[.uk] Captured By The Indians: 15 Firsthand Accounts, 1750-1870 (ISBN 0486249018)

The Dark Edge of the Frontier:
The Marquis of Queensbury's famous RULES didn't apply on America's frontier. There were times when no rules seemed to apply, but still the frontier moved west and America's unique character, if such exists, was formed in the process according to Frederick Jackson Turner and his students. Defined by Turner as "the meeting place between savagery and civilization," the frontier had a dark, bloody edge which can be glimpsed on the pages of CAPTURED BY THE INDIANS: 15 FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS, 1750-1870. Edited by Frederick Drimmer, this book demonstrates how brutal things could get on America's frontier. Drimmer's book was first published in 1961 and it is well worth reading if you are interested in America's pioneer experience. Gregory and Susan Michno's more recent A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH: INDIAN CAPTIVITIES IN THE WEST, 1830-1885, would make a good companion. Captivity narratives are controversial and some of them bad fiction parading as truth. The value of Drimmer's work is that he took the time to carefully sort out the wheat from the chaff earning five stars in the process.

A+ on research:
The author, no doubt spent a great deal of time in research. He managed to keep my interest and some information is needed in a new saga. It will rest among my collection.

More Captivating Than You Might Have Thought!:
This book seemed a little slow at first because the stories were written in a style that we are not used to. After reading for a while and getting used to the old fashioned tone, you will realize that this book is quite exciting! There is a good mix of short and long stories so that you can pick one based on the mood you are in. Each story is surprisingly different. These accounts contain vivid descriptions which are often graphically violent and gruesome. It is intriguing to read this book to get an understanding of some groups of Indians, and also to read between the lines and see how the story tellers decided to portray the Indians. You really can learn a lot by reading this entertaining, adventurous book.

Captured by the Indians:
Great book. Very interesting and gives an important historical perspective to the plight of white settlers.

Awesome Primary Sources:
This book is full of cool stories...If you like tomahawks and scalpings then this book is for you!!...My favorite was the story of John Rodgers Jewitt...All the stories are pretty interesting...