Tin Horns and Calico is a captivating look at the rise of the American West during the mid-19th century. With a keen eye for detail, Henry Esmond Christman paints a vivid picture of the rough and tumble world of the frontier, where settlers fought for land, resources, and their very survival.

At the heart of the book is the story of two unlikely allies, a shrewd gambler named Nick Stratton and a fierce Apache warrior named Nana. Despite coming from vastly different backgrounds, the two find themselves united in their quest for power and influence in the rapidly changing landscape of the West.

Christman's prose is both lyrical and engaging, drawing the reader in with its rich descriptions and compelling characters. The book is a true page-turner, filled with twists and turns that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

Overall, Tin Horns and Calico is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the American West. Christman's storytelling prowess and meticulous attention to historical detail make this a book that is sure to entertain and enlighten readers of all ages.

Book Description:
In the early 19th century, in the Hudson Valley of New York State, hundreds of square miles of land were still the feudal domains of large landowners known as patroons. Such families as the Van Rensselaers, Livingstons, and Schuylers owned the farms and towns in which hundreds of thousands of ordinary people lived and worked. Even the capitol city of New York State, Albany, was encompassed in the private fiefdom of a patroon. On July 4, 1839, in the mountain town of Berne, New York, a mass meeting of tenant farmers issued a declaration of independence, promising: "We will take up the ball of the Revolution where our fathers stopped it and roll it to the final consummation of freedom and independence of the masses." The Anti-Rent War consumed the Catskill Mountain region through the 1840's, leading in the end to the downfall of the patroon system and the democratization of land ownership in New York State. - Summary by Maria Kasper