Reviews

Covered with Night: A Story of Murder and Indigenous Justice in Early America by Nicole Eustace

fullmetal485's review

informative slow-paced

3.75

Nicole Eustace writes the history of the death of an Indian fur trader by two colonist merchants to showcase the differences in how the English handle murder with the law, and the American Indian desire to keep the peace. Chapters in this book are either describing the history or focusing on one particular character. Personally, I think the character William Keith was interesting on how he represented a unique class warfare happening in the colonies. My takeaway is that even though they failed, the American Indian concepts of how to repay a community for murder is sorely needed 

sayyestotess's review

challenging informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.75

1. The author took every single bit of information she could from a very interesting but somewhat scant historical record. This makes for a slow read but an informative one. Her account of Pennsylvania in the 1720s is detailed and fascinating. This book made me think differently about the criminal Justice system and The tenants it’s built on, and I really appreciate it for that. 

nnjack7's review against another edition

informative slow-paced

4.0

The parts that were interesting about this book were seriously good. The rest? Could have been an email. I loved the in-depth look into Native Americans’ customs and beliefs surrounding justice. I found it absolutely fascinating. I could have done without a lot of the colonial players’ backstories - I just feel they didn’t really add anything. But overall, this was a solid historical nonfiction that early American history buffs will really enjoy. 

rileycas's review

3.0

Not my usual genre of choice but very interesting story once I got used to the history writing style! Some cool twists of karma at the end too

russellcw's review

informative slow-paced

3.0

memphisholli's review against another edition

Too hard to follow. Didn’t like the narration. Just didn’t care.

plumsdeify's review

challenging emotional informative slow-paced

5.0

nb61's review

dark informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

In intro: ”if I found anyone burdened with grief, even as I am. I would console them for they would be  covered with night and wrapped in darkness.  This would I lift with the words of condolence and these strands of beads would become words with which I would address them.” attributed to Hiawatha

John and Edmond Cartilege killed Sawantaeny. [sah when tah née]
Indians just wanted apologies and gifts as recompense/signs of remorse, not the imprisonment or deaths of Cartileges. 
1722 parchment signed in Albany to keep peace. Between 5 Anton’s of Ho Da Na Shony (Iroquois) and colonists of PA and VA.  Oldest continuously recognized treaty in history of U.S. 
Question of nature of justice 
Colonists had no respect for Indians and their cultures. 
When things go ill, each fool presumes to advise; and if more happy, thinks himself more wise. 
“Wood” meant forest and insane tied together with savagery
Sawantaeny said his friends had killed him, meaning “don’t go after them or start up a war over this”
“Civility”
John Smith story really of a traditional ceremony where a woman acts out saving a captive from mock torture. 
Sawantaeny’s wife can call for blood or not; she holds lots of power. 
Cartilege’s wife has none. 
James LeTort 
Indians demand the murderers be set free, just do the ceremony. 
White folk just screw it up in all ways. 

erinariele's review

3.5

People are terrible

emmagoldblum's review

hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.0