Encyclopedia of American Indian Removal

The authors or editors of numerous books about Native Americans and Native American studies, Littlefield and Parins (director and associate director, respectively, Sequoyah National Research Ctr., Univ. of Arkansas at Little Rock) have produced a concise two-volume encyclopedia about a dark chapter in the history of this country and its native peoples. Volume 1 provides a time line for Indian removal, essays about geographic regions and laws pertaining to Indian removal, as well as a discussion of the affected individuals and tribes. The essays were written by 16 scholars from a variety of disciplines, and each includes a section for further reading with a list of books, articles, or websites. Volume 2 compiles primary-source documents related to Indian removal in three parts. The first covers Indian removal policy, the second responses to that policy, and the last the removals themselves. Document excerpts are followed by brief analysis. At the end of Volume 2 is an extensive annotated bibliography and index. BOTTOM LINE Clear, concise, and well researched, this set provides an excellent overview of a notorious era in American history. Any student of American history will find this set a valuable source of information; recommended for the reference collection of any library.—Diane Fulkerson, Univ. of South Florida-Polytechnic, Lakeland