Nicole Eustace

I thought the story was interesting and gave me a better sense of the cast of characters that would have inhabited the colonies. The analysis, I felt , was a bit heavy handed, when the colonists set aside the murderers’ indentured servant’s testimony, the author seems quite content to ignore the possibility that they are trying to be just. When the victim went and grabbed his gun, he wasn’t angry or trying to defend himself. It felt to me like this was an historian who preferred black and white characters, good and evil, the stuff of fiction, not history.that marred it a bit for me… (mais)

A wonderfully researched study of a little known killing of a native American by two brothers in Pennsylvania colony in 1722. This was significant because it could have led to a war between the tribal confederation and local colonists. The study focuses on the negotiations between the two groups. It is interesting that the tribal punishments were much more lenient than the colonies. There is lots of focus on the wheeling and dealing of local politicians and the traditions and culture of the native American.s.A great book.… (mais)

Historians have an insight and hindsight advantage over the participants of history. Historians should not impose that advantage over the participants in discussing historical events. Such is the case with “Covered with Night.” All colonialists should have known what the natives were thinking and doing. All natives should have known, to a less extent, what the colonialists were thinking and doing. Unfortunately, the author tilts the scale against the colonialists for apparent reasons. This book is a big DNF for me. I managed to get to the halfway mark but finally gave up. The story would have been interesting, but it got bogged down in details and sidelines and, most obvious, the author adding her spin. A slave led a rebellion in Jamaica with a similar name as a slave in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania slave was attributed to have a rebellious spirit by not planting seeds correctly, as recorded in a journal by the owner. I know a few people named Joe, but not all are presidents of the United States. To add to historical fact is called fiction.… (mais)