Thomas King (1) (1943–)
Author of The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America
For other authors named Thomas King, see the disambiguation page.
Series
Works by Thomas King
The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America (2012) 1,287 copies, 54 reviews
All My Relations: An Anthology of Contemporary Canadian Native Fiction (1990) — Editor; Contributor — 72 copies
A Short History of Canada 1 copy
Coyote and the Enemy Aliens 1 copy
Associated Works
Talking Leaves: Contemporary Native American Short Stories (1991) — Contributor — 217 copies, 2 reviews
Song of the Turtle: American Indian Literature 1974-1994 (1996) — Contributor — 71 copies, 2 reviews
Nothing But the Truth: An Anthology of Native American Literature (2000) — Contributor — 54 copies, 2 reviews
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- King, Thomas Hunt
- Other names
- GoodWeather, Hartley
King, Tom - Birthdate
- 1943-04-24
- Gender
- male
- Education
- Sacramento State University (no degree)
Chico State University (BA)
Chico State University (MA)
University of Utah (PhD, English) - Occupations
- writer
professor - Organizations
- University of Lethbridge
University of Minnesota
University of Guelph
U.S. Navy - Awards and honors
- Western Literature Association's Distinguished Achievement Award (2004)
Order of Canada
National Aboriginal Achievement Award - Relationships
- Hoy, Helen (partner)
- Short biography
- Thomas King was born in 1943 in Sacramento, California and is of Cherokee, Greek and German descent. He obtained his PhD from the University of Utah in 1986. He is known for works in which he addresses the marginalization of American Indians, delineates "pan-Indian" concerns and histories, and attempts to abolish common stereotypes about Native Americans. He taught Native American Studies at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada, and at the University of Minnesota. He is currently a Professor of English at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. King has become one of the foremost writers of fiction about Canada's Native people.
- Nationality
- Canada
- Birthplace
- Sacramento, California, USA
Roseville, California, USA (Wikipedia) - Places of residence
- Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- Map Location
- Canada
Members
Reviews
Blackbird “Bird” Mavrias and Mimi Bull Shield are seeing the sights of Prague. Mimi’s uncle Leroy travelled to Europe many years ago with the family medicine bundle and was never seen again. Bird and Mimi are retracing his steps while trying to make sense of the world and their time of life.
I love Thomas King’s writing style. He tells a great story with clever dialogue and makes good use of otherworldly elements (Eugene and the “other demons”). There is humour and sadness and show more anxiety and dismay about the state of affairs. Bird and Mimi leapt off the page and I could easily have spent another 200 or more pages in their company. show less
I love Thomas King’s writing style. He tells a great story with clever dialogue and makes good use of otherworldly elements (Eugene and the “other demons”). There is humour and sadness and show more anxiety and dismay about the state of affairs. Bird and Mimi leapt off the page and I could easily have spent another 200 or more pages in their company. show less
Another excellent book by Thomas King. This one is a history of indigenous peoples in North America told from the point of view of indigenous peoples. There is history in here of which I was unaware. Even though some of the history is painful to read in terms of the institutional and personal racism that was leveled against indigenous peoples in the guise of nation building, King brings his sharp wit to bear that makes digestion of this history more manageable. I greatly enjoyed this book show more while simultaneously filling in the gaps in my Canadian education. I highly recommend this book to anyone of settler descent. show less
In 2003, Tom King presented a series of short stories as his contribution to the CBC Massey Lectures. The author’s premise was that “…We are all changed by every story we hear, by every story we tell”. Further, depending on the perspective of the story, we will take away a message. That take-away idea is what influences the listener, creates a way of looking at life that might improve on the old narrative. Or not. The message is conditional on the perspective of the chronicle. And show more the reception by the listener.
In my reading of the author’s stories, I was struck by how often Thomas King showed the reader/listener new ways to examine our collective history in North American colonisation, driven by religion and cultural differences. Views, for example, of the arrogance of European settlements which perpetuated intolerance and racism towards First Nation inhabitants. These chronicles of the centuries that have passed, tell us that attitudes haven’t changed. King uses imaginative stories to illustrate this proposition and by the end of the book, we have heard that the story you tell can be dangerous, because the narrative is incomplete or chooses a vengeful philosophy, or is unaccepting of humans who are culturally and physically different. A different story could have a different outcome, perhaps a more accepting philosophy by which to live.
Aside from these weighty matters, King has an incisive humour and brings an articulate rendering of “life on the rez” (urban or otherwise) from his own experiences. A particularly telling narrative that was amusing and cynical by turns is Let Me Entertain You. In this story, as in most of them, there are so many quotable passages. I urge you to read them. It’s a bittersweet tale, no matter which story you choose to examine. show less
In my reading of the author’s stories, I was struck by how often Thomas King showed the reader/listener new ways to examine our collective history in North American colonisation, driven by religion and cultural differences. Views, for example, of the arrogance of European settlements which perpetuated intolerance and racism towards First Nation inhabitants. These chronicles of the centuries that have passed, tell us that attitudes haven’t changed. King uses imaginative stories to illustrate this proposition and by the end of the book, we have heard that the story you tell can be dangerous, because the narrative is incomplete or chooses a vengeful philosophy, or is unaccepting of humans who are culturally and physically different. A different story could have a different outcome, perhaps a more accepting philosophy by which to live.
Aside from these weighty matters, King has an incisive humour and brings an articulate rendering of “life on the rez” (urban or otherwise) from his own experiences. A particularly telling narrative that was amusing and cynical by turns is Let Me Entertain You. In this story, as in most of them, there are so many quotable passages. I urge you to read them. It’s a bittersweet tale, no matter which story you choose to examine. show less
The written version of a series of broadcasts, all but the ultimate chapter which is unique to the book, begin with turtles all the way down and end with the reminder that you have taken on the burden of the chapter's truth -
"Just don't say in the years to come that you would have lived your life differently if only you had heard this story.
You've heard it now."
Some Native American stories, some biographical tales, some horror stories of what North American Europeans have done to, stolen show more from, made of, Native Americans - and are still busy doing, or not. No sweet nobility here, as his final chapter nails home, Thomas King knows how hollow our ethics are from the inside, as he has lived by them as well as beside them. show less
"Just don't say in the years to come that you would have lived your life differently if only you had heard this story.
You've heard it now."
Some Native American stories, some biographical tales, some horror stories of what North American Europeans have done to, stolen show more from, made of, Native Americans - and are still busy doing, or not. No sweet nobility here, as his final chapter nails home, Thomas King knows how hollow our ethics are from the inside, as he has lived by them as well as beside them. show less
Lists
Massey Lectures (1)
Canada (1)
Magic Realism (1)
Awards
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 47
- Also by
- 13
- Members
- 6,551
- Popularity
- #3,745
- Rating
- 4.0
- Reviews
- 221
- ISBNs
- 209
- Languages
- 3
- Favorited
- 17
