes making the acquaintance of three unfortunate caucasian women who had a few years earlier been abducted from a westward bound wagon train. These unlucky representatives of the fairer sex consisted of a mother and two daughters who, all of whom had been born in England, once had the misfortune to be prostelyzed to by devout Mormon missionaries, who had eventually coaxed the now deceased family patriarch to leave home and hearth and seek ye olden "promised land" in that farflung vertible beacon of hope today known as the American State of Utah.
Thus, when Nelson Lee met these ill-fated fellow captives, it was only after he'd been traded to yet another Comanche band, and sadly, like two of the men he'd himself been captured with, one particularly bloody evening, he was forced to watch the elder English woman be stripped of every last article of her clothing, and then helplessly bound to a stake. After that, over the course of at least half an hour or more, she was repeatedly sliced with blades of various types by feverishly dancing and howling tribespeople who took turns lifting portions of the poor woman's still living scalp.
When she passed out from shock and what must have been unbearable agony, the Comanches mercilessly revived her, again and again, and then, probably long after her beleaguered spirit had finally flown from her tortured body, her skull was unceremoniously caved in with a single final tomahawk blow. And ALL of this was done in full view of the two daughters, who had also been stripped naked, bound to posts, and forced to watch as these needless barbarities were meted out upon the poor soul who had once carried them for nine months and sustained their once tiny bodies with milk from her own loving breasts.
And why, one might ask, was the poor English woman dispatched this way? Apparently, because, unlike the two daughters, she was no longer able to adequately work as a slave for the tribe because rheumatism had set in. Thus, she was no longer of any use to anyone but her two so-called "privileged" white daughters.
And to think that that poor woman hadn't even wanted to emigrate from "good ol' blighty" in the first place! In fact, she had allegedly resisted her foolish husband's fervent plans to join Brigham Young's merry band of desert dwelling disciples up until the very last moment when the entire hapless family had boarded the ship that would inevitably take them to their doom at the hands of such would be "noble savages."
AS IF Native Americans (or any other group of people, for that matter!) are EVER a monolith! AS IF, every single last representative of ANY so-called "race" all do and/or say absolutely the same things all the time, every blinkered chance they get, and are ALL, every last one of "them," guilty, or likewise entirely guiltless, of absolutely anything that any given INDIVIDUAL among them once supposedly did (or didn't even) do to begin with! Psst! If you think ANY of the above, then maybe, just maybe... YOU ARE THE "RACIST." YOU'RE THE "NAZI." Just maybe.
And to think that, during the Afghan and Iraq wars, the global news media was feverishly militant in their undying condemnation when even one hair on a dead Taliban or Iraqi insurgent body's precious little head got plucked! I mean, did any of our boys take any scalps when they were over there? But woe to any American soldier or ally who dared to merely be photographed smiling next to the cadaver of a deceased terrorist. I mean, how dare they, Greta? How dare they!
I mean... just imagine if a given Jihadi had been slowly, painstakingly, and quite agonizingly tortured to death for the sake of... well, SHEER, UNBRIDLED CRUELTY. You know, like what often happened to allied soldiers and literally MILLIONS of Asian (Chinese, Filipino, etc., etc.) CIVILIANS who had the misfortune to fall into the hands of the Imperial Japanese Army during their relentless and often brutal Pacific campaign.
But yeah, "culture."
Psst! Nazism was an extension of central European (in that particular case, German) "culture." But did that make it right? Better yet, was it actually WRONG for us allies to go over there and put a stop to Hitler's misguided bloodlust? "Well, you know, it's their culture. They kill Jews. It's what they do. I mean, in other countries people eat pork, or refuse to eat beef, or... I don't know. They have pet rocks or... well, they love to hear the 'N-word' constantly repeated in their 'gangsta' 'hip-hop' songs - even though many actually think that any non-"African" American caught merely uttering said word instantly becomes fair game for abuse, or even outright murder. Why, in some countries, people still marry their cousins and mutilate their daughter's vaginas! And why not, eh? It's their culture. So... carry on, then! Right, you are! Cheerio!"
Uh... nah. Uh-uh. NOPE.
