The Shawnee Prophet (Bison Books) [Paperback]

R. David Edmunds (Author)

Book Description

Series: Bison Books | Publication Date: March 1, 1985

In the early 1800s, when control of the Old Northwest had not yet been assured to the United States, the Shawnee leaders Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa, the Shawnee Prophet, led an intertribal movement culminating at the Battle of Tippecanoe and the Battle of the Thames. Historians have portrayed Tecumseh, the war leader, as the key figure in forging the intertribal confederacy. In this full-length biography of Tenskwatawa, R. David Edmunds shows that, to the contrary, the Shawnee Prophet initiated and for much of the period dominated the movement, providing a set of religious beliefs and ceremonies that revived the tribes' fading power and cohesion.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This volume is a valuable contribution to the history of Indian-white rela (William T. Hagan Montana: The Magazine of Western History )

"A splendid biographical study of Tenskwatawa, the Shawnee Holy Man who is best known as the brother of Tecumseh . . . Based upon extensive and meticulous research, this biography is a joy to read. . . . The author convincingly establishes the critical and pre-eminent role of Tenskwatawa as the leader of the Indian resistance to American expansion before 1810."—W. David Baird, Journal of the West

(W. David Baird Journal of the West )

"A splendid biographical study of Tenskwatawa, the Shawnee Holy Man who is best known as the brother of Tecumseh . . . Based upon extensive and meticulous research, this biography is a joy to read. . . . The author convincingly establishes the critical and pre-eminent role of Tenskwatawa as the leader of the Indian resistance to American expansion before 1810."—W. David Baird, Journal of the West

(Herman J. Viola Pacific Historical Review )

About the Author

R. David Edmunds is a professor of history at Indian University. His other publications include The Potawatomis: Keepers of the Fire (1978) and Tecumseh and the Quest for Indian Leadership (1984).

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: University of Nebraska Press (March 1, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803267118
• ISBN-13: 978-0803267114
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #372,096 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( T ) > Tecumseh

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Account of Tenskwatawa, The Shawnee Prophet, February 2, 2003

By 

Matthew S. Schweitzer "zohoe" (Columbus, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Shawnee Prophet (Bison Books) (Paperback)

This biography of Tenskwatawa is the only work devoted to the role and importance of the influencial Shawnee Prophet who has long been eclipsed in both popular and scholarly works by his far more famous brother, Tecumseh.

Born in 1775 in Ohio, Tenskwatawa was one of three triplets born into the family of the Shawnee war chief Puckeshinwa. After surviving a less than ideal childhood and losing an eye in the process, Tenskwatawa soon found himself an outcast among his own tribe. Following the Treaty of Greenville in 1795, he and his people are forced to give up their claims to most of the Ohio Country and many, including himself, fall victim to alcoholism and despair. But after experiencing a vision he believes is sent by the Master of Life, Tenskwatawa is reborn as the Shawnee Prophet and begins to preach a return to the old ways and to reject the ways of the whites whom he says have corrupted and destroyed the Indians. His religious revival brings together many thousands of loyal followers from many tribes across the Old Northwest and becomes the core of the pan-Indian confederacy engineered by his older brother Tecumseh who intends to push the Americans back east of the Appalachain Mountains and reclaim their ancestoral homelands. Tragicly, these dreams are crushed by William Henry Harrison's victory over Tenskwata's forces at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. Though Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa would continue to fight alongside the British in the War of 1812, the Prophet's reputation is devastated forever, as is the dream of uniting the tribes and driving the whites from their lands.

This is a fascinating book that covers much information not only about the Prophet, but his people and their history, as well as shedding much light on one of the primary causes of the War of 1812 and the Indians' role in that conflict.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars FINALLY, A FACTUAL ACCOUNT OF THE HISTORY OF INDIANS, June 3, 2004

By 

Dennis Bradley (Rapid City, Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Shawnee Prophet (Bison Books) (Paperback)

Although there are a number of well researched accounts of Indian Cheifs and tribes, there are as many if not more books and articals written on them that have their base on hear-say and downright wrong information. I have spent a number of years reading about Tenskwatawa, the Shawnee Prophet, and Tecumseh, his more famous brother and have been futher confussed from one source to the other. Which was more true? Until this book 'The Shawnee Prophet' by R. David Edmunds came along, I was about to give up; thinking there couldn't possibly be a correct account. Mr Edmunds bothers to futher authenticate his findings with numerous pages of refferences(about a fourth of the book's volume). The reading format was heavy at first but soon, because of the welcomed amount of information, it quickly became relavent and facinating to read. By all means do read this book. More books like this need to be written. We need to know the truth about our history.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A thorough account of the influences of Tenskwatawa, August 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Shawnee Prophet (Bison Books) (Paperback)

The author uses many sources and many factual accounts of the events of the early 19th century in the area of the Old Northwest, present day Ohio Valley region. He shows that Tenskwatawa, also known as the Shawnee Prophet, was a proud man who would do anything to maintain his followers. It gives us a great insight into the difficult relations between the Americans and the Native Americans. The reading is fairly easy and the events described were very interesting. It was a very in-depth look into the life of the Shawnee Prophet, his followers and how they dealt with the world of change swirling around them and the culture clash that existed between the Native Americans and the white settlers moving in.

If you are interested in learning more about Native American culture, especially the Shawnee, then I would strongly recommend this book.