Items related to White Savage: William Johnson and the Invention of...
A dramatic, exciting and tragic book about the Irish fur trapper who held the fate of America and the British Empire in his hands.
William Johnson began life as a poor Irish Catholic peasant. After converting to Protestantism, he emigrated to America where he became the leading fur trader in the British colony and one of its richest men. He also 'went native,' marrying an Indian woman and adopting the religion of her tribe, the Iroquois. When war broke out between the French and English - what we now know as the 7 Years War, the first world war in history - Johnson held the fate of the British Empire in his hands. If the Indians fought with the French, the British were doomed.
He ensured that the Indians remained neutral or sided with the British. But he also made them promises - only to see all his assurances broken by his fellow whites and by the imperial authorities in London . . .
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review:
"Fintan O'Toole's "White Savage is a brilliant piece of historical writing. With extraordinary vividness and elegance, O'Toole explains how William Johnson's Irish origins in a world enveloped by layers of cultural and political subterfuge helped to shape his complex, liminal, ever-shifting role as Britain's principal Indian agent and negotiator in the American colonies. Johnson comes to life as never before--as an Irish gentleman and a Mohawk war chief; as a diplomat and a land speculator; as an enlightened thinker and a slaveowner; a loving family man and a dedicated polygamist; and, ultimately, as the posthumous (and unlikely) symbol of national glory in the early republic. O'Toole has produced a magnificent book on this powerful, perplexing, and troubling man, whose life encompassed the triumphs and tragedies of the eighteenth century. And he has illuminated that critical time--on the eve of the Revolution, and during the age of reason, war, and genocide--that is now once again becoming central to our understanding of American and Atlantic history." --Kevin Kenny, Boston College
"Fintan O'Toole's "White Savage: William Johnson and the Invention of America is a beautifully written, extremely enjoyable book about early American and transatlantic history. Most important, it is a brilliant, sensitive analysis of the murky frontiers between societies and cultures--Irish and English, Catholic and Protestant, British and Native American, capitalist and "under-developed"--and of one man's largely successful attempt to negotiate them in creative, sympathetic ways. William Johnson was an architect of empire, no doubt, but unlike today's imperialists his sway was based on understanding, trust, and reciprocation, not on deceit, theft, and brute force. Thus, O'Toole's book provides not only a fascinating picture of a lost past but also a glimpse into what might be a less vicious future."
--Kerby Miller, University of Missouri
"Fintan O'Toole's "White Savage" is a brilliant piece of historical writing. With extraordinary vividness and elegance, O'Toole explains how William Johnson's Irish origins in a world enveloped by layers of cultural and political subterfuge helped to shape his complex, liminal, ever-shifting role as Britain's principal Indian agent and negotiator in the American colonies. Johnson comes to life as never before--as an Irish gentleman and a Mohawk war chief; as a diplomat and a land speculator; as an enlightened thinker and a slaveowner; a loving family man and a dedicated polygamist; and, ultimately, as the posthumous (and unlikely) symbol of national glory in the early republic. O'Toole has produced a magnificent book on this powerful, perplexing, and troubling man, whose life encompassed the triumphs and tragedies of the eighteenth century. And he has illuminated that critical time--on the eve of the Revolution, and during the age of reason, war, and genocide--that is now once again becoming central to our understanding of American and Atlantic history." --Kevin Kenny, Boston College
"Fintan O'Toole's "White Savage: William Johnson and the Invention of America" is a beautifully written, extremely enjoyable book about early American and transatlantic history. Most important, it is a brilliant, sensitive analysis of the murky frontiers between societies and cultures--Irish and English, Catholic and Protestant, British and Native American, capitalist and "under-developed"--and of one man's largely successful attempt to negotiate them in creative, sympathetic ways. William Johnson was an architect of empire, no doubt, but unlike today's imperialists his sway was based on understanding, trust, and reciprocation, not on deceit, theft, and brute force. Thus, O'Toole's book provides not only a fascinating picture of a lost past but also a glimpse into what might be a less vicious future."
