John Tanner (1) (–1847)

This was very interesting in that it really gives a personal view of life with Native Americans in the early 1800’s. This really isn’t storytelling, it’s just a dispassionate telling of events, more or less in order. Describing this book as unsentimental would be a huge understatement but that works in a strange way to add to the impact. Imagine the narrator from Dragnet telling the story of a life full of more drama and adventure than a dozen typical lives. He is starving more times than I could count, there’s a lot of fighting and betrayals, and hunting and constantly moving as part of the nomadic lifestyle they lead.

Most of the book deals with his life among the Indians. This is a good antidote to the idealized vision of Native Americans, and the negative stereotypes as well, even though some of those are certainly present. In his dealings with the Indians he experiences amazing acts kindness and generosity, shocking cruelty and fair number of just plain jerks. There are dozens of events in his life that would qualify as the craziest thing that ever happened to you or anyone you know, and most of us will never know that kind of hardship even once.… (mais)