GERONIMO AND THE STORY OF HIS LIFE
Geronimo is the subject of this week’s REDMOND’S REVIEW. Darren continues his weekly report on book reviews. His unique insights into what each author provides to their readers gives us a better understanding in a condensed form.
Darren Redmond is the Executive Director of a non-profit firm in Fresno, California. He and his colleagues work diligently to help those with addictions to overcome and return to a happy, fruitful life.
REDMOND’S REVIEW
For those who follow the books that I read for review; three tendencies always seem to show themselves.
- They are usually autobiographical.
- Thus, they are usually nonfiction, unless they are poetry or a fable.
- They tend to be free in the public record.
I was enthralled with the autobiography, “Geronimo’s Story of His Life”, transcribed by S. M. Barrett and published in 1906. This first-person account of this icon, of Apache, Mexican, and American history, gives details of his life that many including myself never thought. And, you may find it to be very surprising.
This book makes you feel like you are riding along with Geronimo and Cochise. The reader learns in fine detail what life was like for Geronimo.
SOME FACTS NOT WELL KNOWN ABOUT GERONIMO
Some quick facts that you may or may not have known:
- Much of Geronimo’s quest for vengeance, came from the fact that soldiers murdered his wife, his children and his mother.
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Those soldiers came from Mexico.
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Many of the battles and raids put forth by Geronimo were with less than a hundred men on his side. On more than a few occasions there were only two or three men with him.
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On at least six different occasions Geronimo was shot.
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Geronimo had a great admiration for President Theodore Roosevelt. And, he even dedicated this book to him.
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Geronimo gives painstaking detail and evidence of the many times he had gone into agreement with soldiers on the American side, just to have them break their treaty. However, he was much more angry during his whole life with the government and soldiers of Mexico.
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Geronimo points out many times the differences between homesteaders and pioneers. Mostly, they treated him and his people fairly. They were from both Mexico and the United States. And, many of these people were soldiers, too.
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Geronimo was very impressed with the World’s Fair of 1904. And, he gives a wonderful account of being on a Ferris wheel for the first time.
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Geronimo became a Christian but never stopped advocating for the lands of the Apache in the mountains of Arizona. And, for his people to be assimilated with the government of America, but at the same time to be able to have the lands that were agreed on more than a few times.
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Geronimo goes into great detail about their traditions and customs of his people. Some of which shatter myths that people perpetuate this day.
SUMMATION
One can listen to the audio version, which lasts less then 5 hours.
It is a wonderful book to read. And, I highly recommended reading or listening to it.
This book is absolutely free to read in the public domain.
Written By: Darren Redmond
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