Abstract
Patricia R. Wickman’s study of Osceola is not a typical biography. She outlines the major events in the life of Osceola, but her focus is primarily on Osceolana— that is, the artifacts associated with the hero of the Seminoles’ struggle to remain in their homeland. She attempts to separate the genuine accounts of his life and accurate visual representations of him from those that are derivative, and she authenticates some personal belongings while casting considerable doubt on others. Her narrative reads like a detective story. Like all detective work, some of her investigation is technical and dull, while other parts are exciting historical drama. But the drama lies not so much in who Osceola was but in who he has become.
Recommended Citation
Perdue, Theda
(1991)
"Review Essay: Osceola: The White Man's Indian,"
Florida Historical Quarterly: Vol. 70:
No.
4, Article 6.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/fhq/vol70/iss4/6
