[.ca] These Were the Sioux (ISBN 0803291515)

These Were the Sioux:
Being a native person, I'm always pleased to read a wonderful book about First Nation Peoples. Can't recommend it highly enough though it is brief. HOWEVER--be very cautious when ordering a used copy of this book. I received, for $5.00 plus shipping, a $.50 Dell version with a horrible cover--inappropriate for today's readers. Type was small and it just left me with alot of disappointment since I'd seen the the beautifully published newer edition. BUYER BEWARE!!

Sandoz knows her subject well:
Mari Sandoz, the daughter of German-Swiss parents, was born in 1896 on the Great Plains of Nebraska, and spent much of her young life amid the Sioux tribes there at that time. This book, which is only 118 pages long, briefly depicts much of what she learned first-hand of Sioux customs and rituals. She writes with great intimacy, love, and a depth of knowledge that few could match. Her prose sometimes meanders, and often gives the sense of being unstructured, without a coherent thread. This might bother some and not others. Admittedly, it bothered me at times, as I prefer my facts and history presented in a more cohesive context. That said, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in Native American history.

Great book. See also Crazy Horse and Cheyenne Autumn:
This is a clarification of the review below by: natasha trotskygrad from moscow, Ussr. Mari Sandoz was a FEMALE author from northern Nebraska. :) And this is a great Sioux book, but even more highly recommended is Sandoz' CRAZY HORSE biography. Sandoz was quite respected by the native population and did extensive research for all of her books. Her book on Crazy Horse even used first hand oral accounts with those who knew Crazy Horse.

Beautiful description of a wonderful people:
Mari Sandoz' use of language and personal experience resulted in a beautiful description of a wonderful people. At times heart warming and at other times quite sad, it is one of the most engaging accounts of Indian life I ever read. If you want a glimpse of the heart of a people, buy this book!

A Good Start:
This gives me some sense of what it would be like to live with the Sioux. Simple enough for a child to read. No magic, but worth reading.