Heart of American Darkness: Bewilderment and Horror on the Early Frontier

by Robert G. Parkinson

A fundamentally new account of the American frontier, showing that it was defined not by hardy pioneers or imperial power, but by sheer mayhem. We have long been divided over how exceptional the United States is, and that debate has often revolved around the frontier. In Heart of American Darkness, acclaimed historian Robert G. Parkinson presents a startling narrative of the ever-shifting encounters between white colonists and Native Americans. He reveals that the colonization of the interior was not a rational process or heroic deed―nor the act by which American democracy was forged. Rather, it was as bewildering, violent, and haphazard as European colonization of Africa. Bringing a Conradian lens to the central episodes of the early American frontier from the 1730s through the Revolutionary War, Parkinson follows the intertwined histories of two prominent families, one colonial and the other Native, who helped determine the fate of the empires battling for control of the Ohio River Valley. And in reclaiming the true nature and costs of imperialism, he offers nothing less than a new story of the making of the United States. 42 illustrations

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Native American History, War, American, Native American

480 pages, Hardcover

Published May 28, 2024

Reviews

[Dax · Rating 4 out of 5]

A work of scholarship that focuses on the northwest territory conflicts of 18th century America. Parkinson focuses on two families, one indigenous and one a prominent frontier family. The Cresaps and Shikellamy families were on opposite sides of the conflict, particularly during Dunmore’s War, but their roles highlight the evolution of relationships between the indigenous tribes and the colonial settlers.

Parkinson does something interesting by using ‘Heart of Darkness’ as a case study into the justification, or lack thereof, for violence in the settlement of new territories. When Americans think of the Indian Wars, they largely picture the frontier battles of the mid 19th century, however the antagonism between settlers and indigenous tribes largely took shape in the Ohio Valley during the century before. In the first half of the 18th century, the relationship between the tribes and the settlers was tense but the conflict was settled through negotiation and treaties. In the middle of the century that all changed, and Parkinson is interested in understanding that shift in mentality that led to the bloodshed that began to take place.

Parkinson’s research into the topic is first class, but his analysis can be a bit dry at times. This is a true deep dive. Those who are interested in learning about these early conflicts might be better served to check out Hamalainen’s ‘Indigenous Continent’. Hamalainen’s book covers the entirety of the contest between settlers and natives, but at a much broader level. ‘Heart of American Darkness’ is an excellent book. Solid four stars, but it is only for readers who want to dig deep.

"Unfortunately, the devices we construct to reassure, justify, and orient ourselves cannot eliminate the darkness. When Conrad's narrator tells us we live in the flicker, he ends by saying, "but darkness was here yesterday." We think we are safe when we use hoary legends to illuminate the night sky; the light cast from myths of "civility," of "progress," and of "exceptionalism" make us feel secure, maybe even invulnerable. But this is fantasy, darkness continues to surround us and it always has."

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Juxtaposing a classic novel against American colonialism sounded like a fascinating concept for a book, in theory, but Heart of American Darkness lacks cohesion. The focus is somehow far too narrow, and yet totally impersonal, with excessive use of quotations that do little to bring the individuals described to life. I was not the audience for this one, but I sincerely thank WW Norton and Edelweiss for the ARC.

[Brian Montgomery · Rating 1 out of 5]

Have to confess I gave up about halfway through. I am no stranger to nonfiction and historical narratives like this one but I found the author’s treatment of the subject dry and unengaging.

I usually pick up this sort of book to learn more about a subject that I’m unfamiliar with, and I just found myself struggling to comprehend or follow any sort of narrative. The author somehow managed to plod through each chapter in excruciating detail but do it in the dry, lifeless manner of college textbook.

Both the book jacket and introduction talk about how the author’s intent was to capture the confusion and uncertainty of the time surrounding the events ala Heart of Darkness but for me all that resulted in was my own frustration with the book and boredom.

Maybe this treatment of the subject was just too abstract for me.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this novel was very repetitive and it wasn't able to keep my attention as it was so long, reading more like a history book instead of a true account.

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

(This is a delayed review so it may be inaccurate and chaotic)
A history of the western (nowadays pretty eastern) frontier in colonial America. The first half had me bored to tears. Luckily, I kept at it and heard the story of Logan’s Lament. Logan was a peace loving native who was friendly with the white settlers. Then one day the settlers butchered his family, only sparing one infant who they took from its fallen mother’s arms. Logan goes berserk. No colonists are safe. Eventually, he is sated and gives a speech, the aforementioned Lament. Thomas Jefferson uses the lament to argue that the native Americans are not inferior (replying to a French philosopher). The speech is taught in rhetoric texts and school primers for decades. Sad, true, insightful history.

Side note: could have done without the Conrad parallels. A bit of a stretch.

Side note 2: George Washington when acting as a land speculator was a bit sketchy. 5 stars as a General and President though.

Side note 3: In the margins are a view of Colonial propaganda. Ben Franklin was a master at swaying the public.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darkness indeed! The ties with Conrad's classic book Heart of Darkness are well made. Kudos to the author for making the connection.

The book provides a seemingly well-researched look at the American colonial push into the Indian lands of what became western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio in the 1700s. It centers on a massacre at the confluence of Yellow Creek and the Ohio River, events before and after.

