Diné Bahane': The Navajo Creation Story [Paperback]

Paul G. Zolbrod (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1987

This is the most complete version of the Navajo creation story to appear in English since Washington Matthews' Navajo Legends of 1847. Zolbrod's new translation renders the power and delicacy of the oral storytelling performance on the page through a poetic idiom appropriate to the Navajo oral tradition.

Zolbrod's book offers the general reader a vivid introduction to Navajo culture. For students of literature this book proposes a new way of looking at our literary heritage.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

Zolbrod's book offers the general reader a vivid introduction to Navajo culture.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 443 pages
• Publisher: University of New Mexico Press (December 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826310435
• ISBN-13: 978-0826310439
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #44,583 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #8 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Earth-Based Religions > Native American
  • #10 in Books > History > Historical Study > Oral History
  • #11 in Books > Literature & Fiction > United States > Native American

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History - Past and Present, December 5, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Dine Bahane: The Navajo Creation Story (Hardcover)

There are several versions of the Navajo Creation Story known but Paul Zolbrod has captured the most plausible and accepted rendition in print. Most Navajos that I know accept this text as adequate and feel that the author's treatment of the subject matter is fair and sensitive to a very vital element of Dine' culture. Many Navajos, especially elders will say that the material printed in this book used to be reserved for the sweat hooghan and special times between family members but understand that now things have changed and accept the publication of very special and sensitive aspects of a great peoples' religion, as long as it is done under the auspices of the Navajo Nation. Perhaps in time others will publish material more to the needs of Navajo scholars but to this day this book is the literary standard of the creation stories.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Navajo Creation Story, October 19, 2007

By 

Hope Florence (Wilmington De) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Diné Bahane': The Navajo Creation Story (Paperback)

This is a book that is easy to read. It beautifully explains many of the Navajo stories of their creation. There is humor, pathos and much wisdom.
If you read it, you will see parallels to other stories of creation.
A lovely book to read any time, but especially if you are planning to visit the American southwest. You will appreciate New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado in a heightened way, seeing sacred spots to the Navajo and understanding why they are to be respected.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent scholarly work, July 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Diné Bahane': The Navajo Creation Story (Paperback)

Paul Zolbrod does a fine job of collating his own transcriptions of Navajo oral traditions with the records of other scholars from decades past to create a seamless narration of the Navajo story of creation. This is a valuable contribution to a deeper understanding of a specific native American culture.