David J. Wishart

What one has here is a compact, yet informative, monograph on the world of American settler colonialism in the tail-end of the 1800s when it was still possible to believe that large-scale farming might just be able to tip the balance of the regional climate and create a stable agricultural community. Like almost all desperate get-rich-quick schemes it was not to be and the only reasons that the area consisting of western Kansas & Nebraska and eastern Colorado thrives in this day and age is due to the exploitation of deep reserves of water and federal largess. One point that Wishart emphasizes is that it was mostly those who had nothing to lose who came in the largest numbers and at the end of the day those who remained after the economic crash of the early 1890s were those who couldn't afford to leave; the smart ones found ways to cash in and get out (anti-speculation clauses of federal land law be damned). Highly recommended for those who want to know how homesteading really worked on the Great Plains. Not to mention land speculation as a perennial American way of life and what this says about the American character.… (plus d'informations)

Indian culture and history is not something I know much about. The idiom that the victors are the ones who write history is true enough, and I don't recall being taught much about the topic in school. Marginalization is real, ya'll, even in the South where you can't throw a rock without hitting someone who claims some kind of Indian heritage several generations back.

This book is relatively short, but to me, a layman, it seemed like a good overview of the Indians of the Great Plains from ancient times to modern day. Because it was so short I did feel like certain sections could have used more fleshing out, but the writing moved at a quick and interesting pace. Most of the time is spent on the 1800's when the majority of the damage to their way of life was perpetrated, and not a lot of time is spent on their ways before colonization or in the modern day.

I've been trying to pick up and find more books on Indian history because I feel like it's a void in our countries history that no one ever wants to talk about. It's pretty unreal to think about how badly they have been treated by the people who came to take over their land. And the most recompense they've received is from the Indian Claims Commission which was a pittance compared to all the hardships that have been visited upon them. This was definitely worth the read if you're interested in this time period, and some of the stories that aren't told very often.

Copy courtesy of University of Nebraska Press/Bison Books, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.… (plus d'informations)