Camilla Townsend's stunning new book; Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma; differs from all previous biographies of Pocahontas in capturing how similar seventeenth century Native Americans were--in the way they saw; understood; and struggled to control their world---not only to the invading British but to ourselves.Neither naïve nor innocent; Indians like Pocahontas and her father; the powerful king Powhatan; confronted the vast might of the English with sophistication; diplomacy; and violence. Indeed; Pocahontas's life is a testament to the subtle intelligence that Native Americans; always aware of their material disadvantages; brought against the military power of the colonizing English. Resistance; espionage; collaboration; deception: Pocahontas's life is here shown as a road map to Native American strategies of defiance exercised in the face of overwhelming odds and in the hope for a semblance of independence worth the name.Townsend's Pocahontas emerges--as a young child on the banks of the Chesapeake; an influential noblewoman visiting a struggling Jamestown; an English gentlewoman in London--for the first time in three-dimensions; allowing us to see and sympathize with her people as never before.
#1255422 in Books The University of North Carolina Press 2012-08-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.27 x 1.59 x 6.38l; 2.18 #File Name: 0807872695688 pages
Review
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Comprehensive revisionist campaign history...By Thomas MoodyFredericksburg! Fredericksburg! is an excellent overall view of the post Antietam actions of both the Federal and Confederate armies as they maneuvered to and ultimately confronted each other at the important but little publicized Civil War battle of Fredericksburg. George Rable has combined a fairly detailed battle summary along with an enormous amount of "everyday soldier" feeling to give an accurate as well as highly readable account of this predecessor to the bloody battle at Chancellorsville. The story starts with the Union troops stalled at Warrenton Va. following the delayed pursuit of the Rebel army after the monolithic battle at Antietam. Abraham Lincoln; finally resigned to the fact that George McClellan will not agressively fight Robert E. Lee; appoints the ambivalent Ambrose Burnside to command the Federal forces. After Burnside reluctantly agrees to the post (he's refused command twice before) he marches his troops with lightening quickness to Falmouth with the idea of crossing the Rappahannock River to Fredericksburg and ultimately to Richmond to capture the Rebel capital. Upon arrival at Falmouth; however; he discovers that the War Department has forgotten to provide bridge material for the river crossing and he's forced to wait...giving Lee valuable time to countermarch and entrench his troops outside Fredericksburg. Rable then takes an opportunity to really describe Union and Confederate camp life...the reader gets many first hand accounts of the incredibly horrible conditions there (this camp has been called the Valley Forge of the Civil War) and how the troops ultimately prepared for the coming battle. Rable's battle and tactics descriptions of the engagements at Prospect Hill (south of town) and the incredible encounters at the stone wall at the base of Marye's Heights are concise and expository...clearly; this confrontation was a major mistake for the Union. Rable then carries that thought further by explaining Burnside's stubborness and reluctance to change his plans in the face of defeat. The result is one of the Civil War's most sensless slaughters and the final downfall for Burnside. The book ends with the demoralized Union forces again encamped at Falmouth (following the ridiculous "Mud March"...Burnside's last ditch attempt at redemption for his army) and a new leader (Joe Hooker) ready to assume command. In the final analysis; Rable's book is well balanced with enough battle detail to satisfy the military historian while at the same time; a lot of "everyday" soldier context to make this an excellent addition to any Civil War library. I would recommend this book highly.8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Great OverviewBy J. SontagFredericksburg! Fredericksburg! by George Rable is an excellent overview of an often overlooked campaign. Mr Rable's book; while not a military history; is a wonderfully writeen and easy to read book on the Fredericksburg Campaign. It starts off with Burnside replacing McClellan and ends with Burnside's dismissal after the infamous Mud March. If you want a great overall read on the entire campaign this book is for you. If you want a miltary history of the campaign then I would suggest Francis O'Reilly's Fredericksburg Campaign: Winter War on the Rappahannock. O'Reilly's book is almost a minute by minute; blow by blow of the battle; while Rable's is a remarkable overview of the entire campaign from beginning to bitter end. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the campaign and I would suggest O'Reilly's with this one by Mr Rable.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Good effortBy Cliente do KindleAfter the brilliant and almost complete book of Francis Augustin O'Reilly; it's very good to have something to compare in the same matter. I like the George C. Rable research.
