Clifford Lindsey AldermanResenhas

2PPBJIU7

KFTH5J77

From the book flap:

"A fierce warrior in battle, a brilliant statesman in peace, Joseph Brant, who was not a hereditary chief, displayed all of the qualities of leadership that led to his selection as Chief of the Six Nations. He foresaw disaster in disunity and worked for a federation of American Indians, which could have stemmed the tide of white expansion and changed the course of history.

Brant's background was mysterious. His father was said to be an English nobleman, but his mother was Indian and he grew up with her tribe in the Mohawk Valley. Joseph's initial test of courage came during the French and Indian Wars. Though only thirteen he was already a full-fledged brave. "Another test will come," British General William Johnson told him. "The test of leadership." At the Battle of Niagara he turned defeat into victory, and passed the test of leadership.

Johnson sent him to school where he learned the white man's methods of agriculture and the English language which later served him as translator and diplomat. When Chief Pontiac threatened to drive all white settlers from North America, Brant was chosen for dangerous and difficult peace missions -- and passed the test of statesmanship. As Chief of the Six Nations he fought with the British during the American Revolution, but was never sure that his choice was a wise one.

Joseph Brant was a deeply religious man. He translated the Bible into the Mohawk language and brought his children up as Christians. His one sorrow was his son Isaac, who resented his father's teachings and met his death at his father's hand.

Clifford Alderman tells the compelling story of a great chief who was a courageous and compassionate man."

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This is a factually correct and sympathetic treatment of a great leader. The author explains that he chose the subject because "Joseph Brant, the greatest statesman as well as one of the greatest warriors of his race, did more than any other red man to defend his people's rights." But the book is dated not just by its terminology (I can't remember 1959, but "red man" was already questionable by the 1960s) but also by the author's attitude. Here he is on Brant's baptism: "For the rest of his life he was to be a devoted Christian. If he failed at times to live up to the Bible's Commandments, perhaps he should not be blamed too sternly. Although he may have had white blood he had been born an Indian." Mr Alderman's patronizing attitude is not warranted in any way by his story; Brant apparently lived up to his ideals to an exceptional degree.

I read this several years ago, and unfortunately don't remember much about it.½

2/15/23