Larry Williamson

Nice novel of a little known area of American History. While the Cherokee Trail of tears is widely known (at least people have generally heard of it), the removal of the other four of the Five Civilized tribes is less well known. Larry Williamson has taken an even lesser known part, the Second Creek War and built a story around it which helps give attention to the hardships faced by the Creek in their attempts to avoid removal and blend in or resist the wave of white settlers moving into their territory. When historical characters are introduced into the narrative, Williamson often adds historical information concerning their background. i actually teach Native American history and was unaware of the extent of the resistance. i actually ordered the main historical work in Williamson's bibliography for our library, and will probably order this and it's prequel as well. Hats off to Williamson for bringing this important but overlooked moment in history to a wider audience.… (meer)

To learn more about the 'Trail of Tears' and how American Indians were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands during the 1830's along the Trail of Tears to Oklahoma, read this book. As historical fiction, it is both compelling and painstakingly historically accurate. The major characters throughout the book are both interesting and well-developed.

As you begin to understand how the Creeks lost their vast lands stretching across much of Alabama and Georgia land so that white settlers could claim it as their own, the book becomes increasingly painful to read. President Andrew Jackson and his cabinet, the governors of both Alabama and Georgia, the military along with unscrupulous land speculators, had one goal: to round up and drive the Creeks and other Indian tribes off their lands to claim it for white settlers. The author provides specific details of how the military defeated the Creeks then rounding them in a series of forts before escorting them along the infamous "Trail of Tears". No dignity was allowed for the Indians.

Of particular interest is the fact that the Creeks had lived in harmony with the white settlers in Alabama for decades and most local whites were opposed to the treatment of the Indians. The Indians and white settlers were close enough that interracial marriage was not unusual. In fact one of the reasons that selected this book is that my Great Great Grandmother was Creek Indian in South Alabama, who married a white settler and I wanted to know more about her world.

In short, I highly recommend it.… (meer)

This books is an interesting blend of historical fiction and real historical characters during the time of President Andrew Jackson. I love history, but the time of the Creek wars is not a time period I knew much about. The story does a great job of bringing out the humaness of when the government removed native Americans from their homes and really paints a picture of the area and time period based on research. It takes history and makes it an interesting narrative that draws you into the story.

In general, the book is well-written, using great descriptive language.
However, some of the plot points and dialogue are a little corny and took me out of the story. This helps to keep the story light and a fast read.… (meer)

Having just finished "the Trials of Nina McCall" about the injustice endured by thousands of women in America under the pretense of controlling the spread of STI's. An eye opening history of how government can abuse its' citizens and get away with it. Which brings us to further government abuse, this time stealing the homes and lands of the original people to live on the place we now call America. Europeans felt superior to native Americans and believed themselves entitled to the land which they, they felt, could better utilize than to let it go to waste(?) as was
happening under the original people. So nothing was considered out of bounds in cheating, stealing, and murdering to accomplish their own ends. All of this was sanctioned by a government that felt no duty to honor treaties or agreements made with Native Americans. To the victor go the spoils, but the Europeans dishonored the religious traditions they claimed made them masters of the new world. Another disappointing chapter in the "glorious history" of what we call the greatest country in the world. The book is well written and held my attention from start to finish. A great read and well worth the time spent reading it.… (meer)