I mean, just imagine! And hey, I don't know about the next guy, but if given a choice, I'm pretty sure I'd prefer being "waterboarded" to being scalped, while still very much alive, and only after that, gradually succumbing to a slow, murderously agonizing "death by a thousand cuts." But hey! That sort of thing was still commonly being practiced in China during the nineteenth century, too. You know, back when it was still very much fashionable to purposely break the foot bones of pretty little girls, so their feet would never grow properly and they'd be PERMANENTLY dependant for the rest of their natural born lives, on... well, various members of the YELLOW patriarchy! Just imagine THAT, John Lennon. Just imagine. Psst! You don't have to, because it all actually happened. Whether you care to actually believe that it ever did or not.
Yet, I trust that the nevertheless excessively proud modern Chinese seldom had the glorious fortune to publicly butcher white folks back in the old days. Nope. As I understand it (having formerly lived long-term in both Taiwan and Shanghai, China), they mostly just murdered one another every now and then. Which is pretty much the way it is in every single group of people the world over! Believe it or not, people simply find all sorts of excuses to hate and kill one another. Until, that is, a different "race" or ethnic group, etc. comes marching in, and... blamo! Hey! Now we have an excuse to hate and kill even more people for a change. Yeah! Good times, baby! Good.... Uh.. nah. Uh-uh. I think I'll abstain, thank you very much. But ya'll go right ahead, eh? Just, ya know... do your thing. I guess...
A-hem.
But... then again, that's all gen-u-ine, verifiable HUMAN history. I mean, ain't it? Not that any or it is at all "politically correct" these days, of course. Of course not! Heck, no! Nope. Nowadays, it's only fashionable to highlight and shamelessly magnify the crimes and misdemeanors of any and all of them pesky "whites."
But hey, that's just people for ya, I guess. Again, everybody's entitled to his or her fancy o-pin-i-on. In other words, we all, each and every one of us, get to decide for ourselves if said incident or alleged historical (or recently newsworthy and conveniently slanted and overly sensationalized) account actually even transpired or not. So, in the end, who decides? DID Epstein really kill himself? DID some of (THE ACTUAL, GEN-U-INE, BONAFIDE, CERTIFIABLY REAL) Nazis somehow manage to escape to their hidden moon base, where they're all just waiting to come down and finish what they started back in the early 1930s? And if so, why haven't they shown up yet? Hmm.... Better yet, DID us annoying, burger and potato CHIP slurping "Yanks" really land on the moon?
Actually, yeah, we did. And not just once. In fact, we put twelve, able-bodied, walking, talking, patriotic, red-blooded Americans on the surface of that otherwise barren rock over the course of 6 (count 'em, 6!!!) Apollo missions. Thus, in the end, I guess it's like what the very much fictional American F.B.I. character, Fox Mulder, always used to say on The X-Files. "The truth is out there." You're damn straight it is, Scully! Yet sadly, in the end, not everyone is ever even going to bother to learn said unvarnished truth, much less have the sheer gall and temerity to so much as "believe it, or not."
Okay. Fair enough, I suppose. After all, everyone's entitled to his or her "free speech" style opinion, eh? Likewise, we are all possessed of an equally active bunghole to match the all too often slander-spewing gaping hole hanging somewhere between our nose and chin, but if I may be so bold; here's a rather simple little question for any and all dubious doubters: JUST WHO THE HECK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
In other words, although I am 100+% sure that plenty of autobiographical narratives are (sometimes, more or less) fictionalized, otherwise exaggerated, or simply misremembered, etc., for crying out loud... so what? So, just exactly WHO are hoighty-toighty, pseudo-regal old YOU to pass judgement on someone or other who, in the case of this particular author, Nelson Lee, lived and died more than a century ago?
Actually, when you really think about it, I guess it's any good reviewer's honor-bound duty to at the very least express their skepticism over a given account, but again, I ask, how in God's name does anyone know what's real, what's fictional, and what is merely embroidered for the sake of good old fashioned storytelling?
In other words, WE don't. You don't know. I don't know. Nobody knows for sure. And in most cases, none of us are EVER going to know for absolute sure, so... whatever! But just keep yapping away, I guess. Until you too, your very own high-minded (but infinitely mortal nonetheless) self, are, like so many of our forebears, finally and perhaps mercifully, at long last, cold, dead, and returned to the dust from whence we all sprang.
At any rate, I cannot say that I always truly enjoyed reading Lee's often harrowing account of his three years being held captive by the Comanche Indian tribe, but that's only because the gory and sadly heart wrenching descriptions of some of the most brutal and inhumane things that the aforementioned "Native American" tribes people are known to have often done to their captives is, well... let's just say that a number of the incidents described in the book are most definitely NOT for the faint of heart.
