Lost Cowboys by Hank Wangford

Lost Cowboys by Hank Wangford

Did you realize that there were no horses or cows in the Americas until Columbus introduced them on his return visit in 1994? Or that the first cowboys were not those of North America, but the gauchos, huasos, llaneros and vaqueros of Argentina, Chile, Venezuela and Mexico? I certainly didn’t, until I read Hank Wangford s revealing study of cowboy culture From Patagonia in South America to the Alamo in Texas.

The book is full of interesting facts and stories about cowboy heroes who were previously unknown to me. One such man was Martin Miguel de Guemes, who in 1806 rode with thirty other gauchos into waters of the River Plate and captured a British ship, which had run aground there. The event is narrated With Wangford s characteristic sense of humor, which will have you laughing out loud from the very beginning of the book.

And if you are not a great cowboy fan, don’t be put off by the tittle, Lost Cowboys does more than simply trace of the history cattlemen on horseback: it provides a fascinating insight into the customs, food, music, geography and wildlife of a whole continent. There’s something for everyone in the book, from enthusiastic and vivid descriptions of the scenery, to information on dances and singing tradition, such as the gaucho «paydas” – I had no ides you could have a duel with the voice as your only weapon!

Lost Cowboys is an excellent read. It is both entertaining and educational and I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in travel book.