As in many of his works of the "Sac Prairie Saga," in Wind Over Wisconsin Derleth expresses regret that, in order to build a new nation, the older nations of the Winnebago, the Saks, the Ottawas, the Chippewas, and the Potawotomis had to be supplanted. The author cares that these nations lost their land and their way of life, but he cares even more about how it was taken from them. Through his main character, Chalfonte Pierneau, Derleth expresses regret for the broken treaties, the unfair warfare, and the total disregard for Native Americans through which this country became great. He is particularly concerned that the good will of "naive" Indians was used to perpetuate the unwise policies of a hypocritical government.

While Derleth is clearly embarrassed by the way in which the land was taken from the Indians, he in no way expresses other popular...