In other words, at one point in his narrative, the author describes making the acquaintance of three unfortunate caucasian women who had a few years earlier been abducted from a westward bound wagon train. These unlucky representatives of the fairer sex consisted of a mother and two daughters who, all of whom had been born in England, once had the misfortune to be prostelyzed to by devout Mormon missionaries, who had eventually coaxed the now deceased family patriarch to leave home and hearth and seek ye olden "promised land" in that farflung vertible beacon of hope today known as the American State of Utah.
Thus, when Nelson Lee met these ill-fated fellow captives, it was only after he'd been traded to yet another Comanche band, and sadly, like two of the men he'd himself been captured with, one particularly bloody evening, he was forced to watch the elder English woman be stripped of every last article of her clothing, and then helplessly bound to a stake. After that, over the course of at least half an hour or more, she was repeatedly sliced with blades of various types by feverishly dancing and howling tribespeople who took turns lifting portions of the poor woman's still living scalp.
When she passed out from shock and what must have been unbearable agony, the Comanches mercilessly revived her, again and again, and then, probably long after her beleaguered spirit had finally flown from her tortured body, her skull was unceremoniously caved in with a single final tomahawk blow. And ALL of this was done in full view of the two daughters, who had also been stripped naked, bound to posts, and forced to watch as these needless barbarities were meted out upon the poor soul who had once carried them for nine months and sustained their once tiny bodies with milk from her own loving breasts.
And why, one might ask, was the poor English woman dispatched this way? Apparently, because, unlike the two daughters, she was no longer able to adequately work as a slave for the tribe because rheumatism had set in. Thus, she was no longer of any use to anyone but her two so-called "privileged" white daughters.
And to think that that poor woman hadn't even wanted to emigrate from "good ol' blighty" in the first place! In fact, she had allegedly resisted her foolish husband's fervent plans to join Brigham Young's merry band of desert dwelling disciples up until the very last moment when the entire hapless family had boarded the ship that would inevitably take them to their doom at the hands of such would be "noble savages."
AS IF Native Americans (or any other group of people, for that matter!) are EVER a monolith! AS IF, every single last representative of ANY so-called "race" all do and/or say absolutely the same things all the time, every blinkered chance they get, and are ALL, every last one of "them," guilty, or likewise entirely guiltless, of absolutely anything that any given INDIVIDUAL among them once supposedly did (or didn't even) do to begin with! Psst! If you think ANY of the above, then maybe, just maybe... YOU ARE THE "RACIST." YOU'RE THE "NAZI." Just maybe.
And to think that, during the Afghan and Iraq wars, the global news media was feverishly militant in their undying condemnation when even one hair on a dead Taliban or Iraqi insurgent body's precious little head got plucked! I mean, did any of our boys take any scalps when they were over there? But woe to any American soldier or ally who dared to merely be photographed smiling next to the cadaver of a deceased terrorist. I mean, how dare they, Greta? How dare they!
I mean... just imagine if a given Jihadi had been slowly, painstakingly, and quite agonizingly tortured to death for the sake of... well, SHEER, UNBRIDLED CRUELTY. You know, like what often happened to allied soldiers and literally MILLIONS of Asian (Chinese, Filipino, etc., etc.) CIVILIANS who had the misfortune to fall into the hands of the Imperial Japanese Army during their relentless and often brutal Pacific campaign.
But yeah, "culture."
Psst! Nazism was an extension of central European (in that particular case, German) "culture." But did that make it right? Better yet, was it actually WRONG for us allies to go over there and put a stop to Hitler's misguided bloodlust? "Well, you know, it's their culture. They kill Jews. It's what they do. I mean, in other countries people eat pork, or refuse to eat beef, or... I don't know. They have pet rocks or... well, they love to hear the 'N-word' constantly repeated in their 'gangsta' 'hip-hop' songs - even though many actually think that any non-"African" American caught merely uttering said word instantly becomes fair game for abuse, or even outright murder. Why, in some countries, people still marry their cousins and mutilate their daughter's vaginas! And why not, eh? It's their culture. So... carry on, then! Right, you are! Cheerio!"
Uh... nah. Uh-uh. NOPE.
