The Middle Ground by Richard White - Book Report/Review Example

 The Middle Ground by Richard White Brief Summary Richard White’s ‘The Middle Ground’ is a classic piece of historical writing. It is much more than a statement of facts and opinions, interspersed with historical events and their aftermath as most history books are set out to be. Rather, under the creative genius of this well known writer of US history, the worlds of the Indian tribes that inhabited America and that of their eventual conquerors and regulators, the European explorers and settlers that discovered these lands are explored eloquently and given full meaning and expression. White covers the period from 1650 to 1815, beginning with the refugees and their interaction with indigenous Indian tribes along the Great Lakes Region and ending with the emergence and formation of the Confederacies and their aftermath, as the Indian tribes were further emaciated and marginalized. Employing the term ‘middle ground’ is a wise decision and the writer certainly seeks to explore the relationship between the indigenous Indian tribes and the European traders from a decidedly neutral point of view, delving into their distinctive beliefs, fears, hatred and disgust of each other. Yet they had to live and let live, as they could not change the present realities. Their relationship with each other is explored from the point of view of their cultures and traditions, trust and mistrust of each other and of the further aspirations of the Europeans to inhabit the lands while restricting and relegating the indigenous tribes rather unceremoniously into second class inhabitants and outcasts, evicted from the very lands that were once their sole property and domain. Discussion Richard White is a historian who specializes in early American history and has made the exploration of relationships between the indigenous Indian tribes and the early European fur traders the subject of his particular domain. We see this also in his other books, ‘The Roots of Dependency’ and ‘Its Your Misfortune and Not My Own’, where he tries to reiterate that each succeeding victor in the American West exploited the land and its inhabitants for short term benefits. At least we have an honest historian who is prepared to rewrite history as the vanquished indigenous Indian tribes would have. It is highly refreshing to have an unbiased viewpoint, and the author has received acclaim for just this very virtue. Whatever their separate, communal and individual feelings about each other, from the time trade was first initiated between the Indians and the Europeans, it was clear that they needed each other in order to thrive and prosper. That is White’s entire premise in the book, and if they had learned to live and trust each other in an atmosphere of mutual dependency and respect, the world would have been a very different place today. Nevertheless, we cannot change the facts of present day America, but can only respect and revere his unbiased point of view where both victor and vanquished would be cohabitants. Analysis of Content Although the purpose of the book is never explicitly stated, it is implied all through the volume. Yes, we can see and agree that the purpose of the book is achieved. The book has been quite purposefully and effectively organized. While there is a chronological sequence of events, the true genius of White is that he has also managed to deal with themes and topics of common interest in the same vein. The book thus culminates with a discussion regarding the politics of benevolence, assimilation and other related matters (White, 2010, 519). The book is extremely well written and would make sense to anybody interested in the history of America’s origins. However it would definitely be more truly appreciated by the avid history buff or scholar. The audience level is not meant to be the average reader, and the book does not imply that it is part of Oprah’s recommended reading list. Although the tone, pace and language of the book is highly interesting, yet it is definitely not to be treated as bedside reading. To his credit, White writes in a highly engaging manner that is both riveting and factual. However the tone is nowhere dry in the fashion of most history treatises, rather it is refreshingly interesting as it intersperses facts with details and White’s own interpretations. White has been known as an unbiased writer and he writes with both objectivity and balance. Overview As previously indicated, Richard White’s ‘The Middle Ground’ has been hailed as a classic by historians and history buffs alike. The book has seen its 20th edition being well received in the USA and worldwide. I think that the strength of the book lies in the highly unbiased views of the author. Wherever he has tried to make a point or give an opinion, he has tried to supplement it with facts. The only weakness of the book is that it is at times too esoteric and not an easy read. It takes time to assimilate and digest the facts and opinions and understand what White is implying and why. Obviously we cannot match wits with an historical genius with a number of books to his credit. One clear indication of White’s success is that he manages to extend the term ‘middle ground’ beyond geographic definition. The middle ground is more than a no-go area or an area of compromise- it is an area of diplomacy or the space that needs to be traversed if both Indians and Europeans (read Frenchmen and Algonquian Indians) were to come to an understanding. Each should have planted their limits and stuck to them. However as often happens in history, we see that the Europeans were finally able to take undue advantage of the Indians by first establishing colonies and then fortifying them. Their superior firepower and disciplined fighting ability was no match for the bravado of the Indian tribes that relied on valor, honor and tradition to lead spirited attacks against a much superior enemy (White, 2010, 225). Interestingly, White makes very little use of the term ‘tribe’ in his book. He prefers delving deep into the structure and cultural makeup of both the Europeans and the Indians by narrating their similarities and differences and how these were bridged as their cultures mixed and assimilated and they married and cohabited with each other. Each was exploring another entirely new culture that was clearly distinct from its own. Thus the middle ground was itself indication of a new mixed culture, incorporating some traditions and values of both groups (White, 2010, 55). Conclusion The work of Richard White and others like him has been appreciated and called New Living History as these writers bring a fresh perspective to a much written about topic. Interspersing fact and opinion and applying both logic and emotion, the writer takes the reader to a unique world and period of time where both explore the richness of the landscape and what it must have felt to live and work in those times. He received a Pulitzer Prize in 1992. Works Cited White, Richard. The Middle Ground: Indians, Empires, and Republics in the Great Lakes Region, 1650-1815, 20th ed. Cambridge University Press, 2010. Read More