Customer Reviews

The Warrior's Belt: The Memoirs of Jean Baptiste Point DuSable

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This was a fun book to read. The author was able to write the book as if DuSable himself was telling the story. He was able to paint vivid pictures and make the reader feel as if they were there experiencing everything with him. I learned so much about DuSable. There aren't many books in circulation about DuSable. Great book!!!

What a fascinating book! Warren W. Holmes adeptly unfolds the life experiences of Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable as written from the man's own pen. The fictionalization brings to light the range of skills, beliefs and values, achievements and setbacks of a man too little known to the public.

Yes, nowadays schools teach (sometimes) that he was the founder of Chicago and a fur trader and settler of the area. Yet few people know the back stories of how pivotal DuSable was to the resiliency of the various Midwestern tribes of his times; and how principled was his stance toward the common good, land use, democracy and fairness.

The novel brings DuSable to three-dimensional reality as a courageous, against-the-odds pioneer. His trips up and down the Mississippi; his loyal friendships; his encounters with, and mentoring by, Chief Pontiac; his relationships with the Potawatomis and other indigenous tribal councils; and how he and others handled adversity; and more will inspire even the resistant youth and adult! There's so much to learn here. Kudos to the author for so unobtrusively yet vividly transmitting the evolution of character and wisdom as DuSable persevered, matured and aged!

Loretta J. Williams
Boston, MA