Oh What a Slaughter! : Massacres in the American West: 1846–1890

Larry McMurtry examines six major massacres that occurred in the American West between 1846 and 1890. The book focuses on conflicts between settlers, Native Americans, and Mormons during the turbulent period of westward expansion. Through historical records and firsthand accounts, McMurtry reconstructs the events leading up to each massacre and their immediate aftermath. The narrative covers incidents in California, Oregon, Utah, Colorado, and Idaho, providing context for the social and political climate of the era. The work stands as both a chronicle of specific historical events and a broader examination of violence in the American frontier. Its exploration of these brutal episodes raises questions about conquest, justice, and the complex legacy of western settlement.

Readers found the book disappointingly brief and superficial in its coverage of Western massacres. Many noted it reads more like a collection of personal musings than a thorough historical analysis. Liked: - Clear, accessible writing style - Inclusion of lesser-known events like Mountain Meadows - Personal reflections adding context to historical facts - Strong coverage of the Sand Creek massacre Disliked: - Too short at only 178 pages - Lack of new research or insights - Minimal primary source material - Scattered narrative structure - No maps or photographs included - Several historical inaccuracies noted by readers Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (220 ratings) Amazon: 3.3/5 (32 reviews) "Feels like McMurtry wrote this over a weekend," noted one Amazon reviewer. Multiple readers described it as "a missed opportunity" to deeply examine these tragic events. Several reviewers recommended alternative books on Western massacres, suggesting this serves better as a brief introduction to the topic.

Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West by Hampton Sides Chronicles the conquest of the American West through Kit Carson's life, depicting conflicts between Native Americans and settlers across the same time period as McMurtry's work.

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown Documents the systematic destruction of Native American tribes from 1860 to 1890 through military records and firsthand accounts of the conflicts.

A Fate Worse Than Death: Indian Captivities in the West, 1830-1885 by Gregory Michno Examines violent encounters between settlers and Native Americans through the lens of captivity narratives and documented incidents on the frontier.

Massacre at Mountain Meadows by Ronald W. Walker, Glen M. Leonard Reconstructs the 1857 massacre of California-bound emigrants by Mormon settlers in southern Utah using primary sources and archaeological evidence.

Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne Traces the rise and fall of the Comanche tribe through their conflicts with Texas settlers and the U.S. military during westward expansion.

🔹 Larry McMurtry's first job was a book collector in rare book shops, which influenced his historical writing and research methods throughout his career. 🔹 The Mountain Meadows Massacre (1857), one of the events covered in the book, was initially blamed solely on Native Americans but was later revealed to be carried out by Mormon militia members disguised as Indigenous people. 🔹 The author won both a Pulitzer Prize (for "Lonesome Dove") and an Academy Award (for co-writing "Brokeback Mountain"), making him one of few writers to achieve such cross-medium acclaim. 🔹 The Sand Creek Massacre (1864) led to the resignation of two territorial officers and resulted in the first Congressional investigation of American military conduct against Native Americans. 🔹 McMurtry's personal library in Archer City, Texas, contained over 450,000 books at its peak, including numerous rare volumes about the American West that helped inform works like "Oh What a Slaughter!"