Buy new:
-9% $18.25
FREE delivery Saturday, May 18 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$18.25 with 9 percent savings
List Price: $19.95

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Saturday, May 18 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Friday, May 17. Order within 4 hrs 9 mins
Only 12 left in stock (more on the way).
$$18.25 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$18.25
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day easy returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$8.24
Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! See less
$3.99 delivery May 20 - 21. Details
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$18.25 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$18.25
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Ships from and sold by HPB-Diamond.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Fintan O'Toole
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

White Savage: William Johnson and the Invention of America (Excelsior Editions) Paperback – April 1, 2009

by Fintan O'Toole (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 57 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$18.25","priceAmount":18.25,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"18","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"25","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"8qDm3EB0t8vhTMZ%2F3Nrbe%2F6SFh3Az19xJLi9wiJqKDdunPTsjt75gIGejmDfpF%2Bbg3QAVrU4yTFMptq0xz2G7%2BHaJAEGUv8K%2F5PilobAJ9EfQOHQEdORoLIdIuRowAzOlUWY0BgsACI%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$8.24","priceAmount":8.24,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"8","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"24","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"8qDm3EB0t8vhTMZ%2F3Nrbe%2F6SFh3Az19xVTSfreTVrWn93S5fqtAMa8RPfsNKmVPkGIZaG4Ycb%2FEFCYBFCxVynS7BjwB8ffx31j1BK6cqoheCdu8QVSVLAN0q46ghHTpTPiKWtD0CzJTZ7V2Gcu3%2B22CbYYcSj9gUc8ai%2BgxDWZLzhJ6glw2THw%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Fintan O'Toole, columnist and drama critic for the Irish Times, is the author of many other books, including A Traitor's Kiss: The Life of Richard Brinsley Sheridan. His work frequently appears in American magazines. He lives in Dublin.
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    416 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Excelsior Editions/State University of New York Press
  4. Publication date
    April 1, 2009
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1 x 8.9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1438427581
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1438427584
  8. See all details
Next page
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The narrative moves with the spirited pace that such a storied life deserves, but does not fall prey to the legend making found in other Johnson biographies. Because he has not attempted an exhaustive biography, O'Toole avoids exhausting the reader. He presents his tale in short, impressionistic chapters that move between Johnson's private and public lives." -- H-Net Review (H-AmIndian)

"...O'Toole's prose pulls the reader along the journey of Johnson's life." -- History

"O'Toole brings together great man history and real analytical rigor; this book should be a winner with academics and history hobbyists alike." -- Publishers Weekly

"A fascinating account." -- Bookli

"A biography that will enlighten specialists, especially those curious about the Irish roots of Johnson's comfort with split allegiances." -- New York Times

From the Back Cover

William Johnson was scarcely more than a boy when he left Ireland and his Gaelic, Roman Catholic family to become a Protestant in the service of Britain's North American empire. In New York by 1738, Johnson moved to the frontiers along the Mohawk River, where he established himself as a fur trader and eventually became a landowner with vast estates. Serving as principal British intermediary with the Iroquois Confederacy, he commanded British, colonial, and Iroquois forces that defeated the French in the battle of Lake George in 1755, and he created the first groups of "rangers," who fought like American Indians and led the way to the Patriots' victories in the Revolution.

As Fintan O'Toole's superbly researched, colorfully dramatic narrative makes clear, the key to Johnson's signal effectiveness was the style in which he lived as a "white savage." Johnson had two wives, one European, one Mohawk; became fluent in Mohawk; and pioneered the use of American Indians as active partners in the making of a new America. O'Toole's masterful use of the extraordinary documents written by Irish, Dutch, German, French, and American Indian participants in Johnson's drama enlivens the account of this heroic figure's legendary career. It also suggests why Johnson's early multiculturalism unraveled, and why the contradictions of his enterprise created a historical dead end.

"O'Toole brings together great man history and real analytical rigor; this book should be a winner with academics and history hobbyists alike." -- Publishers Weekly

"A fascinating account." -- Booklist

"A biography that will enlighten specialists, especially those curious about the Irish roots of Johnson's comfort with split allegiances." -- New York Times

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Excelsior Editions/State University of New York Press (April 1, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1438427581
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1438427584
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.2 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1 x 8.9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 57 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Fintan O'Toole

