American Woman [Paperback]

R. Garcia y Robertson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 24, 2001

R. Garcia y Robertson applies his considerable talents in historical research and writerly depiction to an epic of American history, the legendary Battle of the Little Big Horn and Custer's last stand--and turns the legends upside down. First, he tells the tale entirely from the Indian side, and secondly, he tells it through the eyes of a blonde white woman from Pennsylvania married to an Indian brave: American Woman. With extraordinary wit and imagination, this book is a literary grenade of the quality of Thomas Berger's Little Big Man. American Woman is a fine, uproarious, and moving novel.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-A historical novel that's rich in details and description of the West in the years leading up to the Battle of the Little Big Horn in 1876. Sarah Kilory, a young Quaker, journeys to the Indian Territory from her Pennsylvania home to teach "the Christian way." She falls in love with an Oglala Sioux and becomes his second wife, American Woman, living more freely than she would in strict white society. When she is separated from her husband, she travels between the Indian and white worlds, meeting General Custer and his wife at Fort Lincoln. She tries to intervene on behalf of the Indians but is told by a young officer that the only way to deal with the Indians is with a gun. To earn the money she needs to travel back to Yellow Legs, she seeks employment as an interpreter, but the only job she is offered is in a brothel. That reinforces her firm belief in the hypocrisy of the white "civilization" of the West, where many women who are alone are forced to become prostitutes in order to survive. Sarah's sharp observations and sense of irony paint a moving and multifaceted portrayal of a rapidly changing world in which the Native American way of life is coming to an end because of war and starvation. Sarah's unique perspective, voice, and sense of humor will ring true for today's young adults. Superb storytelling interwoven with accurate information about the times.
Susanne Bardelson, Wheat Ridge Public Library, Jefferson County, CO
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Garcia y Robertson (Spirit Dance, Morrow, 1991) turns American history upside down by telling the story of the years leading up to General Custer's last stand at the Battle of the Little Big Horn in 1876 as seen through the eyes of a young blonde Quaker in her early twenties. Sarah Kilory, late of Pennsylvania, came west to teach Indian children and ended up marrying a Cheyenne leader named Yellow Legs. Sarah is no ordinary Wasichu (white woman). She quotes William Congreve, has met Calamity Jane, spends the winter of 1874 with the Custer family and the U.S. cavalry at Fort Lincoln, is conversant with Impressionist paintings, swears with the panache of any man, and is a crackerjack poker player. With its unique and entertaining perspective on history, this book introduces readers to a woman equipped with a wonderful sense of irony and the ability to mock herself while delivering historically accurate information on Indian life and customs in the 1870s before many of the tribes described were wiped out by starvation, disease, the coming of the railroad, and war. A good choice for public libraries.?Nancy Pearl, Washington Ctr. for the Book, Seattle
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Forge Books; 1st edition (February 24, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312876297
• ISBN-13: 978-0312876296
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,156,594 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars American Woman, A captivating novel, February 2, 2000

By 

isabella winter (Mount Vernon, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: American Woman (Hardcover)

When my friend Kathy handed me this book as something to amuse myself while she was on the phone long-distance I was immediatly sucked in and had to take it home with me to finish. The combination of historical fact with creative writing gave me the feeling that I was right there with American Woman through her many adventures and I was loathe to say goodbye at the end of the novel. In my opinion the fantasy does work and I didn't balk at the transition into the spirit world. I particularly enjoyed Coyote and his shifty nature. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Native Americans or someone just looking for a good read. American Woman always moved along at a good clip and didn't get bogged down, a rarity in historical fiction.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love, survival, and spiritual lessons abound, November 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: American Woman (Hardcover)

"American Woman" was an excellent read. I would compare it to "Little Big Man", only from a woman's point of view. Love, survival, and spiritual lessons abound. My wife couldn't put it down!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this!, June 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: American Woman (Hardcover)

I haven't even finished the book yet and already recommend it to anyone willing to imagine our Native American history, myths and realities full force. The chapter on the Spirit World is not as silly as Lindat5, Custer historian, criticizes;to myself, an ignorant reader wanting to learn more about what Native Americans went through and believed, the Spirit World put us stiff and incredulous white folk right into the heart of American Indian's mythology. Plus, its very creative. To read real historical fiction with such creative writing is for me a real real treat.