Panther in the Sky was published in 1989 by Ballantine Books. An excellent year that also provided one of the biggest blessings in my life, son Ben.
James Alexander Thom did an awesome job with this book! I loved it! Panther in the Sky is a “novel based on the life of Tecumseh”. It is 652 pages packed full of details that take you right into Tecumseh’s life. You will learn some Shawnee language, you will learn about their customs, their beliefs, their sorrows and joys. You will come to understand exactly what happened in the Battle of Fallen Timbers, Tippecanoe and the battles Tecusmeh fought in in the War of 1812.
Billy Caldwell is in this book, but he’s not very important. Star Watcher and Open Door and the rest of Tecumseh’s family are brought to life. I had to say that I cried a few times and I don’t normally do this while reading. I cried in the opening thinking about the Shawnees trying to escape with their lives once more when the Americans forced them off their treaty-secured lands and I cried when Tecumseh was buried by his people.
Blue Jacket, though, is portrayed as a white captive who rose to his rank of Chief and we all know now that was a legend invented by the descendants of Sweringen. This mistake made me wonder at times what else Thom got wrong, but he does say in his acknowledgments that he received a lot of assitance from the Shawnees themselves, so I felt better about the book knowing that.
Tecusmeh did not propose to Rebekah Galloway and his people found his body and gave him a proper burial, rather than the horrible story that he was mutilated beyond recognition. Not that the others who died with him, were not. Also, Tenskwatawa remains sober after his visions, and the whole deal of how Open Door got involved in the battle that ended up with the Americans wiping out Tippecanoe feels more like the truth than the other versions I’ve read.
There are a couple of steamy romance scenes, so this book is for the older teen and up.
In Panther in the Sky , you will follow the story of Tecumseh from birth to death. He is one of the most amazing people who have ever walked the face of this earth.
I cannot wait for the American Experience film on Tecumseh to come out on April 20th.
