David Grann’s true-crime novel Killer of the Flower Moon takes its reader on a dark journey into a forgotten corner of American history. The book details the tragic story of members of the Osage Indian nation in Oklahoma in the 1920s who were killed in droves by rapacious white men who coveted the oil under their land, leaving the Osage people devastated. In the following article, we will delve deep into the pages of this intriguing novel, exploring each aspect that makes it an irresistible read.
Background: History, the Osage Nation, and Indian Territory
In this section, we will provide a brief background and brief history of the Osage Nation, the murder of the Osage people, and the injustices that were committed against them. We will also explore the main characters in the book, Mollie Burkhart and her family.
The Investigation: The Rise of the Bureau of Investigation
In this section, we will explore the rise of the Bureau of Investigation and its leader J. Edgar Hoover. We will examine how the agents of the Bureau of Investigation solved the many crimes committed against the Osage people and brought the defendants to justice.
Life under guardianship: Mistreatment of the Osage people
Here, we will emphasize how the Osage people were mistreated by individuals and institutions that wanted to take advantage of their wealth. We will also explore at length how the government of the United States of America appointed guardians for the Osage people, who assigned ridiculously inflated prices to the Osage people and charged them exorbitant fees.
Grann’s narrative: The author’s encounter with the Burkhart family survivors
Here, we will cover the final third of the book, where David Grann talks about his personal experience of researching the book. We will recount how he discovered new evidence, found missing manuscripts, and interviewed the few surviving family members of the murdered Osage people.
The Writing of the Book
Here, we will look at David Grann’s experience while writing the book. We will explore the writing style and the structure of the book, and we will explain how Grann was able to maintain a balance between a history book and a true-crime novel.
In Conclusion
The killers of the Flower Moon will make you cringe at man’s inhumanity to man. David Grann’s book investigates one painful splinter of America’s treatment of its native people, snipping off a question mark from Harold Ross’s Guilty? Killers of the Flower Moon is a compelling and accessible read, exposing America’s tragic blunders and foolish missteps and laying bare our most intimate secrets.
FAQs
1. How many members of the Osage Indian nation were murdered in the “Reign of Terror”?
According to the official records, 24 members of the Osage Indian nation were murdered. However, it is believed the true number ran into hundreds.
2. Who were the prime targets for the Osage murders?
The Burkhart clan was a prime target for the Osage murder(s), and one by one, the people closest to Mollie Burkhart began to die.
3. Will I enjoy the book?
You will undoubtedly enjoy reading Killer of the Flower Moon if you are a fan of true-crime novels, historical editions, and journalistic memoirs.
4. Where can I purchase Killer of the Flower Moon?
Killer of the Flower Moon is available for purchase at any local bookstore or online retail shops such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble.
5. What is the significance of the title “Killer of the Flower Moon?”
The title of the book references the Osage people’s description of full moons in the 1920s which, took the hue of the flowering buck brush that bloomed during Ohio’s full moons.
