Review by Choice Review
Kenny has written a major poem on Tekonwatonti, a Mohawk woman who was the sister of Chief Joseph Brant and the common-law wife of Sir William Johnson. Johnson was a British military commander who led Native American armies in the French and Indian Wars, and after his death, Tekonwatonti and her brother led attacks on the Revolutionary armies. She died in exile in Canada. Her career places her at the heart of American history. Kenny begins with historical background, then tells Tekonwatonti's remarkable story. There is a considerable variety of genre in this book dramatic monologues, narratives, quotations from documents, prayers, quoted oratory, lyrics. The style is flexible and often reaches great eloquence, though there are flat stretches and some unnecessary details. Kenny provides a glossary of characters and a chronology. He gives us insights into an extraordinary woman whose life reads like romance but conveys a tragic story full of relevance for today. A book for all collections. B. Almon; University of Alberta
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Written mostly by white males, the history of Native Americans is peopled by warriors and chiefs. Though women have been ignored and trivialized, they have played an important role in the culture and government of their people. Among the Iroquois, for instance, women have always chosen the leaders, guided them, and removed them when they failed to carry out their duties. Tekonwatonti (also known as Molly Brant) was a Mohawk woman who played a very powerful role during the French and Indian War. Sister of the renowned leader Joseph Brant and widow of the influential Sir William Johnson, she led the Mohawk fighters in support of the British because she believed that cooperation would secure Mohawk land. These narrative poems speak in the voices of Molly, of her family, and of male historical figures and occasionally introduce other noted Native American women. Mohawk poet Kenny has gone far toward restoring these patriots to their rightful places in American history.-- Lisa A. Mitten, Univ. of Pittsburgh Lib. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Choice Review
Review by Library Journal Review