I mean, just imagine! And hey, I don't know about the next guy, but if given a choice, I'm pretty sure I'd prefer being "waterboarded" to being scalped, while still very much alive, and only after that, gradually succumbing to a slow, murderously agonizing "death by a thousand cuts." But hey! That sort of thing was still commonly being practiced in China during the nineteenth century, too. You know, back when it was still very much fashionable to purposely break the foot bones of pretty little girls, so their feet would never grow properly and they'd be PERMANENTLY dependant for the rest of their natural born lives, on... well, various members of the YELLOW patriarchy! Just imagine THAT, John Lennon. Just imagine. Psst! You don't have to, because it all actually happened. Whether you care to actually believe that it ever did or not.
Yet, I trust that the nevertheless excessively proud modern Chinese seldom had the glorious fortune to publicly butcher white folks back in the old days. Nope. As I understand it (having formerly lived long-term in both Taiwan and Shanghai, China), they mostly just murdered one another every now and then. Which is pretty much the way it is in every single group of people the world over! Believe it or not, people simply find all sorts of excuses to hate and kill one another. Until, that is, a different "race" or ethnic group, etc. comes marching in, and... blamo! Hey! Now we have an excuse to hate and kill even more people for a change. Yeah! Good times, baby! Good.... Uh.. nah. Uh-uh. I think I'll abstain, thank you very much. But ya'll go right ahead, eh? Just, ya know... do your thing. I guess...
A-hem.
But... then again, that's all gen-u-ine, verifiable HUMAN history. I mean, ain't it? Not that any or it is at all "politically correct" these days, of course. Of course not! Heck, no! Nope. Nowadays, it's only fashionable to highlight and shamelessly magnify the crimes and misdemeanors of any and all of them pesky "whites."
But hey, that's just people for ya, I guess. Again, everybody's entitled to his or her fancy o-pin-i-on. In other words, we all, each and every one of us, get to decide for ourselves if said incident or alleged historical (or recently newsworthy and conveniently slanted and overly sensationalized) account actually even transpired or not. So, in the end, who decides? DID Epstein really kill himself? DID some of (THE ACTUAL, GEN-U-INE, BONAFIDE, CERTIFIABLY REAL) Nazis somehow manage to escape to their hidden moon base, where they're all just waiting to come down and finish what they started back in the early 1930s? And if so, why haven't they shown up yet? Hmm.... Better yet, DID us annoying, burger and potato CHIP slurping "Yanks" really land on the moon?
Actually, yeah, we did. And not just once. In fact, we put twelve, able-bodied, walking, talking, patriotic, red-blooded Americans on the surface of that otherwise barren rock over the course of 6 (count 'em, 6!!!) Apollo missions. Thus, in the end, I guess it's like what the very much fictional American F.B.I. character, Fox Mulder, always used to say on The X-Files. "The truth is out there." You're damn straight it is, Scully! Yet sadly, in the end, not everyone is ever even going to bother to learn said unvarnished truth, much less have the sheer gall and temerity to so much as "believe it, or not."
November 20, 2008
This is said to be a first-person narrative account of Texas Ranger Nelson Lee's capture and life with a band of the Comanche. Much of the details involved in the narrative is generally and even specifically accurate, according to early Texas history. However, it is possible that this is not a true historical account, and some scholars dispute its origins. I particularly question several of the practices related to torture-styles and lifestyle traits that are attributed to the Comanche. It is my view that some of these details were gleaned from the influence the writer (whomever he may really have been) may have had in connection with southern forest-region tribes, rather than plains bands like the Comanche. Still, the account is quite intriguing, and enough of the historical context and specific details related to the plains Amerindians, the early settlers' interactions with the Comanche, and the activities of the early Texas Rangers are accurate as to make this a truly worthwhile read. Caveat: this book contains frightful details regarding depradations and torture, so perhaps it's not for everyone.
August 19, 2016
Texas Rangers -Indian captive
A narrative detailing the exploits of the Texas Rangers throughout the West when Indians and white settlers engaged in battles for the land. Captured by Comanches, Nelson Lee recounts the suffering of the other captives and his own.He managed to survive because he possessed a trinket that the Indians considered sacred. He saw the suffering of the white women captives, and on his eventual escape, he determined to make their rescue his life's work.
A narrative detailing the exploits of the Texas Rangers throughout the West when Indians and white settlers engaged in battles for the land. Captured by Comanches, Nelson Lee recounts the suffering of the other captives and his own.He managed to survive because he possessed a trinket that the Indians considered sacred. He saw the suffering of the white women captives, and on his eventual escape, he determined to make their rescue his life's work.
