Synopses & Reviews
Named one of the ten best spiritual books of the twentieth century by Philip Zaleski of HarperSanFrancisco,
Black Elk Speaks is the acclaimed story of Lakota visionary and healer Nicholas Black Elk (1863-1950) and his people during the momentous, twilight years of the nineteenth century. Black Elk grew up in a time when white settlers were invading the Lakotas' homeland, decimating buffalo herds and threatening to extinguish the Lakotas' way of life. Black Elk and other Lakotas fought back, a dogged resistance that resulted in a remarkable victory at the Little Bighorn and an unspeakable tragedy at Wounded Knee.
Beautifully told by the celebrated poet and writer John G. Neihardt, Black Elk Speaks offers much more than a life story. Black Elk's profound and arresting religious visions of the unity of humanity and the world around him have transformed his account into a venerated spiritual classic. Whether appreciated as a collaborative autobiography, a history of a Native American nation, or an enduring spiritual testament for all humankind, Black Elk Speaks is unforgettable.
This special edition features all three prefaces to Black Elk Speaks that John G. Neihardt wrote at different points in his life, a map of Black Elk's world, a reset text, a listing of Lakota words newly translated and reproduced using the latest orthographic standards, and color paintings by Lakota artist Standing Bear that have not been widely available for decades.
Review
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Black Elk Speaks is an extraordinarily human documentand#8212;and beyond that the record of a profoundly spiritual journey, the pilgrimage of a people toward their historical fulfillment and culmination, toward the accomplishment of a worthy destiny.and#8221;and#8212;N. Scott Momaday
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Review
and#8220;An American classic.and#8221;and#8212;
Western Historical Quarterlyand#160;
Review
and#8220;If any great religious classic has emerged in [the twentieth] century or on this continent, it must certainly be judged in the company of
Black Elk Speaks.and#8221;and#8212;from Vine Deloria Jr.and#8217;s foreword
Synopsis
Neihardt, a celebrated poet and writer, tells the story of Lakota visionary and healer Nicholas Black Elk (1863-1950), who fought the settlers invading his people's homeland. This special edition features all three prefaces to "Black Elk Speaks" that Neihardt wrote at different points in his life, a map of Black Elk's world, and a listing of Lakota translations. 11 photos. 15 drawings.
Synopsis
Black Elk Speaks, the story of the Oglala Lakota visionary and healer Nicholas Black Elk (1863and#8211;1950) and his people during momentous twilight years of the nineteenth century, offers readers much more than a precious glimpse of a vanished time. Black Elkand#8217;s searing visions of the unity of humanity and Earth, conveyed by John G. Neihardt, have made this book a classic that crosses multiple genres. Whether appreciated as the poignant tale of a Lakota life, as a history of a Native nation, or as an enduring spiritual testament, Black Elk Speaks is unforgettable.
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Black Elk met the distinguished poet, writer, and critic John G. Neihardt in 1930 on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota and asked Neihardt to share his story with the world. Neihardt understood and conveyed Black Elkand#8217;s experiences in this powerful and inspirational message for all humankind.
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This complete edition features a new introduction byand#160;historian Philip J. Deloria and annotations of Black Elkand#8217;s story by renowned Lakota scholar Raymond J. DeMallie. Three essays by John G. Neihardt provide background on this landmark work along with pieces by Vine Deloria Jr., Raymond J. DeMallie, Alexis Petri, and Lori Utecht. Maps, original illustrations by Standing Bear, and a set of appendixes rounds out the edition.
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About the Author
John G. Neihardt (1881and#8211;1973) is the author of several classics, including A Cycle of the West and Eagle Voice Remembers, both available in Bison Books editions. He was named Nebraskaand#8217;s first poet laureate and foremost poet of the nation by the National Poetry Center in 1936.