John H Manhold - Author of El Tigre

Book Award Finalist

THE NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE 2008 BOOK AWARDS. Western Category & Historical Fiction Finalist: El Tigre by John H. Manhold

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El Tigre Review

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Written by Webmaster
Friday, 14 March 2008
EL TIGRE By John H Manhold (El Tigre Viejo, SASS Life / Regulator # 28083) Reviewed by Nubbins Colt, SASS Life # 7802 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! Review in the Cowboy Chronicle, vol. 21, #4, pg. 60, Apr. 2008 (monthly journal of the 80,000 member Single Action Shooting Society) by Nubbins Colt, the organization’s principle book reviewer. Tag it: ?
Last Updated ( Thursday, 22 January 2009 )

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