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Summary
Summary
A collection of Native American speeches and excerpts, from the 17th century to the present day.
Author Notes
Neil Philip is a writer, folklorist and poet. He is married to the artist Emma Bradford, and lives in the Cotswolds, England. Neil loves words, poetry, and the art of storytelling in all its forms. Among his many books are A Fine Anger, Victorian Village Life, The Cinderella Story, The Penguin Book of English Folktales, Mythology (with Philip Wilkinson), The Great Mystery, War and the Pity of War, The New Oxford Book of Childrens Verse, The Tale of Sir Gawain, Horse Hooves & Chicken Feet, and The Adventures of Odysseus. Neil has contributed to numerous journals, including The Times, and Signal: Approaches to Childrens Books, and has also written for stage, screen, and radio. His work has won numerous awards and honours, including the Aesop Award of the American Folklore Society and the Literary Criticism Book Award of the Childrens Literature Association.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 6 UpA standard compilation of Native American oratory and photographs. Making heavy use of Edward S. Curtis's sepia-tone prints, this handsome book presents little new in comparison to earlier titles, such as T. C. McLuhan's Touch the Earth (S & S, 1976). Indeed, the formats and content of both books are very similar. There are a few less-commonly featured quotations here, but most are familiar passages from such heavily quoted speakers as Black Elk, Sitting Bull, Seattle, etc. Speakers are predominantly from western tribes, as are the photos. Generally, the photos reflect the nations of the speakers, or, at least, their cultural type or region. However, they don't always complement the prose. While a quote from Black Elk features a photo of the Lakota visionary and Arapaho songs are flanked by Arapaho dancers, Shawnee oratory is incongruously paired with photos of Paiute prophet Wovoka and a Sioux woman. Such inconsistencies mar the book's effect. Documentation and brief background notes for both text and photos are solid, with individual speakers identified by name and tribe. Sources are given, and there are indexes by tribe and speaker. A useful compilation only if similar collections are not available.Lisa Mitten, University of Pittsburgh, PA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
This collection of speeches and writings spans the period from the 1600s to the 1970s, with the majority coming from the 1800s. Included with each entry are the name and tribe of each individual as they are commonly known and as they are known by the person's tribe. Work by several photographers is used throughout the book but does not necessarily correspond with the text on that page. Text and picture sources are appended. Bib., ind. From HORN BOOK 1997, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Carefully selected, sepia-toned archival photographs of Native Americans draw readers in with their haunting beauty, and reflect aspects of ancient stories. Philip, in what is essentially a companion book to Earth Always Endures (1996), offers a lovely book to browse, full of words that have been passed down, from elder to younger, in moving text and pictures, further supported by captions and notes. He covers almost four centuries of philosophical musings, from Chief Powhatan in 1609, to the contemporary Sioux medicine man Leonard Crow Dog in 1995, and in the process illustrates the harmony and tradition of Native American culture. The photographs make additional points: There is artistry in the tipis, with their bold scenes of horses in flight, and grace in the designs of the sand paintings. In such a meticulous gathering, traditional values and beliefs emerge for contemporary readers: To live in a sacred manner is to take pleasure in being alive in the moment and in the world. (Sepia photos, bibliography, further reading, index) (Nonfiction. 10+)
Booklist Review
Gr. 4 and up. Part of the power of this handsome book comes from the words of Native American men and women, who speak on peace and war, true teachings and false ones, visions of the sacred path and betrayal in certain situations, the changing seasons, and much more. The carefully chosen words are those of such leaders as Black Elk, Geronimo, Chief Seattle, Sitting Bull, Cochise, and Tecumseh--more than 30 in all. Another element lending vitality and spirit to the book is from the powerful images of the people, captured in sepia-toned photos by Edward Curtis, John Alvin Anderson, Anita Alvez de Williams, Laura Gilpin, David F. Barry, and others. Many of the photos date back to the late 1800s, but some are as recent as 1979. Speakers are identified, along with their tribal affiliation, and the context of the speech is given. Taken together the words and pictures convey a sense of Indian consciousness. Many of the pieces are excellent for reading aloud. A strong companion piece is Philip's Earth Always Endures: Native American Poetry (1996), a collection of poetry, songs, and prayers. Bibliography; sources for text and photos; useful indexes, arranged by speakers and Indian nations. (Reviewed July 1997)0395849810Karen Morgan
