At the dawn of the nineteenth century, the British Empire is engaged in a titanic war with Napoleonic France for global supremacy. The American Republic is quickly expanding its territory along the western frontier, while native peoples struggle to protect their lands from the relentless wave of new settlers.
Bestselling author and scholar James Laxer offers a fresh and compelling view of this decisive war, by bringing to life two major contests: the native peoples’ Endless War to establish nationhood and sovereignty on their traditional territories and the American campaign to settle its grievances with Britain through the conquest of Canada. At the heart of this story is the unlikely friendship and political alliance of Tecumseh, the Shawnee chief and charismatic leader of the native confederacy, and Major-General Isaac Brock, defender and protector of the British Crown. Together, these two towering figures secured what would become the nation of Canada.
Vividly rendered and passionately depicted, Tecumseh and Brock is a highly engaging, impeccably researched, and powerful work of history.
Tecumseh & Brock is comprehensive but not burdensome, a banquet of facts that can be enjoyed along with being instructive. Laxer proves Canadian history doesn’t have to be dull, particularly when told through the lives of people who lived it.
Laxer has written a superb narrative of the causes, course and legacy of the war of 1812.
[Laxer] displays an authoritative and sympathetic grasp of Native history ... Tecumseh and Brock promises a valuable alternative to the notion that history is invariably written by the victors.
Laxer’s book serves as a good short introduction to the war.
