Tecumseh and the Prophet

The Shawnee Brothers Who Defied a Nation

By: Peter Cozzens

Narrated by: Mark Bramhall

The first biography of the great Shawnee leader in more than twenty years, and the first to make clear that his misunderstood younger brother, Tenskwatawa, was an equal partner in the last great pan-Indian alliance against the United States.

Until the Americans killed Tecumseh in 1813, he and his brother Tenskwatawa were the co-architects of the broadest pan-Indian confederation in United States history. In previous accounts of Tecumseh's life, Tenskwatawa has been dismissed as a talentless charlatan and a drunk. But award-winning historian Peter Cozzens now shows us that while Tecumseh was a brilliant diplomat and war leader--admired by the same white Americans he opposed--it was Tenskwatawa, called the "Shawnee Prophet," who created a vital doctrine of religious and cultural revitalization that unified the disparate tribes of the Old Northwest. Detailed research of Native American society and customs provides a window into a world often erased from history books and reveals how both men came to power in different but no less important ways.

Cozzens brings us to the forefront of the chaos and violence that characterized the young American Republic, when settlers spilled across the Appalachians to bloody effect in their haste to exploit lands won from the British in the War of Independence, disregarding their rightful Indian owners. Tecumseh and the Prophet presents the untold story of the Shawnee brothers who retaliated against this threat--the two most significant siblings in Native American history, who, Cozzens helps us understand, should be writ large in the annals of America.

Cover images: (left) Tecumseh, by Benson John Lossing after Pierre Le Dru, (detail). Toronto Public Library; (right) Ten-sqat-a-way, the Open Door, "Shawnee Prophet" by George Catlin (detail). Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Great listen!

Very interesting listen. It’s a shame the native Americans couldn’t unite around Tecumseh. The Prophet’s story is fascinating as well.

Slow

New to this story, and overall it was an interesting listen and introduction to the Shawnee brothers. I did find the story frustratingly slow and so would lose interest for stretches of the book.

A MUST READ

This is a very interesting book.
I have read many books about the Native Americans and the “the people who came from across the great salt lake” to use a term from the book.
It always leaves me with a “sad” feeling for the loss of their amazing culture and way of life.
This book and the many other books available about this part of America’s history should be required reading in high schools.
As usual, the narrator, mr. Mark Bramhall, is a pleasure to listen to.
My thanks to all involved, JK.
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Historical review

Great historical review of the great Tecumseh’s life. Very biased towards the native Americans perspective. They were obviously abused in the westward expansion of the American empire but their war techniques and tactics brought much hatred upon them from their enemies. Trusting the British was always a sad mistake. We should have taken Canada when we had a chance.

Excellent historical narrative.

Wanted to know more about Tecumseh and the
Shawnee and was not disappointed. America is a country that should be utterly ashamed of its history and mistreatment of native and African peoples. This country has NOTHING to be proud of.

Highly recommend this read for anyone who is not afraid of the truth.