James Adair's classic study of southeastern Native American culture of the late colonial period is one of the few primary sources from that era. The editor Kathryn E Holland Braund has written an excellent introductory essay and added extensive annotations to the text. She also tells the story of how Adair's manuscript was accepted by the leading London publishing house of Dilly and Dilly upon the recommendation of Benjamin Franklin.
This is a book written by an amateur. It is a tragic tale of primitive tribes in a state of endless warfare, always in danger from deadly diseases, a colossal homicide rate, and runaway alcoholism, and caught up in the plots of the British, French, and Spanish to control the North American continent. Nearly half the book is formal argumentation that the American Indians are descended from the lost tribes of Israel. Since Adair's arguments don't support his case, it appears that he felt that book sales required catering to the romantic notions of his pre-scientific age.
In recent years, several writers have suggested that Adair's book is one of the major sources of the Book of Mormon. In this day of sophisticated computer word print analysis, scholars may decide that the computers will have the last word on this subject. But in terms of common sense, the argument is a strong one. It would certainly be difficult to conclude that Alma chapters 48-53 in the Book of Mormon had any other source than the last chapter of Adair's book.
Readers who have a special interest in Native American history, or in American religious history, should not miss this book.
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Intrigued To Say The Least
I have not read this book in its entirety. It's very interesting to say the least. It's difficult to read through tears. I purchase this book to learn more about my 7th great-grandfather, James Adair and great-grandmother, "The Cherokee Woman," Ester Ann Anna McBride Hobson Adair. I wish I had an original copy. Looking forward to finishing it.
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Top reviews from other countries
paul lazaridis
Rubbish…… don’t purchase!!
Reviewed in Australia on February 14, 2022E S.
10 Lost tribes of Israel who spoke Hebrew
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 15, 2017