July 10, 2016
Entertaining read - I read a note that many think the recounting is slightly exaggerated - I have to agree - but provides insight to the life and times of a Ranger who was captured by the Comanches and lived to tell about it. 3 stars.
August 3, 2013
Captured by the Comanche, Lee writes of his years of captivity and how he affected his escape. This Texas Ranger gives an insight into Plains Indian life from first hand knowledge.
September 9, 2020
great insight good read
September 18, 2021
The author of this autobiography, published in 1859, is Nelson Lee, and has been described by whatever limited resources on the internet as almost illiterate. I am amazed by this because it is very well written and his vocabulary is sophisticated. I am also amazed by his recall and detail since illiteracy probably means he didn’t have a journal to refresh his memory. I can’t help but believe there was a ghost writer involved. Lee’s life was crammed full of so many and varied adventures in his young life that one might suppose that in the name of recording History, he may have “borrowed” some of the events from others and claimed them as his own. But how this book came to be is not nearly as important as the fact that this is one of the most authentic and detailed historical descriptions of conflicts of the time, particularly in Texas, that we have.
The title, “Three Years Among the Apaches” is pretty misleading. Most of this book is about all the other adventures of this young man, mostly warring with the Mexicans and various Indian tribes who were messing with the settling of Texas and other areas, and a brief spell chasing pirates. The commanders he served under are well known to history and so are the locations.
In the last third of the book he gets captured by the Comanches. The descriptions of the things he saw and personally experienced take a strong stomach as the Comanches were perhaps the most violent and cruel of the North American Indian nations. Bloody and gruesome details are not omitted. His life is eased a bit when he marries a Comanche woman. His account of daily life, the culture and customs of these ferocious warriors is fascinating.
It is not a spoiler to say that at long last he narrowly escapes. That part of his story is a captivating and harrowing tale.
One should try to read this biography without a political eye and realize it is the perspective of one soldier and Texas Ranger 160 years ago and is a remarkable description of the time period. I highly recommend this informative biography to anyone interested in this era of American history.
The title, “Three Years Among the Apaches” is pretty misleading. Most of this book is about all the other adventures of this young man, mostly warring with the Mexicans and various Indian tribes who were messing with the settling of Texas and other areas, and a brief spell chasing pirates. The commanders he served under are well known to history and so are the locations.
In the last third of the book he gets captured by the Comanches. The descriptions of the things he saw and personally experienced take a strong stomach as the Comanches were perhaps the most violent and cruel of the North American Indian nations. Bloody and gruesome details are not omitted. His life is eased a bit when he marries a Comanche woman. His account of daily life, the culture and customs of these ferocious warriors is fascinating.
It is not a spoiler to say that at long last he narrowly escapes. That part of his story is a captivating and harrowing tale.
One should try to read this biography without a political eye and realize it is the perspective of one soldier and Texas Ranger 160 years ago and is a remarkable description of the time period. I highly recommend this informative biography to anyone interested in this era of American history.
February 8, 2018
"Three Years Among the Comanches" could have been nominated for a Pulitzer award for misnomers, if ever there was such a thing.
With his book title, Nelson Lee misleads the reader into believing that the latter is about to embark on a journey of discovery into the culture of the Comanches in the 1850s; only for the reader to find out that almost 67% of the book has nothing to do with the Native American tribe!
The build up to the Comanche encounter is buried 47% deep into the book and the last 20% of the pages detail Nelson's escape from his antagonists. It would appear that Nelson is far more interested in talking about himself! As for the Comanches, the reader is given a cicerone tour of the tribes without ever delving deeply into their wont. In Nelson's defense one could argue that his observations are that of a prejudiced captive rather than that of a keen anthropologist.
A sense of disappointment surreptitiously creeps upon the reader as he realises through the unfolding pages that his quest for knowledge of Comanche customs and traditions will not be slaked by this narrative, which never truly engages the imagination to enrapture the reader; Nelson Lee is no Edgar Rice Burroughs!
To make matters worse, it does not help the narrative when the introduction states that "...some historians have questioned the reliability of this book. Some writers have pointed out they have been unable to find evidence that Lee was a member of the Texas Rangers...some of Lee's descriptions of Comanche life appeared to contradict that of other evidence available."
The narrative would have managed expectations better had it been referred to as "Three Years in the Life of a Texas Ranger". Readers who would like to learn more about Native American culture should give a wide berth to this book and instead look up "Wooden Leg: A Warrior Who Fought Custer", in which an explicit account of the life of the Plains Indians, albeit Cheyenne and not Comanche, is given; and should serve as a paragon for Native American anthropological literature.
