Customer Reviews

Algonquian Spirit: Contemporary Translations of the Algonquian Literatures of North America (Native Literatures of the Americas)

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In this book, Brian Swann has amassed a rich collection --translated from Algonquian literatures of North America -- of stories, fables, interviews, all with accompanying footnotes, references and "additional reading" -- all quite in-depth, interesting, and educational.

Varying in intensity from highly interesting, to amusing, to solemn, they capture the multifaceted personalities of the Algonquians as they relate animal stories, hero stories, ceremonial songs (some with musical notation), legends, dances. And although the Algonquian way of life was forever changed by the arrival of the whites, these narratives, written or told by Native storytellers, contemporary or long-gone, show how the strong backbone and tradition of the Algonquian culture has thrived, even as their numbers were diminished.

The addition of commentary and explanatory text do a great deal to introduce to as well as immerse the reader in the Algonquian spirit as well as philosophy.

Standing along or as a reference, or a classroom text, this book is a worthy addition to Native American studies.