While few of the individuals come out unscathed in Parkinson's account, it seems to be for good reason. There is also considerable confusion about events, some intentional re-craftings to fit some political and personal agendas, some because of reliance on personal accounts, some because historians are filling in holes with some scholarly speculation. The result means the book can get confusing at times but was worth the ride.

The greed and sense of self-righteousness that are at the core of the American values is on full display. Consider yourself warned if you are still living in denial.

As an aside, I always wondered why Martha Washington destroyed all of George Washington's papers and letters that she could find. Definitely, in my opinion, there were things to hide as both George and Martha were determined to maintain a certain aura or mystique about the man. Describing events more than 250 years later, Parkinson does not have such concerns and provides evidence from other sources knocking the nation's first president down several notches, and with apparently good, solid reasons.

If current (2024) political events in the US have you wondering how we got to such an American Darkness, starting back in the nation's founding with researched histories, including this one, aren't a bad place to begin. We aren't destined to be bad; we simply choose to be.

[Ann Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rarely do I learn so much about a period and place in American History as I did reading Heart of American Darkness. The rivalries among nations, geographically undefined states, individuals, and Native Americans in the late 1700s are rarely described in such detail. Then add the rise of the American Revolution to the mix and the relationships change yet again. The book is written around two families, the Cresap frontier family and a Native American family led by a warrior known as Logan. It involves many tribes in the Northeast, primarily in what is now Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, and Pennslyvania. The subtitle of the book is Bewilderment and Horror on the Early Frontier, and the book is not for the faint of heart.

[Sarah W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read about the interaction of Native groups and European settlers in the Colonial Period. I had never previously encountered the story of Chief Logan, an Iroquois leader made famous by his speech Logan's Lament, but this book makes a compelling case for the conflicts and tragedies of this era, but also how his story was utilized by later generations of Americans. I found Logan's story fascinating and wish these stories were more widely known. On the other hand, I had mixed feelings about the author's references to Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, from which this book clearly borrows a title. Overall, an interesting read recommended for those interested in the history of this era.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of the book Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad and the film Apocalypse Now, I was excited when I saw this book in a book store on San Juan Island in Washington state. I felt the book fulfilled the idea that the incursion into the Ohio country by pre-revolutionary war explorers and profiteers was indeed a Heart of Darkness scenario.

The amount of research into the era is exhaustive and well foot-noted. I also appreciated the modern photo's as well as the historical drawings of the places in question. I found myself looking at Wikipedia as a supplement to the text.

All in all, I highly recommended the book if you enjoy early American history as seen through the Heart of Darkness lens. The fighting in the Ohio river valley was truly a Heart of Darkness situation when the first incursions were made by colonial adventurers and settlers. 'The Horrors' of the era are well documented and described in this book. The atrocities cited don't leave any of the participants as "victorious" within the era he writes about.

[D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm, so imperialism, manifest destiny, feelings of white superiority, cheating, stealing land, barbarity, ethnic cleansing of natives were all somehow omitted from my school history textbooks of long ago. I seem to remember reading only about the heroic "settlers" and the winning of the West. This is a decent book giving a bit of a different view from which I was taught in school. I'm sure this book will be banned in many schools in the South as this is actual history and not the WASP false narrative of history so many desperately want to cling to.

[Kristi Thielen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a great deal of American history – but I was amazed and shattered at what I read in this remarkable book.

There is little that we’ve been told about the pre-revolutionary war history between colonists, political leaders, “Founding Fathers” and the Native tribes. This book seeks to address that by focusing on the complexities of the struggle for control of the Ohio River Valley region.

The interactions of two families: those of Shickellamy, a famed Iroquois leader and the Cressaps, frontiersman known for their scheming and land greed, form the basis for a story that spools out into the history of the Seven Years War and on to the Revolutionary War. Through it all changing fortunes, the spread of misinformation, betrayed alliances, and massacre leads to more and more violence and loss.

Parkinson makes an excellent case for the fact that American history is truly based on the idea of “frontier,” and who won or lost it has shaped America ever since. And it was "gained" by unplanned, haphazard efforts.

The book’s title and its framework come for a comparison to Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness about the violent, disorganized colonization of Africa. The comparison is apt.

This book is a MUST read for any student of American history.

[Boston64329 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very readable history. A nice writing style. But I did have to put it down from time to time. It is history after all and the focus is misuse (a mild term for removal, murder and rape) of indigenous people in early colonial times. The antagonists are primarily Pennsylvanians and Virginians fighting over claims to the Ohio territory. Some of the colonists are very well thought of early revolutionaries and leaders of the to be formed U.S. So much twisted and forgotten history.

[M Shomaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exploring the history of Shickellamy, one of the most renowned Indigenous leaders of the 18th century, and the Cresap family around the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. Explores issues of race, "whiteness," and historical memory.

[Almir Osmanovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to rate it 5 stars for the interesting subject & content. I had the audiobook, and my gripe is the long chapters that are difficult to get through in one sitting. At times it is hard to digest the chapter because of the length. Definitely a book to re-listen or re-read once more.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a lot and made me think deeply about what I was taught. Reflective.

[Max Astle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Will Ethan and Christian inspire me to start writing reviews? Maybe. 3.5 on this one.

[Andrew W · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good one. It casts a little different light on previous books about this era aka Dark and Bloody Ground by Eckert.