Fintan O'Toole

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
57 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Decker
5.0 out of 5 stars A very fascinating man,
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2013
Verified Purchase
White Savage is about the life and times of William Johnson, the Irish baronet of New York who helped weld good relations between the British Empire and the Haudenosaunee. While the history of the Eastern Colonies is riddled with numerous other frontiersmen and robber barons; William Johnson stands out amongst all of them. One of the main reasons was his fondness for the Mohawks or Kanien'keha'ka. Whom not only did he do business with but even led into skirmishes during the French-Indian War, participated in their tribal politics, and would father numerous children with various Mohawk women whom he took care of. It was his ability to mold himself into the other culture rather seamlessly that also made him very fascinating. While his relations with the Indians drew much suspicion and in some cases disgust from his fellow Brits or colonists. He was still pretty well regarded in the "civilized" world. With that ability he was crucial to cementing British control in North America by acting as an agent between the Iroquois League and the Empire. An alliance which would prove crucial for the British not just during the French-Indian War but also during the Revolution and the War of 1812. Overall very good book on a very larger than life character that is well written and easy to read.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Keith C.
5.0 out of 5 stars The "Great Man" of the Mohawk Valley
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2021
Verified Purchase
Ever High School text book shows a painting of Johnson Hall with a group of Mohawks on the lawn, but never explains who he was. Even books about the French and Indian War mention the battle called the "Bloody Morning Scout", but fail to explain Johnson's wider importance. I read this book to find out who he really was and was not disappointed. Johnson influenced the history of the Mohawk Valley and North American itself for decades and truly changed the course of history - showing that there are times when a single great character can make a difference.
Helpful
 Report
LimekilnLaker
4.0 out of 5 stars Guy Johnson on cover?
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2006
Verified Purchase
The mystery is why an important book about Sir William Johnson has a picture of a relative and not him on the cover.
6 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Aaron
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book on colonial history!!
Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2022
Verified Purchase
Really emphasizes a forgotten historical importance of Native American influence on the Anglo & French wars in North America. Sir William was perhaps the most capable advocate of both Native & crown interests.
Helpful
 Report
Carol J. Griffin
5.0 out of 5 stars HISTORY MATTERS!
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2020
Verified Purchase
Absolutely incredible! Provocative, thought provoking, intricately detailed in such a way, that I could easily imagine myself being there, in that time period. Witnessing from afar, the historic era presented by the author, written in a manner that is so intimate and vividly realistic, I want to read more about this subject, and refreshes and renews my faith in and LOVE for the subject of history, period.
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars love the name of your store
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2015
Verified Purchase
slip of the fingers, small print; yours needs new glasses. fast ship. alls well. Thanks all; love the name of your store.
biscuits or scones/love both with cuppa hot tea.
Helpful
 Report
James McDonald
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2019
Verified Purchase
Enjoyed the book immensely.
Helpful
 Report
Uitlander
4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Irish-British-American
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2007
William Johnson may be the greatest colonial American in our history. Had there been no revolution, or had the British won, he would be remembered with the esteem we now reserve for "founding fathers". Johnson proved himself a giant in three arenas. First he made a fortune in the fur trade and parlayed his wealth into vast real estate. The Iroquois preferred to deal with him because he respected them, didn't cheat and kept his promises. Secondly, Johnson became a master diplomat. For most of the 18th century, he kept the six Iroquois tribes pro-British and important allies in the French and Indian War. Thirdly, Johnson was a valiant commander in that war, winning the Battle of Lake George, capturing Fort Niagara and assisting in taking Montreal.

O'Toole's book is especially good at bringing out the diplomatic history.

In fact, if you are thinking of joining the Foreign Service, Johnson has left a record that is still of use today. One can learn what it takes to negotiate with a non-Western, non-progressive people who are given to barbarism and who control extensive natural resources.

O'Toole is Irish and never misses any nuances regarding Johnson's heritage. Such an approach is unusual, but does give clues to the man's psychology. What I hoped to find, but did not, were numerous anecdotes and personal asides revealing the fascinating character that was William Johnson. Alas, the 18th century collected little trivia. Still it's a worthwhile read.
5 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

S. M. Ishani
5.0 out of 5 stars Rip roaring story of 18th century US and Canadian history
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 18, 2021
Verified Purchase
I am fascinated by this book as I am a direct descendent of this extraordinary man. His story definitely needs to be better known, it seems that his life in Ireland under British rule, with so much religious discrimination, gave him an understanding and sympathy for the plight of the native tribes .
2 people found this helpful
 Report
TRM
5.0 out of 5 stars What a guy!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 12, 2013
Verified Purchase
Superb biography of the man himself and historical background of the French and Indian Wars. Read this and it may make you rethink the lead up to the AWI and the poor downtrodden colonials!
If you enjoy biographies of unusual or less well known Historical figures this one is definitely worth a look.
Johnson is reputed to be the model for Hawkeye from Last of the Mohicans, so if you read Fenimore-Coopers books and enjoyed them, give this one a look.
A great read.
2 people found this helpful
 Report
Michael Barry
4.0 out of 5 stars good use of language and an clear account of the ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 3, 2015
Verified Purchase
Well researched, good use of language and an clear account of the duplicity of policy... all done in the interests of empire building in an area to which the European parties had the right to trade but not own and dominate over native interests.
One person found this helpful
 Report
Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 4, 2015
Verified Purchase
fab
Report
Mo
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 30, 2014
Verified Purchase
Haven't read yet so can't really comment but looking forward to doing so
Report