WU MING Is a Collective of Italian Fiction Writers, Founded in Bologna
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WU MING is a collective of Italian fi ction writers, founded in Bologna in January 2000. Its books include the bestselling novel Q, published under the group’s previous pseudonym, Luther Blissett, and the Cold War thriller 54. Praise for Manituana “Th e vivid scenery, well-developed characters and crisp translation are immensely satisfying.” Publishers Weekly “Wu Ming manage to construct stories articulated around the muscular fi bres of history . Manituana is not only a narrative about what could have been, but a cartography of the possible.” Roberto Saviano (author of Gomorrah), L’Espresso “Odd, spirited, tale of educated Indians, savage Europeans and bad mojo in the American outback at the time of the Revolutionary Wa r. Th e Italian fi ction collective known as Wu Ming is back . [with a] worthy treatment of a history too little known.” Kirkus Reviews “Th e novel succeeds in its intention of entertaining the reader with a mass of scenes reconstructed from the shards of history and sustained by a cast of thousands . A novel published in the age of Obama, Manituana provides interesting . insights into the uneasy founding of modern, multiethnic America.” Madeline Clements, Times Literary Supplement “Shaun Whiteside’s streamlined translation allows matters to zip along with gusto. Th ere’s never a dry moment.” Metro “An enlightening . always invigorating read.” Gordon Darroch, Sunday Herald (Glasgow) 4484g.indd84g.indd i 331/03/20101/03/2010 117:26:487:26:48 “Manituana is virtually seamless and the translation is impeccable . It is a quality story that includes characters of depth, a good deal of action, a consistently thoughtful context and thought-provoking concepts.” Ron Jacobs, Counterpunch “Manituana paints a vivid picture of life at the time and suc- cessfully weaves together the culture, traditions and particularly the languages of the Six Nations and the various European settlers living among them. It challenges many myths.” Clare Fermont, Socialist Review “Th e narrative reads cohesively, slipping seamlessly from one scene to the next. Like other fi ne works of historical fi ction, it brings a personal touch to the actual events. Even minor characters refl ect the events that shaped a nation . Recommended for anyone who enjoys historical fi ction.” Library Journal “A gorgeously wrought novel . this is a very fi ne book that challenges the popular romantic notions of America’s birth. It delves deeply into a complicated period of history, returning to the surface with a fascinating trove of cultural details and historical anecdotes.” Bookslut 4484g.indd84g.indd iiii 331/03/20101/03/2010 117:26:487:26:48 Wu Ming Translated by Shaun Whiteside 4484g.indd84g.indd iiiiii 331/03/20101/03/2010 117:26:487:26:48 First published in English by Verso 2009 © Verso 2009 © 2007 by Wu Ming Published by arrangement with Agenzia Letteraria Roberto Santachiara Th is paperback edition fi rst published by Verso 2010 Translation © Shaun Whiteside 2009 First published as Manituana © Einaudi 2007 All rights reserved Th e partial or total reproduction of this publication, in electronic form or otherwise, is consented to for noncommercial purposes, provided that the original copyright notice and this notice are included and the publisher and the source and this notice are included and the publisher and the source are clearly acknowledged. Any reproduction or use of all or a portion of this publication in exchange for fi nancial consideration of any kind is prohibited without permission in writing from the publisher. 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 Verso UK: 6 Meard Street, London W1F 0EG US: 20 Jay Street, Suite 1010, Brooklyn, NY 11201 www.versobooks.com Verso is the imprint of New Left Books ISBN-13: 978-1-84467-624-8 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress Typeset in Garamond by Hewer Text UK Ltd, Edinburgh Printed in the US by Maple Vail 4484g.indd84g.indd iivv 331/03/20101/03/2010 117:26:497:26:49 To Piermario To Maria 4484g.indd84g.indd v 331/03/20101/03/2010 117:26:497:26:49 4484g.indd84g.indd vvii 331/03/20101/03/2010 117:26:497:26:49 Chronology 31 August 1142 In the area that lies between modern-day New York and Pennsylvania, following the preaching of the prophets Hiawatha and Deganawida, fi ve great Indian tribes come together and form the Iroquois Confederation or the Five Nations (Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga, Onondaga and Seneca). 