The Cheyenne Indians, Vol. 1: History and Society [Paperback]

George Bird Grinnell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1972

The Cheyenne Indians: Their History and Their Ways of Life is a classic ethnography, originally published in 1928, that grew out of George Bird Grinnell's long acquaintance with the Cheyennes. Volume I looks at the tribe's early history and migrations, customs, domestic life, social organization, hunting, amusements, and government. In a second volume, Grinnell would consider its warmaking and warrior societies, healing practices and responses to European diseases, religious beliefs and rituals, and legends and prophecies surrounding the culture hero Sweet Medicine.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The value of such a work as Mr. Grinnell has produced can hardly be overstated."—New York Times

(New York Times )

"Grinnell was an entertaining and able writer . . . in this case he was also a scientific reporter of ways of life that he supposed would soon be forever lost."—Westerners Brand Book

(Westerners Brand Book )

"A marvelous source book for customs, lore, history, personalities, and manner of speech of this tribe."—Roundup

(Roundup )

"Drawing upon the thoughts and actions of individual Cheyennes, Grinnell manages to reconstruct a highly readable account of their culture."—Journal of the American Academy of Religion

(Journal of the American Academy of Religion )

About the Author

George Bird Grinnell was a zoologist by training and an anthropologist by inclination. He accompanied Custer's Black Hills expedition as a naturalist in 1874 and from that time until his death in 1938 was closely associated with the Cheyennes and other Plains tribes. Other books by Grinnell available in Bison Book editions are Blackfoot Lodge Tales, Pawnee Hero Stories and Folk-Tales, By Cheyenne Campfires, and The Punishment of the Stingy and Other Indian Stories.

Product Details

• Paperback: 406 pages
• Publisher: Bison Books (October 1, 1972)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803257716
• ISBN-13: 978-0803257719
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #922,566 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended for those interested in NA history, August 24, 2000

By 

LaLoren - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cheyenne Indians, Vol. 1: History and Society (Paperback)

Early writers of Native American history tend to fall into two groupings. There are those who relied only on written history, and therefore ignored most of what Indians had to say about their own past; and there were those who tried to serve as a conduit through which the Indians could tell their own history. Happily, Grinnell falls into the second category, and his work turns out to be both interesting, and readable.

Though not as exciting as his better known work, The Fighting Cheyenne, which was a warrior history, this book provides a lot of information about the early history of the Cheyennes, and their migration westward. It also goes into many aspects of their culture and society. Volume one (which is the only one I have read so far) ends with a chapter on Cheyenne tribal government. Here Grinnell does a wonderful job of handling a topic, which is actually rather simple, but which eluded many white historians, such as George Hyde, who insisted on believing that chieftanship must have carried with it certain dictatorial powers. He also shows great insight into the status of women. So many white historians, even today, do not understand the high standing that women held in Plains Indian society.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of the Plains Indians, and I am quite anxious to get on to volume two which deals, among other things, with religious practices.

5.0 out of 5 stars Both books are worthwhile reading., March 9, 2011

By 

Vickery "Eclectic Reader" (TX USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Cheyenne Indians, Vol. 1: History and Society (Paperback)

Vol. One and Vol. Two of history, culture, and religion of a vanishing people.

I'm reading, making notes and rereading in hope that I can help preserve the knowledge contained herein.