Engines of Diplomacy: Indian Trading Factories and the Negotiation of American Empire Paperback – Illustrated, May 23, 2016

Excellent coverage of an under studied topic. Nichols looks at the role of the factory system in US diplomacy, as well as Native sovereignty. This is a seminal text on the subject.

This is a standout for its clear and jargon-free prose. It tells an engaging story in early American history which non-specialists have never heard. And it does so with rare compassion and insight into the actors on all sides of the questions under debate.