Chief Tecumseh is my new hero. What an amazing individual. Many of the details of his life are in dispute and largely apocryphal, but there is no question that he was a brave visionary, extremely intelligent and able to inspire loyalty and devotion from all who knew him (white men included). This book covers the entire life of Tecumseh, from the night of his birth in 1768 to his death in 1813. The author has that rare combination of patience for meticulous historical research coupled with stellar storytelling ability. I learned a great deal about history from this book. As a westerner, I'm less familiar with the history of the native people further east. Tecumseh was so proud and relentless in his efforts to unite many Indian tribes to fight for their lands and halt white encroachment. He truly traveled to the "Four Winds" for many months, trying to gain support and warriors. Unfortunately the chiefs of other tribes were not far-seeing like him, and did not join his alliance. I also learned a lot about Shawnee culture and traditions. The author has a Shawnee wife, so I'm inclined to believe he has his details correct in this regard. This book is full of many famous historical characters such as Daniel Boone and Oliver Hazard Perry. I'm really glad that jackass William Henry Harrison got what he deserved, a little belatedly!
I started this book to learn more about the Native American experience here in the Midwest. While I think we all have an academic, intellectual knowledge that the European settlement of the "New World" adversely affected the indigenous populations, this book communicated what it was like to be on the receiving end of the experience. It is a fictionalized biography of Tecumseh, the Shawnee chief that held out against American westward expansion for as long--longer---than anyone could have dreamed possible. Thus, it is a sad and unsettling book for me, whether I'm personally descended from Tecumseh's tormentors, or not, I've benefited from the massive, ongoing injustice.The book has strong points, particularly vivid, sensory description and lively, believable characters. However, it is exceedingly detailed and excessively long, IMO. I think battle-history buffs (climax is the War of 1812) would love it, and really everyone school child in America should be required to read this, or something like it, to get a sense of another side of our history.
Do You like book Panther In The Sky (1990)?
As usual James Alexander Thom has written an epic. This story is a saga on the life of Tecumseh, the great Shawnee Indian chief and warrior. He was an amazing leader of his people whom he loved so much. This is an historical fiction, but it appears he married only once in his lifetime, and she was a very selfish woman He sent her back to her own people along with his only child, a son. She died and his son came to live with his people and his sister was like a mother to him. Tecumseh lived long enough to be very proud of his son, though he was never able to be the kind of father that he wanted to be because of the demands put upon him from his people. He was killed in the War of 1812. The Redcoats (English soldiers) repeatedly lied to the Shawnee and were never there to give the help and support they promised. May he rest in peace.
—Shirley Brown
It is difficult for me to stop thinking about the Shawnee people in this book and their way of life. The battles are highly detailed, but it didn't get slow for me, but it might not be for everyone. I enjoyed learning about how the Indians lived during this time, and coped with the intrusion of the white settlers. Stating the obvious perhaps, but learning about all the details of the multitude of lies and deceit and greed from the Americans was sickening and heartbreaking. And in light of all this, the bravery and courage of these people was astounding. Probably one of my favorite reads this year.
—Julie
Thom does historical fiction like no one I know of in today's world. He understands this time period (later 1700's to early 1800's) very, very well. His novel brings that world alive and his characters are very real. He uses real historical people in his novels and creates scenarios that MAY have happened based on the true historical account of the events that person(s) encountered at that time in history. I've never read a bad novel by Thom. You are safe with his books. I've read several and more on my shelf to read when I'm done with the one I'm on now. He portrays and unbiased look at the problems between the whites and the Indians during the days of expension. Some books, such as this title, are written from the Indian point of view. Other titles are written from the white point of view. But, no one does it any better. Highly recommend this book and this author.
—Malinda
