The Earth Shall Weep: A History of Native America

by James Wilson

Book Overview

Now available in paperback, The Earth Shall Weep is a groundbreaking, critically acclaimed history of the Native American peoples. Combining traditional historical sources with new insights from ethnography, archaeology, Indian oral tradition, and years of his original research, James Wilson weaves a historical narrative that puts Native Americans at the center of their struggle for survival against the tide of invading European peoples and cultures...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 080213680X
• ISBN13: 9780802136800
• Release Date: March 2000
• Publisher: Grove Press
• Length: 496 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.7" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

A New Look at American History

This book offers a true look at American history and offers more insight than the traditional books on American history whose idea of being comprehensive is starting with the history of England and the Magna Carta and only mentions the original Americans in passing. The author has a rare gift for consolidating history and for comparing and quoting other writers in order to create a well-written and coherent work.This is first and foremost a chronological history. However, it also seeks to dispel myths and stereotypes about "Native Americans" as being the noble savage, primitive Zen masters in tune with nature, and the "Vanishing American." He shows how the Anglo society has had vacillating opinions about American Indians over the centuries. On the other hand, in his Prologue, he states, "I want to make it clear, though, that I am not setting out to reveal 'finally -- the truth behind the myth!': there is no single 'truth' to reveal, and no single 'myth' concealing it."Other books about American Indians try to serve as an encyclopedia of documenting the various cultures as though there is a static photo in time of a group of individual cultures that was wiped away. Instead, this book is history, dynamic and alive. It tells American history from both sides and contrasts the seemingly irreconcilable viewpoints of Europeans and Native Americans.About the only downside to this book that I have found is somewhat having the notion of "us" and "them" instead of seeing himself as part of the continuous fabric of American culture. For example he writes, "Unlike 'native' peoples in Africa and Asia, indigenous Americans have not decolonized, and we have not been forced [. . .] to see them in a fundamentally different role." It is important not to be thrown off by the incendiary title of the book. This is not a work of propaganda or a work merely cataloguing atrocities in order to evoke sympathy. Instead, it tries to be impartial and tell the way that history really happened, like it or not.Although same may say that "the Earth Shall Weep for Good Scholarship", accusations that the book is one-sided are simply not true. It certainly does show the European and Anglo cruelty and violence, but it also does not make all the Indians seem like martyrs and saints. It mentions numerous times that Indians attacked European settlers, often as the aggressors. It also mentions the ruthless opportunism and violence caused by Pequots and their leader Wonkus.It is true that the book does often quote vilifying passages written by European settlers showing disregard for Native Americans and lack of remorse over the attempted genocide. It's true that many of the original Americans may not have left a "paper trail" as much as the European invaders. The Shawnee Tenskwatawa is quoted as saying that the Anglo-Americans "grew from the scum of the great water, when it was troubled by an evil spirit and the froth was driven into the woods by a strong east wind. They

Excellently Researched and Big-Hearted

If you are searching for a book about Native American history, this is the book for you. James Wilson's research is presented in three digestable sections: Origins, Invasion, and Internal Frontiers, with the largest body of work appearing in the central section. I recently took an 8,000 miles drive around the United States and read this book the entire month as I entered corresponding areas (such as Southwest, Far West, Great Plains, etc). Taking Wilson's book on my trip was a smart choice because not only did I experience the sites and people he describes, but his book enabled me to also see into the past, as it were, of these Native People. Wilson's research combines oral history (which will break your heart), political history and analysis, archeology, and ethnography. Several qualities make Wilson's book different from others. First, his research is current and fairly presented. For example, he provides an overview of various theories used to explain the disappearance of the great Puebloan societies so readers can appreciate the variety of ideas and political interests of the theorists. In addition, his synthesis of Native American histories in the forms of stories (and explanation of rituals) with that of modern analyses makes this book even more valuable. It is clear that Mr. Wilson's heart and conscience is with the Native Americans, and that, above all else, is what makes this book powerful. If it lacks anything, in my opinion, it is the addition of visual aids. A few maps and photographs would have made this text even more powerful. But if you want to read about the tragedy of evil White politics, the demise of many beautiful societies and their relationships before contact,this book holds nothing back. It is a passionate, digestable, and truthful history of the horrors inflicted (past and present)on original people. END

Best one-volume overview

This book offers a readable overview of the major themes in American Indian history. Although there are many things one could find to fault in this book, there is no better overview. I especially like the way the author (a white man from Britain) weaves together orthodox academic opinion with Native voices. Wilson's book deftly combines a chronological approach with organization by regions. In each region he highlights general patterns, but then focuses much of the narrative on a few representative tribal histories. Had he tried to write about all of the more than 500 tribes, nations, villages, and bands of Native North America, he would have produced an unreadable book. Instead, he selects those groups that allow him to give enough detail to keep the narrative flowing, while also emphasizing the interrelations of peoples and places that are central to the best history. Throughout the narrative, he offers long quotes from published versions of Native orature.This book is an exceptional introduction to the history usually suppressed or misrepresented in schools and colleges. It is accessible to high school and college level readers, but can even add to the store of knowledge of experts in American Indian history. It has become the core text in many of my classes.

Unusually thoughtful and well-written

I've read a fair amount about Indian history and this is one of the best books out there. It's not scholarly -- in fact, the awful index and hopelessly inadequate notes are the worst thing about the book -- but it is literate, thoughtful, well-researched and, unusually for this subject, relatively nonpolemical. I learned many things from the book -- so many that when I turned to the notes to find out how I might learn more about some of the fascinating things Wilson informed me about, I was frustrated because I couldn't figure out his sources. No book by itself can communicate the astounding, horrible tragedy that befell the people who lived in North America (Wilson basically doesn't talk about anything south of the Rio Grande) when Europeans came, but this one gives a strong hint of what it might have been like for some of them. Bravo.

An excellent, readable history

This book serves three purposes. It demystifies Native Culture. It places Native cculture at the center of American history where it belongs and it shows how European Culture could be so far "advanced" and yet completely illogical. This book should be required reading in all high schools.