Book Review: The Thirty-Ninth Man by D.A. Swanson
Disclaimer: I received this book in a giveaway by the author on the grounds that I would review it.
On December 26th, 1862, thirty-eight men were hanged in the largest mass execution in American history. They were convicted of murder and other crimes in connection with the Dakota War. Thirty-nine were sentenced, one was pardoned at the last moment. This is the story of how it came to pass.
This is a fictionalized account of the events, with the main protagonist being Anton McAllister, son of a white trapper and an Algonquin woman. He becomes a scout and eventually moves to Minnesota during the period shortly before the territory became a state.
Treaties are made with the Native American tribes, allowing more and more white settlers into the area, and pushing the tribes into smaller and smaller areas. Promises are made, but seldom kept, and the Indians starve, while being cheated by traders who steal from the government allotments.
When famine comes, tensions rise, and it is no surprise that eventually something breaks, and war begins. Atrocities are committed, and when the immediate uprising is over, there are punishments in store. But one of Anton’s friends is among the condemned, and he is innocent of the crime he was convicted of, having been elsewhere at the time.
The prose style is a bit old-fashioned, reminding me of the boys’ books of my youth. I’d call it “stately.” There are multiple instances of telling rather than showing when it comes to minor characters’ personalities. It works here since they are very short interludes in the main story and there isn’t the time to develop them fully.
The author does not hide his sympathies; the natives are clearly the wronged party here, even if some of them are unpleasant or downright evil people.
While this book is not specifically written for the young adult market, I think it would be entirely suitable for teen readers (there’s a list of further reading in the back) who are able to handle the deliberate pacing. I also recommend this book for Minnesota history buffs.