With his book title, Nelson Lee misleads the reader into believing that the latter is about to embark on a journey of discovery into the culture of the Comanches in the 1850s; only for the reader to find out that almost 67% of the book has nothing to do with the Native American tribe!
The build up to the Comanche encounter is buried 47% deep into the book and the last 20% of the pages detail Nelson's escape from his antagonists. It would appear that Nelson is far more interested in talking about himself! As for the Comanches, the reader is given a cicerone tour of the tribes without ever delving deeply into their wont. In Nelson's defense one could argue that his observations are that of a prejudiced captive rather than that of a keen anthropologist.
A sense of disappointment surreptitiously creeps upon the reader as he realises through the unfolding pages that his quest for knowledge of Comanche customs and traditions will not be slaked by this narrative, which never truly engages the imagination to enrapture the reader; Nelson Lee is no Edgar Rice Burroughs!
To make matters worse, it does not help the narrative when the introduction states that "...some historians have questioned the reliability of this book. Some writers have pointed out they have been unable to find evidence that Lee was a member of the Texas Rangers...some of Lee's descriptions of Comanche life appeared to contradict that of other evidence available."
The narrative would have managed expectations better had it been referred to as "Three Years in the Life of a Texas Ranger". Readers who would like to learn more about Native American culture should give a wide berth to this book and instead look up "Wooden Leg: A Warrior Who Fought Custer", in which an explicit account of the life of the Plains Indians, albeit Cheyenne and not Comanche, is given; and should serve as a paragon for Native American anthropological literature.
December 5, 2024
Excellent book.
I had just finished reading, “Nine Years Among the Indians,” and was interested enough to read another book of a captive white man - this one.
I enjoyed it.
The book was written by the captive, and as such, used the same type of language he used back in the day. A definite cool look at how the spoke and communicated back then.
The book starts-off with the authors life in the military (Navy), and then his Texas Ranger days, and how he retired from that and finally settled to transport herds of livestock across the country.
The previous history takes about 48% of the book. And his capture does not start until around the 50% mark.
Overall, it was a super interesting read. Not just about his capture and treatment. But also about what Texas Rangers actually did for the state of Texas.
Recommended.
I had just finished reading, “Nine Years Among the Indians,” and was interested enough to read another book of a captive white man - this one.
I enjoyed it.
The book was written by the captive, and as such, used the same type of language he used back in the day. A definite cool look at how the spoke and communicated back then.
The book starts-off with the authors life in the military (Navy), and then his Texas Ranger days, and how he retired from that and finally settled to transport herds of livestock across the country.
The previous history takes about 48% of the book. And his capture does not start until around the 50% mark.
Overall, it was a super interesting read. Not just about his capture and treatment. But also about what Texas Rangers actually did for the state of Texas.
Recommended.
January 27, 2022
Most men who were captured by the Comanches were tortured and killed, including Lee's traveling companions. But a watch with an alarm on it saved his life! The Indians were intrigued by it and thought he had magic powers or a special connection to the sun-god. Although he lived like a servant and was sold to other Indians, nevertheless, his watch continued to save him until he was finally able to escape. Firsthand tale.
July 26, 2017
I give it four stars not as endorsement of its truthfulness, for it is almost entirely a work of fiction by a skilled con man. Rather, I give it four stars because it is an entertaining story, and Nelson Lee recounts an interesting fable. Read it as you would a Louis L'Amour novel, keeping in mind that it is a fanciful yarn.
May 19, 2019
The actual abduction by the Comanches doesn't come until about page 80 (the half way point of the book). Considering the title of the book this seemed weird to me. The narration of the author's escape was interesting but only took up one chapter. The book would have been better if more of the book was about the author's time among the Comanches and his escape from them.
July 19, 2019
A detailed personal story
A interesting account from frontiersman, Texas ranger, adventurer, U.S. soldier and captive Nelson Lee. Detailed information on the customs and ways of the different tribes as well as the settlers including dress, weapons and tools. A fast paced life full of adventure and emotions.
A interesting account from frontiersman, Texas ranger, adventurer, U.S. soldier and captive Nelson Lee. Detailed information on the customs and ways of the different tribes as well as the settlers including dress, weapons and tools. A fast paced life full of adventure and emotions.
