Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux (1932)

by John G. Neihardt, Black Elk (Author), John G. Neihardt

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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So I realized I'd heard about this book for many years but never read it--there it was in the free books box at a local used book store, so I took it and read it. I found it an engrossing read, but mostly a moving personal witness by a man who felt, at the end of his life, that he had been given a calling and had failed to carry it out. Sounds depressing, but it isn't. (

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nmele | Apr 6, 2013 |

A very impressive and interesting literary accomplishment, especially given the technological, logistical, and societal constraints present when the original manuscript was published. During many chapters I felt like I was riding along on Black Elk's sorrel listening to him describe his visions--at least until the academic footnotes/annotations in this edition intruded. I believe the lovely illustrations found in the back of the text would have also been much more powerful if they were incorporated into the chapters they depicted. While this book was originally published in the 1930's, it still holds tremendous value for today's readers--recommend. (

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dele2451 | Mar 3, 2013 |

A spiritually powerful book that is as much a testament to Nebraskan John Neihardt's skill as a writer as it is Black Elk's virtuous execution of the oral storytelling tradition. Relating the story of his life, Black Elk takes the reader inside his faith and opens a window to the belief system of his people. On a broader scale, we see the clash of two civilizations in its last stages and it's plain to see the winner wasn't necessarily the better. A sad story, beautifully told and a must read for every American.

traumleben | Nov 5, 2012 |

1597

BRCSBooks | Jul 26, 2012 |

Despite the debate over the exact accuracy of this book, its still a nice read. (

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earthlistener | May 22, 2011 |

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▾Other authors

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Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
John G. Neihardt	—	primary author	all editions	confirmed
Black Elk	Author	main author	all editions	confirmed
Neihardt, John G.	—	main author	all editions	confirmed
Bear, Standing	Illustrator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed

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Has the adaptation

Black Elk speaks by Christopher Sergel

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▾Common Knowledge

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Series (with order)

Canonical title

Information from the German Common Knowledge. Edit to localize it to the English one.

Black Elk speaks

Original title

Black Elk Speaks As Told To John G Neihardt

Alternative titles

Original publication date

1932

People/Characters

Black Elk

Sioux

Important places

Important events

Related movies

Awards and honors

HarperCollins 100 Best Spiritual Books of the Century

Epigraph

Dedication

What is good in this book
is given back
to the six grandfathers
and
to the great men of my people.
- BLACK ELK

First words

PREFACE:
It was during August, 1930, that I first met Black Elk.
... John G. Neihardt, 1960

INTRODUCTION:
The twentieth century has produced a world of conflicting visions, intense emotions, and unpredictable events, and the opportunities for grasping the substance of life have faded as the pace of activity has increased.
... Vine Deloria, Jr.

My friend, I am going to tell you the story of my life, as you wish; and if it were only the story of my life I think I would not tell it; for what is one man that he should make much of his winters, even when they bend him like a heavy snow?

Quotations

What is good in this book is given back to the six grandfathers and to the great men of my people. --Black Elk

Last words

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Disambiguation notice

The original edition was titled "as told to" John G. Neihardt. The 1961 edition, at the author's request, reads "as told through" Neihardt.

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Blurbers

Publisher series

Information from the Italian Common Knowledge. Edit to localize it to the English one.

Biblioteca Adelphi (17)

▾References

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English (4)

Battle of the Little Bighorn

Black Elk Speaks

John Neihardt

Sitting Bull Crystal Caverns

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Book description

AR 5.6, 10 Pts

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▾Book descriptions

Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0803283598, Paperback)

The most famous Native American book ever written, 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 their 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 through 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 with Lakota words reproduced using the latest orthographic standards, and color paintings by Lakota artist Standing Bear that have not been widely available for decades.

(retrieved from Amazon Thu, 03 Jan 2013 18:18:49 -0500)

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▾Library descriptions

Black Elk, a Sioux holy man, imparts 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, and relates many aspects of Native American spirituality.

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