--Kerby Miller, University of Missouri
"Fintan O' Toole' s "White Savage" is a brilliant piece of historical writing. With extraordinary vividness and elegance, O' Toole explains how William Johnson' s Irish origins in a world enveloped by layers of cultural and political subterfuge helped to shape his complex, liminal, ever-shifting role as Britain' s principal Indian agent and negotiator in the American colonies. Johnson comes to life as never before-- as an Irish gentleman and a Mohawk war chief; as a diplomat and a land speculator; as an enlightened thinker and a slaveowner; a loving family man and a dedicated polygamist; and, ultimately, as the posthumous (and unlikely) symbol of national glory in the early republic. O' Toole has produced a magnificent book on this powerful, perplexing, and troubling man, whose life encompassed the triumphs and tragedies of the eighteenth century. And he has illuminated that critical time-- on the eve of the Revolution, and during the age of reason, war, and genocide-- that is now once again becoming central to our understanding of American and Atlantic history." -- Kevin Kenny, Boston College
"Fintan O'Toole's "White Savage: William Johnson and the Invention of America" is a beautifully written, extremely enjoyable book about early American and transatlantic history. Most important, it is a brilliant, sensitive analysis of the murky frontiers between societies and cultures-- Irish and English, Catholic and Protestant, British and Native American, capitalist and "under-developed"-- and of one man's largely successful attempt to negotiate them in creative, sympathetic ways. William Johnson was an architect of empire, no doubt, but unlike today's imperialists his sway was based on understanding, trust, and reciprocation, not on deceit, theft, and brute force. Thus, O'Toole's book provides not only a fascinating picture of a lost past but also a glimpse into what might be a less vicious future."
-- Kerby Miller, University of Missouri
The narrative moves with the spirited pace that such a storied life deserves, but does not fall prey to the legend making found in other Johnson biographies. Because he has not attempted an exhaustive biography, O Toole avoids exhausting the reader. He presents his tale in short, impressionistic chapters that move between Johnson s private and public lives. H-Net Review (H-AmIndian)
O Toole s prose pulls the reader along the journey of Johnson s life. History
O Toole brings together great man history and real analytical rigor; this book should be a winner with academics and history hobbyists alike. Publishers Weekly
A fascinating account. Bookli
A biography that will enlighten specialists, especially those curious about the Irish roots of Johnson s comfort with split allegiances. New York Times"
"The narrative moves with the spirited pace that such a storied life deserves, but does not fall prey to the legend making found in other Johnson biographies. Because he has not attempted an exhaustive biography, O'Toole avoids exhausting the reader. He presents his tale in short, impressionistic chapters that move between Johnson's private and public lives." -- H-Net Review (H-AmIndian) ..".O'Toole's prose pulls the reader along the journey of Johnson's life." -- History "O'Toole brings together great man history and real analytical rigor; this book should be a winner with academics and history hobbyists alike." -- Publishers Weekly "A fascinating account." -- Bookli "A biography that will enlighten specialists, especially those curious about the Irish roots of Johnson's comfort with split allegiances." -- New York Times
Book Description:
"Fintan O'Toole's "White Savage: William Johnson and the Invention of America is a beautifully written, extremely enjoyable book about early American and transatlantic history. Most important, it is a brilliant, sensitive analysis of the murky frontiers between societies and cultures--Irish and English, Catholic and Protestant, British and Native American, capitalist and "under-developed"--and of one man's largely successful attempt to negotiate them in creative, sympathetic ways. William Johnson was an architect of empire, no doubt, but unlike today's imperialists his sway was based on understanding, trust, and reciprocation, not on deceit, theft, and brute force. Thus, O'Toole's book provides not only a fascinating picture of a lost past but also a glimpse into what might be a less vicious future."
--Kerby Miller, University of Missouri
"Fintan O'Toole's "White Savage" is a brilliant piece of historical writing. With extraordinary vividness and elegance, O'Toole explains how William Johnson's Irish origins in a world enveloped by layers of cultural and political subterfuge helped to shape his complex, liminal, ever-shifting role as Britain's principal Indian agent and negotiator in the American colonies. Johnson comes to life as never before--as an Irish gentleman and a Mohawk war chief; as a diplomat and a land speculator; as an enlightened thinker and a slaveowner; a loving family man and a dedicated polygamist; and, ultimately, as the posthumous (and unlikely) symbol of national glory in the early republic. O'Toole has produced a magnificent book on this powerful, perplexing, and troubling man, whose life encompassed the triumphs and tragedies of the eighteenth century. And he has illuminated that critical time--on the eve of the Revolution, and during the age of reason, war, and genocide--that is now once again becoming central to our understanding of American and Atlantic history." --Kevin Kenny, Boston College
"Fintan O'Toole's "White Savage: William Johnson and the Invention of America" is a beautifully written, extremely enjoyable book about early American and transatlantic history. Most important, it is a brilliant, sensitive analysis of the murky frontiers between societies and cultures--Irish and English, Catholic and Protestant, British and Native American, capitalist and "under-developed"--and of one man's largely successful attempt to negotiate them in creative, sympathetic ways. William Johnson was an architect of empire, no doubt, but unlike today's imperialists his sway was based on understanding, trust, and reciprocation, not on deceit, theft, and brute force. Thus, O'Toole's book provides not only a fascinating picture of a lost past but also a glimpse into what might be a less vicious future."
