Blood Brothers

Elliott Arnold's classic work tells the story of two Americans, one red, the other white, who overcome many obstacles to bring about peace in Arizona. The book is rich in character development as it details the Apache way of life, especially of the Chiricahua tribe and their leader, Cochise. Their history is one of endless conflict with the Mexicans, other Indian tribes and occasionaly white men, which results in the Bascom affair and begins Cochise's ten year war with the U.S. military. Scout Tom Jeffords is a loner, quiet and introspective, who rides to Cochise's stronghold to make peace with the Apaches, a peace that is not welcome by either the Tucson ring or many of the farflung warlike Apache bands. Elliott knew the deserts and mountains of the southwest, the Indians, their customs and tells his story that represents both points of view and is perhaps the best account ever written about that bloody period in Arizona.

As far as historical fiction goes this is as good as it gets. Based upon the actual relationship between Cochise and a white US Army scout - Tom Jeffords - the author pours into the novel his own extensive research into the 1856-1872 era of what is now Arizona. This is not fluff writing and it is not romanticized. Cochise emerges as a real person with both light and dark shades as does Jeffords and the white and Hispanic settlers of the Arizona Territory. An extremely well-balanced account written well ahead of the time when more balanced accounts came into vogue. (First published in 1947.) This is also a very good read in terms of drama and pace and plot and characterization. I would not hesitate to ask students to read this piece alongside other more academic accounts of the clash in the American Southwest between the Chiricahua people and those who moved en masse into their homeland. The author, Elliott Arnold, has taken great pains to make this read as authentic as possible. Highly recommended.

Historical novel, later a movie and a popular T.V. series. Idealized view of Apache life. Tom Jeffords goes to Cochise so he can get the mail through Apache territory. Jeffords marries an Apache girl. Events led to peace until Cochise's death