Outstanding book, great real-life encounters with basically
untouched American Indians of the plains.
The only complaint is the 1/3 of the book devoted to the
easy slaughter of Buffalo. The Buffalo are indeed stupid unwitting creatures
and as such were easy and tempting game for those that lived in that short
period of time; roughly from 1845 to
1870, the 25 years of this historic migration.
I have a nice copy New York: The Heritage Press, 1943.
I have never read a more direct unfiltered view of the
plight of the American Indian. Yes of course Parkman brought his prejudices to
it. This particular book has an introduction by Mason Wade. Wade pull no
punches in characterizing Parkman as an Elite snob; this is refreshing to get
an honest look at the man and his era.
It seems
as though (just like the Scotts) the Indians were indeed their own worst
enemies; incapable of coming together they were ultimately easy to
divide and concur.
(by the way I have taken to reading the Introduction to my
books after finishing the book since they always assume a knowledge of the book
in there writing)
The best line in the book comes from Shakespeare: To "Daff the World Aside and bid it Pass"
A lesson we are learning all to well in these times!
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