Customer Reviews

Nez Perce Country (Bison Original)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this book without researching its origins because I found it on a Listmania! "Books about the Nez Perce" and because it was "written" by the highly respected historian, Alvin M. Josephy Jr. This has proved a partial mistake on my part, but perhaps a "boon" to others. As my title indicates, "Nez Perce Country" (2007) is nothing more than a abstract of a previous book written, at the request of the National Park Service, by Josephy to introduce visitors to Nez Perce National Historical Park (headquartered in Lapwai, Idaho, on the Nez Perce Reservation). The former book, published by the government in 1983 is currently difficult to find, and rather expensive if you do (it is listed on Amazon as well). However, it does come with many more, and extremely interesting photographs.

As such, this is not a new book, although the introduction by Jeremy FiveCrows (a Nez Perce) is new--and worth the price of the book. When I got the book and saw that Josephy died in 2005 I decided to find out more about the book, as the book itself tells you nothing. [...]

"Nez Perce Country" is totally devoid of references or a bibliography, so the reader is essentially on their own if they wish to read more. On the other hand, I feel safe in stating that the text of this book (slightly edited for changes is the spelling of Nez Perce words) is the best, most concise reading of the Nez Perce available--one that I personally can validate from my own research and knowledge. And, for those who really don't like history or reading, the book is a fast 161 pages.

If you are not knowledgeable of the Nez Perce, and do not wish to spend time reading the best available books, this book is for you and I give it a five star rating. If you know a little about the Nez Perce, this book may or may not be helpful, and certainly is not a reference or new book. If you have the time and/or money, I would recommend seeking out the 1983 "Nez Perce Country, A Handbook for the Nez Perce National Historical Park, Idaho" text. You'll find it more enjoyable. Or if you are knowledgeable of the Nez Perce, but have not boldly gone where you should--reading Josephy's unabridged, prodigious 736 page, 1965 "Nez Perce Indians and the Opening of the Northwest" (which is readily available through Amazon as well)--this book may also appeal to you. Please note that there is an abridged version of "Nez Perce Indians and the Opening of the Northwest" that I would not recommend, particularly since this book, "Nez Perce Country," is a much easier read and about as valuable as the abridged version.

Only because "Nez Perce Country" (2007) is essentially a reprint or abstract, without any references to help the reader, of the text from Nez Perce Country, A Handbook for the Nez Perce National Historical Park, Idaho (National Park 1983), have I rated this book four stars.

If this review was not helpful to you, I would appreciate learning the reason(s) so I can improve my reviews. My goal is to provide help to potential buyers, not get into any arguments. So, if you only disagree with my opinion, could you please say so in the comments and not indicate that the review was not helpful. Thanks.

I will not try to improve on the review by Dr. Karl O. Edwards. I would second what he has written and add only a little.

The book is as good as a five-star book for anyone who wants to read about the Nez Perce people. I remove one star for the sins of the editors at the University of Nebraska Press, not for any fault of the author.

Sin No. 1 is making many of the names of the Native American historical figures incomprehensible to the otherwise intelligent, well-educated reader. As their Editorial Note states, "In this edition of his work we have attempted to provide International Phonetic Alphabet-comparable transcriptions of the names as footnotes where possible, using the orthography for Nez Perce developed by Haruo Aoki." Why?! The effect of this is to require the reader unfamiliar with the IPA to refer to one or maybe two sources (Aoki being a rare one) in order to follow the characters as other than unpronounceable glyph-a-ma-jiggers (not usual Roman alphabet characters). Because the naming was discontinuous with that in Josephy's other wonderful books, I was left guessing which important persons were being referred to.

The editors' choice would be clearly defensible in a scholarly work. But this is clearly a popular work, incorporating neither footnotes nor bibliography. The orthographic symbology just puts hobbles on the reader's ability to put a sound memory to names of important people.

Sin No. 2 is the use of a frustratingly inadequate map in a book where the geography is half of the story. A map of the "Nez Perce War of 1877" was simply lifted and poorly reproduced from a National Park Service map. The map's color-coded distinctions became indistinct in monochrome. The map was reduced in size, to make much that might have been clear become virtually illegible. Yellowstone Park, with its interesting routes, was largely trimmed off the pages in the gutter. The map, had it not been constrained to a page-spread format used for other illustrations in the book, could have been given the full spread, with space in the gutter, so that it could at least have been legible.

Readers who enjoy this book will find much more detail in Josephy's earlier The Nez Perce and the Opening of the Northwest. Since that account extended to 1877, I was happy to learn from the chapters on the "Aftermath" and "Today" in the present work.

This is a fine work that could have made a more satisfying book with appropriate care at the publisher. I expect it would have turned out better if Josephy had lived to participate in its publication.

Probably the most factual account of the Nez Perce people I've found. Profiles Chief Joseph as the Statesman he was. The Government Administrators and religous leaders during this time are depicted for what they really were.