"If any great religious classic has emerged in this century or on this continent, it must certainly be judged in the company of "Black Elk Speaks"...The most important aspect of the book, however, is not its effect on the non-Indian populace who wished to learn something of the beliefs of the Plains Indians but upon the contemporary generation of young Indians who have been aggressively searching for roots of their own in the structure of universal reality. To them the book has become a North American bible of all tribes." ...
Read More
"If any great religious classic has emerged in this century or on this continent, it must certainly be judged in the company of "Black Elk Speaks"...The most important aspect of the book, however, is not its effect on the non-Indian populace who wished to learn something of the beliefs of the Plains Indians but upon the contemporary generation of young Indians who have been aggressively searching for roots of their own in the structure of universal reality. To them the book has become a North American bible of all tribes." - Vine Deloria, Jr. "The experience of Black Elk...comes to one great statement, which for me is a key statement to the understanding of myth and symbols." - Joseph Campbell in an interview with Bill Moyers, "The Power of Myth". His meeting with the Sioux holy man Black Elk, John G. Neihardt once said, was the most memorable experience of his life. In 1930, while working on the concluding poem of his Cycle of the West, Neihardt had gone to the Pine Ridge Reservation hoping to find "some old medicine man who had been active in the Messiah Movement and who might be induced to talk with me about the deeper spiritual significance of the matter." In Neihardt, Black Elk recognized the one who had been sent to learn what "was given to me for men." The next summer, in a long series of talks, Black Elk imparted his own life story and the story of the Oglala Sioux during the tragic decades of the Custer battle, the ghost dance, and the Wounded Knee massacre. "Black Elk Speaks", originally published in 1932, is venerated by many who have become alarmed at the declining spiritual and material quality of life in the age of computers and "Star Wars". While the elec-tronic media purvey fragmented images of tragic schisms, "Black Elk" offers an eloquent and profound vision of the unity of all creation.
Read Less
Add this copy of Black Elk Speaks-Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of to cart. $1.25, fair condition, Sold by Once Upon A Time Books rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Tontitown, AR, UNITED STATES, published 1989 by University of Nebraska Press.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Fair. This is a used book. It may contain highlighting/underlining and/or the book may show heavier signs of wear. It may also be ex-library or without dustjacket. This is a used book. It may contain highlighting/underlining and/or the book may show heavier signs of wear. It may also be ex-library or without dustjacket.
Add this copy of Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of to cart. $1.36, good condition, Sold by Books For Life rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Laurel, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1988 by University of Nebraska Press.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Book is in good condition. Minimal signs of wear. It May have markings or highlights but kept to only a few pages. May not come with supplemental materials if applicable.
Add this copy of Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of to cart. $1.70, good condition, Sold by Dream Books Co. rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Denver, CO, UNITED STATES, published 1988 by University of Nebraska Press.
Add this copy of Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of to cart. $1.75, very good condition, Sold by The Maryland Book Bank rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from baltimore, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1988 by University of Nebraska Press.
Add this copy of Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of to cart. $1.75, good condition, Sold by The Maryland Book Bank rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from baltimore, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1988 by University of Nebraska Press.
Add this copy of Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of to cart. $1.86, fair condition, Sold by Goodwill rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brooklyn Park, MN, UNITED STATES, published 1988 by University of Nebraska Press.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Fair. Corners are bent. Stains on outside cover/inside the book. There are tears on paperback. Cover/ Case does NOT match photos; some content may vary from version shown Cover/Case has some rubbing and edgewear. Access codes, CD's, slipcovers and other accessories may not be included.
Add this copy of Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of to cart. $1.99, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brownstown, MI, UNITED STATES, published 1988 by University of Nebraska Press.
Add this copy of Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of to cart. $1.99, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 1988 by University of Nebraska Press.
Add this copy of Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of to cart. $1.99, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Dallas rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 1988 by University of Nebraska Press.
Add this copy of Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of to cart. $1.99, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Baltimore rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Halethorpe, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1988 by University of Nebraska Press.
"Black Elk Speaks" is an interesting book, but if read completely, to include the appendices, it becomes clear that the author took significant liberties in transforming the originally dictated manuscript into more romantic prose. This has the disappointing effect of casting doubt over the book as a work of history. Taken for prose, the book is a sad memoir of an aged Lakota warrior and a record of his "visions". There are several disconnects. For warrior/medicine man who ultimately seeks revenge on the white man for the slaughter at Wounded Knee, Black Elk had little trepidation about throwing in with Wild Bill's Wild West show and touring Europe for a few years. Black Elk omits his own tribe's murder of white women and children while painting vivid pictures of U.S. Army war crimes. Still, a deeper of understanding of Plains Indian culture will be gained by any reader. I wouldn't recommend this book.