--Kerby Miller, University of Missouri
"Fintan O' Toole' s "White Savage" is a brilliant piece of historical writing. With extraordinary vividness and elegance, O' Toole explains how William Johnson' s Irish origins in a world enveloped by layers of cultural and political subterfuge helped to shape his complex, liminal, ever-shifting role as Britain' s principal Indian agent and negotiator in the American colonies. Johnson comes to life as never before-- as an Irish gentleman and a Mohawk war chief; as a diplomat and a land speculator; as an enlightened thinker and a slaveowner; a loving family man and a dedicated polygamist; and, ultimately, as the posthumous (and unlikely) symbol of national glory in the early republic. O' Toole has produced a magnificent book on this powerful, perplexing, and troubling man, whose life encompassed the triumphs and tragedies of the eighteenth century. And he has illuminated that critical time-- on the eve of the Revolution, and during the age of reason, war, and genocide-- that is now once again becoming central to our understanding of American and Atlantic history." -- Kevin Kenny, Boston College
"Fintan O'Toole's "White Savage: William Johnson and the Invention of America" is a beautifully written, extremely enjoyable book about early American and transatlantic history. Most important, it is a brilliant, sensitive analysis of the murky frontiers between societies and cultures-- Irish and English, Catholic and Protestant, British and Native American, capitalist and "under-developed"-- and of one man's largely successful attempt to negotiate them in creative, sympathetic ways. William Johnson was an architect of empire, no doubt, but unlike today's imperialists his sway was based on understanding, trust, and reciprocation, not on deceit, theft, and brute force. Thus, O'Toole's book provides not only a fascinating picture of a lost past but also a glimpse into what might be a less vicious future."
-- Kerby Miller, University of Missouri
The narrative moves with the spirited pace that such a storied life deserves, but does not fall prey to the legend making found in other Johnson biographies. Because he has not attempted an exhaustive biography, O Toole avoids exhausting the reader. He presents his tale in short, impressionistic chapters that move between Johnson s private and public lives. H-Net Review (H-AmIndian)
O Toole s prose pulls the reader along the journey of Johnson s life. History
O Toole brings together great man history and real analytical rigor; this book should be a winner with academics and history hobbyists alike. Publishers Weekly
A fascinating account. Bookli
A biography that will enlighten specialists, especially those curious about the Irish roots of Johnson s comfort with split allegiances. New York Times"
"The narrative moves with the spirited pace that such a storied life deserves, but does not fall prey to the legend making found in other Johnson biographies. Because he has not attempted an exhaustive biography, O'Toole avoids exhausting the reader. He presents his tale in short, impressionistic chapters that move between Johnson's private and public lives." -- H-Net Review (H-AmIndian) ..".O'Toole's prose pulls the reader along the journey of Johnson's life." -- History "O'Toole brings together great man history and real analytical rigor; this book should be a winner with academics and history hobbyists alike." -- Publishers Weekly "A fascinating account." -- Bookli "A biography that will enlighten specialists, especially those curious about the Irish roots of Johnson's comfort with split allegiances." -- New York Times
White Savage: William Johnson and the Invention of America by Fintan O'Toole 'Tells the astonishing story of Sir William Johnson . . . Hero, adventurer, servant of the crown, Irishman, lover - Johnson was all of these.' (Stella Tillyard)
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherFaber & Faber
- Publication date2005
- ISBN 10 0571218407
- ISBN 13 9780571218400
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages416
- Rating
Buy New
Learn more about this copy
£ 79.16
Shipping:
£ 18.41
From Canada to U.S.A.
Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace
Stock Image
WHITE SAVAGE: WILLIAM JOHNSON AND THE INVENTION OF AMERICA Conor Pope;Fintan O'Toole;Kathy Sheridan
Published by
Faber & Faber
(2005)
ISBN 10: 0571218407
ISBN 13: 9780571218400
New
Hardcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: New. Seller Inventory # XL-3-020
Buy New
£ 79.16
Convert currency