A young Prussian aristocrat, enters the Military Academy. An unfortunate incident requires him to leave to become involved in strife in both the old and new world.
In accord with the times, as a Prussian aristocrat, Johann Heinrich von Manfred enters the Kriegsakademie at 10 years of age. An unfortunate occurrence necessitaes his flight from school. He aids a Gypsy band while journeying through France and the Pyrenees to join in the fight to put Carlos, the pretender on the Spanish throne. With the death of the general, who is his mentor, he must again flee. He arrives in the New World where he aids Houston to liberate Texas and stays on as a ranger until Texas runs out of money. He moves on to 'Old California' where he saves the life and hacienda/ranchero of a Spanish Don, marries the daughter and defends their land during the Mexican War. He then finds gold in '49 and establishes the 2nd bank in Yerba Linda.. The action is fierce and the love tender while the complicated political intrigue behind the action is readable.
Professional Reviews
El Tigre
While I am not a huge fan of books about the wild west, Manhold has written a captivating novel, and one that will keep you glued to the pages. What I particularly admire is his attention to historical detail. This book was clearly very well, and extensively researched. That combined with a story line that moves at a break neck pace this book should appeal to a very wide audience.
Grab yourself a copy of El Tigre from Amazon or from John Manhold’s web site, you will not be disappointed.
Simon Barrett
Blogger News Network
El Tigre
In the last book review I did for The Cowboy Chronicle I noted sometimes there are books that make you think, “This is the way it should have been.” Well, truth be told, this book deserves that moniker as much if not more than the last one. Remember the movie “Forest Gump” and the hero’s unlikely ability to turn up in all of the most dramatic historical events and happenings of his time? El Tigre, aka Johann von Manfred, the title character, is just such a person. The author, whose SASS alias is El Tigre Viejo (that’s “The Old Tiger” or, more specifically to the Southwestern United States of the Old West, ‘The Old Jaguar”), has used that name to invent a man who simply SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE1 This chronicle is so well written it reads like a true history.
Johann von Manfred begins his unlikely, but fascinating career in Germany, actually, it is Prussia, in the first third of the 19th century. Nasty circumstances cause him to have to leave his military training (at which he excelled) to head for new territories. His adventures bring him to Spain and the revolution there in the early 1800’s, which then propels him to the New World. His Caribbean and American East Coast adventures cause him to find himself in Texas during the Revolution there. His skill as a warrior and his fame get the attention of no less a luminary than Sam Houston, whom he serves well, finding himself a Texas Ranger after the war.
You name the difficulties, rustlers, Indians, whatever, El Tigre finds himself there, fighting for the side of right (and he does understand the difference, that is for sure - a great, moral character!). Next is the Mexican War and, finally, he finds himself in Old California, where El Tigre falls in love with the daughter of a distinguished haciendero and concludes his career as a major force in the battles of California against Mexico, and so forth.
Our SASS El Tigre, okay, El Tigre Viejo, John Manhold, does a masterful job weaving this tale of intrigue, violence, heroism, and love into an incendiary tale that will inspire your imagination and truly make you want to believe it REALLY HAPPENED.
This is one of those “I cannot put it down” books. It is easy to read, and you just do not want to stop. The author’s attention to detail is superb – it is one of the qualities I look for in a truly good book. It does not have to show up every time, but it is nice to know that someone remembers to tie his shoelaces, or re-holster his pistol, at least some of the time! If you elect to read it at bedtime , as I did, be prepared to lose some sleep because not only will you not want to stop reading it, it is a sure fire way to get your heart pumping, and your adrenaline flowing, and your senses all alert, and not at all sleep!
Be careful, we do not want any coronaries because you read a book I liked!!!! But, do read it – you will not be sorry. I promise you that!
Nubbins Colt in The Cowboy Chronicle vol 21, #4, pg 60, 2008 (monthly journal of the 80,000 member SASS)
El Tigre
"El Tigre" is, most importantly, a great read. Well-paced and well-written, it's a book that you'll want to settle in with and won'want to put down until you finish......My wife enjoyed it as much as I did, and it would be suitable for teenage readers, as well.
Amazon - Mel Kligman, Sarasota, FL
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