Oklahoma Books

Note: This book was originally published in hardcover under the title AMERICAN ECCLESIASTES. Why the title was changed for the paperback edition is unclear.

James Pattie is remembered solely for a book he published in 1831 entitled THE PERSONAL NARRATIVE OF JAMES O. PATTIE. The book recounted his experiences as a trapper and wanderer in the Far West between 1825 and 1830, experiences he shared with his traveling companion, his father Sylvester. After trapping throughout New Mexico and Arizona, the men journeyed to California where Sylvester died in [1828]. After continuing on to San Francisco, James boarded a ship for Mexico, across which he walked by way of Mexico City, and then boarded another ship on the Gulf for New Orleans. Destitute, he was able to borrow $40 from Senator Josiah Johnston, a family friend, to pay for passage aboard a steamboat to Cincinnati. It was there that he met publisher Timothy Flint, who published Pattie's narrative.

Since the book was first published it has held the attention of historians and others interested in first-hand accounts of the early West. Often it has been disparaged as a work filled with inaccuracies, half-truths, and tall tales; it was even claimed that Pattie, with Flint's help, made the whole thing up. Richard Batman has taken a fine-toothed comb to the Narrative with the purpose of separating fact from fiction wherever possible. He is able to show that quite a bit of what Pattie wrote is indeed based in fact. His descriptions of the geography he traveled over are often remarkably accurate. Batman wonders if Pattie kept a diary of some kind, since certain details (a rainstorm, for example, that can be verified from other journals that cite the event) are too specifically drawn to be recalled years later from memory. Where he errs the most is in his depictions of his own actions and responses. Zelig-like, Pattie blended in with the background scenery, rarely if ever making an impression on those he encountered (one trapper who spent time with him remembered his horse but not him). Yet in the Narrative he puts himself in the forefront and gives himself all kinds of heroic (at least "manly") qualities. Many of these incidents occurred in California where Pattie felt he was treated with great indignities; Batman is quick to point out where they might have been figments of his imagination. He also fills out Pattie's life, making the book a biography of the man. Unfortunately, but typically it seems, Pattie vanishes from the scene shortly after his book was published, never heard from again. Batman has done a great service with this book, not only helping to clarify a major historical record, but through his own researches adding much information about Pattie and life in the Far West at the end of the 1820s. Highly recommended for anyone interested in this period in American history.

My own ancestery is represented in this book (Jack Harry I) as he is called by our family. The uncle of our Great Grandfather Jack Harry II. I am from Anadarko, OK and this finally explains many of the stories and locations we all heard about as a kid, from Shirley Hill to the Tonkawa hills masssacre sites, and the understanding of how some of our people have the name Chisolm. The narrow tightrope of turmoil the tribes walked to wind up in Binger / Anadarko / Apache and Lawton is made visible and helps greatly to understand stories that we heard as kids. The previous area I search was the Texas Indian Papers and the Smithsonian, which give tidbits but not the mechanism of the period. I am deeply appreciative for this book and although it is a bit specialized, it goes beyond mere history and leaves me amazed at the people like Jessee Chisholm who did their best in a difficult time.

My husband is a nephew of Jesse Benton's and I read this book out of curiousity, but was very pleased to find it a fascinating read. She was a great lady and important to the history of this county and as well as having many amazing adventures. Although the subject matter could have been dry, Pamela Herr makes it interesting while giving you much historical information. You have a feeling of being in the places and at the time she is describing. You will soon realize that in another time, Jesse Benton would have made a far greater mark on history. This book was more satisfying than many novels I have read and will be passed on to all the young women in our family.

Elinor Wilson renders honorable credit to legendary frontiersman Jim Beckwourth. Always recognized in early western history literature, the general consensus is that Beckwourth's word was worthless. The author justifiably debates this issue by including many other documented reports of the times to support and verify his accounts for the most part. One can almost agree that early western tales were, well, tales with twists to them. Events did get exaggerated by everyone at one time or another, still do.
A member of Ashley's 1824 fur trapping brigade, living with and becoming a Crow Indian chief for several years, exploring many parts of the west, locating a pass into California for emigrants, trading endeavors, shopkeeper in several western locations, etc.
An energetic and entertaining glimpse into a forgotten hero of the west.

Josanies's War is one of the best novels I've ever read on the final Chiricahua outbreak of 1885 under Geronimo, Naiche and band leaders like Josanie. The author appears to know the country very well and blends history and fiction together in way I've rarely seen. Chiricahua Apache beliefs are handled well and with respect and these people come alive as living, breathing human beings. The narrative moves swiftly and being Apache I see many of the places described in the novel clearly. There are one or two mistakes but they are minor and the average reader would never catch them so I won't dwell on these. A joy to read and part of my permanent collection of great novels on tribal American people.

Robert Ryal Miller's works, based on important but sometime obscure Latin American personages, provide a text, Juan Alvarado, Governor of California, no less thorough than Dr. Miller's other thoughtfully researched efforts. Professor Miller's trademark is underpinned by how he utilizes primary sources, making significant connections where none were previously available. By way of example, previous histories omit mention of a rather colorful Juan Alvarado, who became governor of California at the age of 27, by means of a revolution he organized in 1836, toppling a dictatorial military governor. Reads like fiction, yet Miller's subject, as all others, is accurately portrayed, as Juan Alvarado is brought to life by a meticulous scholar!

This is probably considered the "dark ages" of Oklahoma legal history, but yet an importatant one for any person with interests in the law should read.

Surprisingly, this was never discussed while I was a student in law school in Oklahoma, which was 20+ years after the events. When I learned of this legal history, I thought this was very significant as a member of the Oklahoma bar, and should be a "must-read." Regardless, it is an interesting story and well written.

I found this book tremendously helpful with some research I was doing on the Kansas--information I'd not found anywhere else.

This is simply one of the most valuable books ever written on American jurisprudence. The book has many dimensions: a discussion of American legal realism; a biography of Karl Llewellyn; an examination of LLewellyn's writings and approaches to the study of law (particularly "The Common Law Tradition"); and still valuable bibliographic references (even though the book was published in this edition in 1985). Twining knows his subject intimately, having studied with Llewellyn at the law school of University of Chicago in the late 1950's, as well as being the principal organizer and commentator on Llewellyn's papers (see his "The Karl Llewellyn Papers"--U. Chicago, 1968). Twinings subsequent publications also attest to his acute analytical skills; his British perspective on the realists and Llewellyn adds a further valuable dimension to the book. A must read is how best to describe it.

Tsakalakis is one of the very few contemporary Greek novelists worth reading! This is his first literary endeavor, and as such it does have its drawbacks. Nonetheless, the author showed signs of a rather promising up-and-coming writer early on. I happen to own his sophomore work as well, and it's even better than the first one! It's called "Ritores, Ktitores, ki Epibitores...". I'm anxiously waiting for his third novel!