Dances with Wolves [Hardcover]

Michael Blake (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2002

The world renowned, American epic Dances With Wolves is the eternal story of one man's search for his place in the world.

Set in 1863, the novel follows Lieutenant John Dunbar on a magical and unpredictable journey from the ravages of the Civil War to the far reaches of the imperiled American frontier, a frontier he naively wants to see "before it's gone".

His posting to a desolate and deserted outpost is the springboard for contact with the lords of the southern plains...the Comanches.

Though he does not speak their language, has no knowledge of their customs and is considered a trespasser, Lieutenant Dunbar finds himself intrigued by the exotic and alien culture of the buffalo-hunting people of the plains.

A simple desire to know more about his wild neighbors ignites a great adventure of transformation that culminates with the emergence of a different kind of man...a man called Dances With Wolves.

Dances With Wolves has appeared in hardcover only once in the United States. That edition has been out of print for more than ten years.

Hrymfaxe is proud to bring this timeless and beloved story to hardcover once again, availing readers, old and new, of an opportunity to give the saga Dances With Wolves the treasured place of permanence it deserves in personal libraries everywhere.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Ordered to hold an abandoned army post, John Dunbar found himself alone, beyond the edge of civilization. Thievery and survival soon forced him into the Indian camp, where he began a dangerous adventure that changed his life forever. Relive the adventure and beauty of the incredible movie, DANCES WITH WOLVES.


From the Paperback edition. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Originally from North Carolina, Michael Blake began his writing career during his service in the armed forces. Following separation, he pursued his writing as a student journalist at the University of New Mexico and, in the seventies, attended film school in Berkeley California where he began writing screenplays. He later relocated to Los Angeles to be closer to the film industry. He now lives with his wife and children on a ranch in southern Arizona,

Michael Blake's other novels include Airman Mortensen, Marching To Valhalla and the sequel to Dances With Wolves, The Holy Road and the first volume of his autobiography, Like A Running Dog. Blake is currently working on another epic novel names Slade.

Michael Blake received several awards for Dances With Wolves, including an Academy Award for his screen adaptation of the novel.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 283 pages
• Publisher: Hrymfaxe LLC; 2nd hardcover ed edition (October 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972475303
• ISBN-13: 978-0972475303
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #407,712 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A simple tale that became a great movie July 5, 2005

By William Sugarman

Format:Paperback

It's a bit hard to believe that Kevin Costner turned such a simply written book into such a wonderfully sophisticated film. But that's exactly what happened.

Michael Blake's book reads as though it was written for a junior high and high school audience. That doesn't stop it from being a well-done tale of life on the prairie in 19th-century America, although why Costner made his Indians Sioux instead of Commanche as written by Blake is beyond me.

Aside from that difference, Costner obviously followed Blake's novel almost to the letter; I felt as if I was seeing the movie all over again. But Blake's writing style is something of a disappointment. After seeing the movie I was expecting a much more detailed story of John Dunbar's transformation into Dances With Wolves - something on the order of James Clavell's "Shogun". If you picked this book up looking for information on how Native Americans lived back in their glory days I suggest you look elsewhere. But if you're looking for a well done Western this is the book for you.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Book! December 2, 2003

By Nataliya Lyubimova

Format:Mass Market Paperback

"Dances With Wolves",by Michael Blake, reveals an exciting story about the war for territory between the Native Americans and Settlers. If you enjoy stories about the West this book is an excellent choice. It depicts the frontier from the viewpoint of Native Amerians. Moreover the reader is invited to experience the constant pressure that was placed on the Native Americans by the Settlers. The main character, Lieutenant John Dunbar, who was originally sympathetic to the early Settlers, joins a Native American tribe. This shift is what makes this story so unusual and unique, because the antagonists in the book become the protagonists. In the beginning of the story the author depicts Indians as the antagonists, when the warriors from Pawnee tribe kill Timmons, Lieutenant Dunbar's escort. The reader gets an impression that all of the Native Americans are evil and cruel savages. However further into the book, Indians become the protagonists when the Comanche make peace with Dunbar, and they are described as victims of colonization.

The love story between Dunbar and "Stands With A Fist",a unique Comanche white woman, makes the book even more interesting. This book is a great example of American literature and I would recommend it to everyone.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast Moving, deeper than the movie, very visual July 11, 2004

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

Should be on your summer list. Even though the movie did a great job of picking up the breadth of this huge story, the book is better at getting all the details. Plus, it has plenty of heart, fast action, romance, adventure, to keep anyone interested.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I like this book. December 2, 2003

By tatsiana palianskaya

Format:Mass Market Paperback

The book, "Dances With Wolves," written by Michael Blake is a wonderful novel. This story is about the life of one person, Lieutenant John Dunbar. He is anxious to be a good U.S.Soldier. After the Civil War, he arrives at an abandoned army post, where he finds himself alone. The author, Michael Blake,depicts Dunbar as a strong human character,who despite his surrounding circumstances, has lived productively and organized his week-days. Later he becomes friends with an Indian tribe and soon he finds his love. My favorite part of the story is the development of the main character, because the reader is gradually introduced to a dynamic, handsome individual with a strong soul. When I read this book I learned about the life and traditions of Native Americans. I like books which make me smile, laugh and sometimes want to cry. I really would recommend this book for people, who are sixteen and older.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding September 13, 2005

By M. Perkins

Format:Hardcover

What a joy this book was to read. "Dances with Wolves" is such a wonderful story, and is so well told in this book, that I feel perfection can be applied to it. My only wish is that I had found and read the book, before I ever saw the movie. As is usually the case, Hollywood did not do justice to the story.

Michael Blake has brought to life a time in our history that so fragile, and so very beautiful. He showed us that people are just that, people. He gave the faults, and strengths, the loves and hates, the understandings and prejudices that belong to the human race to both the whites and well as the Indians in this book, and just plan showed that these people also lived.

I highly recommend this book to anyone. It should perhaps become required reading.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Dances with Wolves, very good September 5, 2009

By Larry J. Stevens

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I requested Dances with Wolves because I wanted to see how the author originally developed the story line. The book was just like the movie with a few extra details. It explained some aspects of the movie that, while interesting, would not have added greatly to the enjoyment of the film. Overall I enjoyed reading the book and would recommend it to others that like western stories.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The book is better, in my opinion. October 10, 2006

By Rachel Elaine

Format:Paperback

A friend recently gave me a copy of the "Dances With Wolves" movie (one of my favorites since seeing it years ago) and the book which I had never read. After a repeat viewing of the movie, I read the book.

The main reason I normally prefer the book versions of a story is that one gets to know the thoughts and feelings of the main characters that embellish each scene and are actually sometimes needed to understand the full scope.

This reason especially applies in the case of "Dances With Wolves," written by Michael Blake. The main character is alone with only his horse, the infrequent visits of a lone wolf and his brief journalized thoughts for company until his company includes a nearby camp of Indians. As the beautiful and memorable story transpires amidst a language barrier, one is privy to a richness of behind-the-scenes depth the movie version is limited in presenting.

There are a few variations between the movie and the book, including the ending (and I prefer the ending of the book), but if you liked the movie, you will love the book.