Red Cloud and the Indian Trader: The Remarkable Friendship of the Sioux Chief and JW Dear in the Last Days of the Frontier

True story of genuine friendship between an Anglo trader and a Native American chief. This relationship continues among the descendants to the present day. Brought up on a diet of cowboys and Indians, this book goes some way to restoring a proper perspective. Remembering the song about the Deadwood Stage, this book throws some light on its origins. Worthy of academic studies of the Native Indians, this book stands on its own merits also as a fascinating tale for the general reader.

This is a very well written and researched book which covers a fascinating period of American History.The true story of J W Dear, a Virginian fur trader and his friend the powerful Indian Chief,Red Cloud.This becomes a real page turner as J W battles against Government injustice and corruption.A must read for those interested in The Civil war, Indian heritage and how nation building worked in America.

A very well-written history book that also tells a great human story of two men and their families. The daring white trader from Virginia and the powerful Indian chief form an unlikely relationship. The story of how both of them get screwed by government officials, up to and including American Presidents, makes this book as readable as an exciting thriller and as full of action as an old-fashioned western. But there is no sentimentality and no 'cowboys and indians' nonsense: just a clear portrait of an age and its politics, based on impeccable research.

A compelling, informative, challenging and fascinating read. How the story of two intertwined lives educates us about the best of human nature and the worst of governmental incompetence and injustice. A brilliant, painstakingly successful researched, insight into seminal episodes in American history - the Civil War and its aftermath and the lesser known Sioux wars for example. Much of it with deep relevance to the modern USA. All this and a very personal contemporary story too. This is history on both the macro and micro levels. The narrative zings along in fine style. Educative and readable.

The tragedy of a civil war that ripped a young nation apart. The inspirational spirit of the pioneering new settlers. The inevitable clashes as one ancient civilisation was forced to yield in the face of the inevitable tidal wave of immigrants seeking a better life in the west, or instant riches in the goldfields. All are brought vividly to life in this enthralling and meticulously researched book. So colourful it could be fiction, but it’s not. A great read.

I happened upon this book by accident. It sounded like an interesting story which peaked my curiosity.It is well written and is the story of two remarkable individuals who had a very special bond. It is a part of American history and I would highly recommend it.

This is narrative history at its very best. It works as 'serious history,' for those who are into serious history, but it will also work for those who prefer to receive history through novels, but novels which are historically accurate: think Larry Earl Schweikart meets Philipp Meyer,Many authors attempt that, but many fail on one count or both. Red Cloud and the Indian Trader is different. Marilyn Dear Nelson and her husband Chris Nelson have written an account of the life of her forebear, JW Dear, whose life spanned ante bellum America, the subsequent Civil War, in which he fought for the Confederacy with great distinction, and the final days of the ‘Wild West' before his death in 1883.The Nelson's skill is apparent in the way that they present a mass of, at times, intricate detail, but which informs the narrative without ever overwhelming it, as is so often the case with lesser writers. That is a remarkable achievement for those who, as far as I can discoverer, have never written a book before. What makes this story so unusual, and for that matter so 'modern,' is that the Nelsons have also unearthed JW Dear's close and abiding friendship with the legendary Oglala Lakota Sioux Chief, Red Cloud, whose death in 1909 extended into the modern era - dual lives which had started within living memory of the American War of |Independence. Their lives run in parallel. The Lakota Times describes their shared story 'as an authentic Wild West story, true and tragic.' It says it all.Perhaps having discovered their talent for writing this story of Marilyn’s own family, the Nelsons will now seek out other stories in American history on which to write.

This book is clearly the product of an impressive amount of wide-ranging research and the resulting narrative is a compelling account of how JW Dear, a Civil War veteran – and we get a dramatic account of his time with Mosby’s Rangers, a famous guerrilla outfit – both experienced the violence but also grasped the opportunities of life in the Wild West, living alongside the legendary Chief Red Cloud. I have read many books on this subject but rarely do you get one man’s account of major historical events – a fresh and new perspective. I highly recommend it.

ANTASTIC WELL WRITTEN, WITH INCREIBILE RESERCH. PLUS HOW MARILYN, 7 CHRIS BROUGHT THE PEOPLE IN THE STORY TOO LIFE AND MADE THEM FOLKS WE CAN RELATE TO. A JOB TO BE VERY PROUD OF. GOOD ON YOU FOLKS.WITH RESPECT,

So readable - couldn’t put it down - a must!!!

I read this book during a cruise and I throughly enjoyed it. This true story is fantastic…..I guess sometimes the facts of history outdoes any fiction. I could barely put down the book until I was done and learned a lot about the old Wild West in the process. The authors managed to keep an even hand in describing the white man and native Indian relationships - this is a MUST READ.

Fascinating account of an unusual friendship. Well researched and documented. A must read for any history buff. Great photos too.