11 November 1620 Th e Mayfl ower lands at what became Plymouth in Massachusetts. Th e pilgrims found New England, and the Anglo- Saxon colonization of North America begins. 26 May 1637 New England settlers, at war with the Pequot Indians, attack and set fi re to the Misistuck village, killing women and children. 20 April 1710 Th e court of the British Queen Anne receives a delegation of Iroquois led by the Mohawk sachem Hendrick Th eyanoguin. 1713–15 Th e Tuscarora, a Native American tribe of North Carolina, fl ee their lands aft er being defeated in the war against white settlers. Th ey move north to become the sixth Iroquois nation. 1738 Th e Irishman William Johnson disembarks at New York. His destination is the county of Tryon, in the valley of the Mohawk River, where his uncle’s estate is waiting for him. 1755–56 William Johnson is made a baronet and Superintendent of Indian Aff airs for North America. 1754–63 Th e Six Nations supports the British troops during the French and Indian War. Many other tribes side with the French. At the end of the confl ict, the French cede their North American territory to the British. 1763–66 In the Great Lakes region, Chief Pontiac leads a revolt against the British. At the end of hostilities, Pontiac and Sir William Johnson meet at the Ontario Lake and sign a peace treaty. 4484g.indd84g.indd vviiii 331/03/20101/03/2010 117:26:497:26:49 viii wu ming 5 November 1768 Sir William Johnson and a delegation of the Six Nations sign the treaty of Fort Stanwix, which sets a boundary on the expansion of white settlements. 16 December 1773 Th e Boston Tea Party. A group of colonists in Boston, calling themselves the Sons of Liberty, board three docked ships dressed as Mohawks. In protest against British taxes and the monopoly of the East India Company, they destroy the cargo of tea. Th e British parliament responds with punitive measures that help unite the colonies in the coming War of Independence. 4484g.indd84g.indd vviiiiii 331/03/20101/03/2010 117:26:497:26:49 A solitary may be sober, pious, he may wear a hair shirt, and he may very well be a saint, but I will call him virtuous only when he has performed some act of virtue from which other men will benefi t. While he remains alone he will be acting neither well nor ill; for us he is nothing. —Voltaire, Philosophical Dictionary 4484g.indd84g.indd iixx 331/03/20101/03/2010 117:26:497:26:49 4484g.indd84g.indd x 331/03/20101/03/2010 117:26:507:26:50 Prologue 4484g.indd84g.indd 1 331/03/20101/03/2010 117:26:507:26:50 4484g.indd84g.indd 2 331/03/20101/03/2010 117:26:507:26:50 Lake George, Colony of New York, 8 September 1755 Th e sun’s rays followed the squad, blood-light fi ltered through the forest. Th e man on the stretcher clenched his teeth; there was a sting in his side. He looked down. Drops of scarlet dripped from the wound. Hendrick was dead and many Mohawk warriors with him. Again he saw the old chief caught under the bulk of his horse, the Caughnawaga rushing at him. Th e Indians never fought on horseback, but Hendrick couldn’t run or jump anymore. Th ey had to hoist him up on the saddle. How old was he? Holy Christ, he’d met Queen Anne. He was Noah, Methuselah. He had died fi ghting the enemy. A noble, perhaps an enviable, end; if only his corpse had been found so that it could be given a Christian burial. William Johnson let his thoughts drift , a fl ock of swallows, as the bearers walked along the path. He didn’t want to close his eyes: the pain helped him stay awake. He thought of John, his fi rstborn, still too young for war. His son would inherit peace. Voices and a general hubbub announced the presence of the camp. Women shrieked and railed, asking about sons and husbands. Th ey laid him down in the tent. “How do you feel?” He recognized the surly face and gray eyes of Captain Butler. He tried to smile, and managed only a grimace. “My right side hurts like hell.” “A sign that you’re alive. Th e doctor will be here any moment.” “Hendrick’s warriors?” 4484g.indd84g.indd 3 331/03/20101/03/2010 117:26:507:26:50 4 wu ming “I met them as I was on my way back here. Th ey were scalping corpses and wounded men, without distinction.” William let his head sink back on his straw bed and took a breath. He had given his word to Dieskau: No one would attack the French prisoners. Hendrick had extracted the promise from the warriors, but Hendrick was dead. A short man came into the tent, purple in the face, his jacket stained with sweat.