Seminole

by Theodore Pratt

Historical fiction set in early Florida, featuring two fictional characters interacting with real historical figures in real historical settings. Primary historical charater is Osceola, A Seminole war-chief.

Genres: Historical Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1954

About the author

Theodore Pratt (1901 - 1969) was an American writer who is best known for his novels set in Florida. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1901 to Thomas A. and Emma Pratt. The family later moved to New Rochelle, New York, where Theodore attended high school. After completing high school, he attended Colgate University for two years, and then Columbia University for another two years, but did not graduate. He worked in New York City as a play reader, a staff reader for a movie company, and a columnist for the New York Sun. He also free-lanced articles for The New Yorker and other national magazines.

Theodore Pratt published more than thirty novels, including four mysteries under the pseudonym of "[author=Timothy Brace|21712110]", two collections of short stories, two plays (adapted from his novels), a few non-fiction books and pamphlets, and numerous short stories and articles in periodicals such as Esquire, Blue Book, Escapade, The Gent, Manhunt, Guilty Detective Story Magazine, Coronet, Fantastic Universe, Space Science Fiction, and The Saturday Evening Post. Some of his novels had strong sexual content by the standards of the time. The Tormented (1950), a study of nymphomania, was turned down by thirty-four publishers. It eventually sold more than a million copies. Five of his works were made into feature motion pictures.

Reviews

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pratt assembles this tale of Osceola based upon much that has been recorded. He gets a lot of the non-fiction right, but his fictional parts don't pull it all together well.

The historical accuracy of much of the book is very accurate. From the killing of Wiley Thompson to his wife Morning Dew to the Green Corn Dance. To create his book, Pratt ads Gideon Sauny to intertwine in Osceola's life to tell Osceola's story. However, Pratt stumbles involving dialogue of Osceola and Gideon. Painting Osceola as such a stoic creature and then throwing that all away to fit Gideon doesn't ring true. Or I could write Pratt's writings sound like that of a white man. The entry of Gideon into the Green Corn Dance, despite the story, is unbelievable. Then there's a whole thing of Prat trying to wrap up the book and this sends Gideon on a ridiculous trip and another unlikely conclusion.

The writing is not as good as other Pratt books. The writing is also far below similar work by Frank Slaughter.

The settings are very well written. Pratt does an excellent job letting readers know where they are in Florida. This is a tremendous help in orienting other activity in the book.

Bottom line: I don't recommend the book. 5 out of ten points.

[Lynette Lark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives you greater respect for Chief Osceola.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tribute to the great Seminole leader. Somewhat dated but not egregiously offensive.

[Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't really remember much at all about this book. I read it probably 40 years ago. But I've kept it so I'm going to give it an OK. I probaly liked it better than that when I was a kid.