Bear Flag Rising: The Conquest of California, 1846

by Dale L. Walker

Book Overview

Bear Flag Rising traces the history of California from the Indians who inhabited the land before the first Europeans saw it. The lives of the Californios in tranquil days before the advent of trappers... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312866852
• ISBN13: 9780312866853
• Release Date: July 1999
• Publisher: Forge
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.8" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Bear Flag Rising: The Conquest of California, 1846

This book is about this conquest of California by the US from Mexico. It gives vivid descriptions of this conquest and tells what each great American general, Mexican general, frontiersmen, and other important people did and what they accomplish and failed. For example, Commodore John D. Sloat, commander of the navy's Pacific Squadron and his orders to seize important Mexican ports and blockade others. It compares the armies of the two warring countries and Mexico City's refusal to assist it California asset. I chose this book to read because its cover was good looking. However, we all know the saying don't judge a book by its cover, so I took a look inside and I was immediately captivated by it. It tells the story extremely well and puts lots of description into it.My favorite part of the book was the section called "Conquest" which describes the war against Mexico and the movements of troops and all. It is very richly told and it is the section that tells the most information in the whole book. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know about the conquest of California.

A Rousing Yarn of California

Bear Flag Rising is as readable a piece of popular history as you will find. Dale Walker gives us entertaining and flawed figures of the time and all their amazing accomplishments. The concept of walking across the Mojave desert is enough to make the average Californian swoon. The book belongs on the bookshelf of all the latter day Californios and immigrants. If any flaw, it is the use by Walker of the term "half-breed" in one description, in his version without the quotes. It is a phrase that is as offensive to native Americans as the "n" word. Just a small thought.All said this is a terrific introduction to the filibustering, flim-flamming, foolish, brave, idealistic participants in Califoria History, from Pio Pico and Jose Alvarado to John C. Fremont and Robert Stockton. It has sent me to read more of Walker.

A good history, a GREAT read!

Yes, Walker's book is good history, maybe even great history, but a better reason to read it is that it's a great bit of writing.So readable in fact, that I took the day off work to finish it after staying up most of the night (I'd meant to just read the intro and maybe one or two chapters). Then I gave it to an old friend and he ranted about how much he enjoyed it.Get it for the history, but then, just kick back and enjoy...

human truth in history

Dale Walker writes history as illuminating stories about human beings. He's witty, insightful, a lot of fun, and unburdened by political agendas. He's a national treasure. We have to look back half a century to Bernard DeVoto to find his equal.

The finest history of the conquest of California

This book merits six stars, not five. It will surely become the standard work on the conquest of California. I was able to read it in advance of publication, and want to share my enthusiasm for it.Dale L. Walker is one of the finest nonacademic historians writing in our times. His genius is manifest throughout this work. One aspect is his gift of portraiture. He gives us unforgettable pictures of the tough martinet Stephen Watts Kearny, the star-crossed and ambitious Army map-maker John C. Fremont, and the wily and well-connected Robert Stockton, whose own ambitions burned fiercely in California. Another of Walker's gifts is research. He has provided us with so much new material, and has unearthed so many obscure facts that help explain the mysteries of the conquest, that this book will be a powerful clarifying force in our understanding of what happened there.He does not neglect the lesser figures, either, such as Kit Carson, and that magnificent Californio, General Mariano Vallejo. He writes with such ease and clarity and lucidity, and with such storytelling gifts, that this book invites a look at every page, and will enthrall people of all sorts. I give it the highest recommendation that I am capable of giving.