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The Bitter Waters of Medicine Creek: A Tragic Clash Between White and Native America
The riveting story of a dramatic confrontation between Native Americans and white settlers, a compelling conflict that unfolded in the newly created Washington Territory from 1853 to 1857.
When appointed Washington’s first governor, Isaac Ingalls Stevens, an ambitious military man turned politician, had one goal: to persuade (peacefully if possible) the Indians of the Puget...more
When appointed Washington’s first governor, Isaac Ingalls Stevens, an ambitious military man turned politician, had one goal: to persuade (peacefully if possible) the Indians of the Puget...more
Hardcover, 352 pages
Published
March 1st 2011
by Knopf
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On one hand, Kluger is to be commended for bringing a little known story and little known chapter of American history to light. It takes some talent to write a successful book about the history of treaties with the Native peoples in the Pacific Northwest. True, at times the narrative gets bogged down in details or in Kluger's repetitions and stylistic tics - how many times do we need to hear the same travel brochure blurb about the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, or a reminder of just how racis...more
Dec 08, 2011
Pat Loughery
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Those interested in US history, the US West, native peoples, the Nisqually, and justice
This is an extremely well researched, thorough, and careful book. It explores the history of white settlement in the Puget Sound (Seattle, WA) area, through the story of Leschi, a leader of the Nisqually people. Leschi was an early friend of the British and American settlers, but was incensed by the poor treatment of the Washington territory governor's treaty demands, which gave native nations very small and horribly poor quality reservations. Leschi became a guerilla leader staging sporadic att...more
I was incredibly excited to have found this book--a telling of the native story in the specific place where I now live. I am still glad to have found it. The facts of the events surrounding the near extinction of the natives of the Puget Sound are compelling and the author is exhaustive in his research. I didn't give this book 5 stars because of the author's writing style. Perhaps I am spoiled by the empathetic yet objective voice of Dee Brown (Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee) but I found this aut...more
As a transplant to western Washington, I followed the news of the historical court which considered the 150 year old case against Leschi, a Nisqually Indian leader who organized resistance to an unjust treaty. Kluger's narrative, based on very thoroughgoing research, covers the background, principal actors, and aftermath of the trial and conviction of Leschi, while making the case for his exoneration. Kluger doesn't stop there, but summarizes the subsequent history of the Nisquallys before relat...more
An account of the white American incursion into native American territories in Washington State, and how the native Americans were systematically dispossessed of their lands. In particular, the book tells of Leschi, a Nisqually chief who tried to renegotiate unfair treaty terms and turned to violence when peaceful negotiations got nowhere. He was subsequently convicted of murder altho a state of war existed then. the story then covers the modern 'demonstration' trial which exonerates Leschi. It...more
I liked the book and I learned a lot about the Oregon and Washington Territories that I did not know. I also found the story compelling. I really cared about what was happening and why. But there were times where I thought the author was repeating, overstating, and a few times played favorites with the story. I can understand why. But I found myself wanting to get on with the story, and then, worst of all, wondering if I was being given the history or being given a perspective. Would still recom...more
This appears to be a well researched history about the first days of the Washington Territory. I thought it interesting that some many whites stood up for Chief Leschi, but obviously not enough because he was hung for murder in a time of war.
The Author spends a lot of time showing the racism and unfairness of the Indian treaties.
I am not certain why the Nisqually Tribe has not sought a Federal Pardon for Chief Leschi, but the author does a fine job of discussing the historial court that was held...more
The Author spends a lot of time showing the racism and unfairness of the Indian treaties.
I am not certain why the Nisqually Tribe has not sought a Federal Pardon for Chief Leschi, but the author does a fine job of discussing the historial court that was held...more
The term "beating a dead horse" comes to mind. There is so much argument for the author's point of view instead of letting the facts speak for themselves that the facts are buried and almost inaccessible. The parenthetical asides keep the narrative from flowing, and many of the asides are only snide insinuations or minute details that would be better suited for an appendix. The book did seem to pick up a bit toward the end when discussing recent history and it sparked my interest in the history...more
Certainly well documented, and reported with exhausting detail, this expose of the governmental persecution and injustice to the Indians in the state of Washington was very disheartening to me. It makes me feel ashamed of our country.
I liked the introduction to the Washington landscape and the epilogues were helpful. Overall, a decent book, with a bit too much detail for the laymen. The bias didn't bother me as much as it seemed to bother other readers. Could've been a bit shorter, but no major complaints.
I thought this book was good. The history of the hanging of Leschi is fascinating, though the "action" moved slowly at times.
great northwest history with special appeal to Washington residents. read before/after Final Forest by Wm. Dietrich.
Worth reading, if only because I didn't know much about the Nisqually Indians.
I enjoyed it, albeit another saddening account of our infamous history.
Plus: detailed and well-researched
Minus: slow-moving, maybe too detailed
Minus: slow-moving, maybe too detailed
An exhaustive look at just how screwed-over Chief Leschi was by First Gov Isaac Stevens. There is lots of good history here (although it reads as though the author was trying to be a little too convincing, even though the facts were doing all the convincing that needed to be done). Its real strength, however, is the way Kluger brings the story right up to today, showing the relevance in "connecting the dots" in history.
While this book dragged a bit toward the end, it is an important read for anyone who loves and would understand the great Pacific Northwest.
I really enjoyed this book. I had a hard time with the printed book, but loved the audio version. Local history is just fascinating
so far so good
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Richard Kluger (b. 1934) worked as a journalist before becoming an accomplished Pulitzer Prize-winning author and book publisher.
Kluger has written books of fiction and social history. He is the author of six novels (and two others with his wife, Phyllis). Two of his books are National Book Award finalists, Simple Justice and The Paper (a history of the Herald Tribune). Moreover, his historical st...more
More about Richard Kluger...
Kluger has written books of fiction and social history. He is the author of six novels (and two others with his wife, Phyllis). Two of his books are National Book Award finalists, Simple Justice and The Paper (a history of the Herald Tribune). Moreover, his historical st...more
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“The cost of contemplating history is often an uneasy conscience.”
—
2 people liked it
“White Americans cannot deny their long history of abusive transactions with people of color. These offenses, it should be noted out of fairness, can be explained in part by the fact that no other sizable national state has ever been formed from the confluence of so many diverse ethnic streams. All our heterogeneous ferment no doubt made contentiousness inevitable.”
—
1 person liked it
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