February 27, 2022
An amazing account of an extraordinary life. Not for the faint of heart, this book is a stark reminder of how hard and rough life was in Texas and the west in the 1800s. Today we take for granted the multitude of luxuries we have and pity ourselves for the slightest misfortunes. Lee’s daily difficulties outnumber what most of us experience in a lifetime.
A short yet profound book.
A short yet profound book.
February 21, 2023
Heroic reply to mans desire for freedom
Simply written and wonderfully descriptive of the human spirit. Terribly interesting from a human perspective. Absolutely astonishing the degree that a human can persevere in the face of overwhelming obstacles. Undeniable in the degree of suffering.
Simply written and wonderfully descriptive of the human spirit. Terribly interesting from a human perspective. Absolutely astonishing the degree that a human can persevere in the face of overwhelming obstacles. Undeniable in the degree of suffering.
October 21, 2023
Engaging
Mr Lee paints an intriguing story about his adventures as a Texas Ranger. Up until he is caught by the Comanches, the narrative is disjointed and difficult to follow. The second half of the book gives keen insights to Indian life and culture. All in all, a good read for those interested in the old West.
Mr Lee paints an intriguing story about his adventures as a Texas Ranger. Up until he is caught by the Comanches, the narrative is disjointed and difficult to follow. The second half of the book gives keen insights to Indian life and culture. All in all, a good read for those interested in the old West.
August 16, 2025
Nelson Lee chronicles his adventures in the 1850, a Texas Ranger kidnapped by the Comanches and kept alive likely because of his watch. When its alarm went off the Indians believed it was a sign from the Great Spirit. After three years he finally escaped but spent weeks alone frightened of Indians recapturing him and searching for a white settlement.
September 7, 2025
Gooe but some questionable facts
Most of Lee's observations are credible. He does state Commanches could ride on the side of their horses full gallop and shoot arrows under their mounts chins. Every other credible author I've tead on this subject denigrates that story as pure fantasy. There are a few other statements I question but all in all a gripping account.
Most of Lee's observations are credible. He does state Commanches could ride on the side of their horses full gallop and shoot arrows under their mounts chins. Every other credible author I've tead on this subject denigrates that story as pure fantasy. There are a few other statements I question but all in all a gripping account.
February 1, 2017
Fascinating story
Life in the early years in central Texas was tough. Getting captured by the Comanche even tougher. Incredible story of one man's life and survival during this turbulent time.
Life in the early years in central Texas was tough. Getting captured by the Comanche even tougher. Incredible story of one man's life and survival during this turbulent time.
February 4, 2017
A fast paced and interesting read. It would deserve 5 stars if there were not doubt about the veracity of this tale of being held captive by the Comanche.
Even if it is fictional or exaggerated, it is still worth reading.
Even if it is fictional or exaggerated, it is still worth reading.
July 7, 2017
Page turner
Couldn't put this down! Amazing. Truly eye opening story that provides a front row seat to the realities of this time period. Very well written. The author's descriptions take you to an incredible time and place in American history.
Couldn't put this down! Amazing. Truly eye opening story that provides a front row seat to the realities of this time period. Very well written. The author's descriptions take you to an incredible time and place in American history.
December 20, 2021
Amazing tale!
Few such first hand stories exist, and this one is among the most hair raising. Author speaks in the arch, Old Testament language of his day, which makes for an added bonus for those interested in reading such books. Highly recommend.
Few such first hand stories exist, and this one is among the most hair raising. Author speaks in the arch, Old Testament language of his day, which makes for an added bonus for those interested in reading such books. Highly recommend.
September 10, 2022
Found this e-book on Barnes & Noble instead:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thre...
(The Amazon link went to a blank page with a picture of a dog.)
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thre...
(The Amazon link went to a blank page with a picture of a dog.)
November 12, 2025
IF YOU WANT A GREAT BOOK TO READ
This book will bring undisclosed knowledge of what a white man endured living with Comanches While reading it you’ll both hate but come to a understanding of the difference between our races
This book will bring undisclosed knowledge of what a white man endured living with Comanches While reading it you’ll both hate but come to a understanding of the difference between our races
November 3, 2017
Fascinating true history.
First person account of a Texas Ranger and Pioneer captured by Comanches and his experience and escape. An intelligent and savvy history.
First person account of a Texas Ranger and Pioneer captured by Comanches and his experience and escape. An intelligent and savvy history.
May 15, 2020
A hard life to live in those days. Interesting, but eye-opening how brutal the Comanches could be.
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