IROQUOIS DIPLOMACY ON THE EARLY AMERICAN FRONTIER

Opening with the story of "four Indian kings" who were royally entertained in London, Timothy J. Shannon details relations between the Iroquois nations and Europeans who came to America to live and trade. George Wilson's reading is reminiscent of an entertaining college lecture. It especially comes alive as he describes the Iroquois penchant for selling land they didn't own, British condescension, and quirks of diplomacy. Listeners also learn about Iroquois towns, their style of consensus building, and the shift in relations once the United States was formed. While the scholarly tone might put off some at first, Shannon's writing ultimately proves fascinating as it shows how dealings with the Iroquois shaped our nation's early history. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2008]