The Serpent's Tongue: Prose, Poetry, and Art of the New Mexican Pueblos [Hardcover]

Willa Cather (Author), Frank Hamilton Cushing (Author), Tony Hillerman (Author), Oliver La Farge (Author), Oliver Littlebird (Author), Barry Lopez (Author), Leslie Marmon Silko (Author), Simon J. Ortiz (Author), Joe S. Sando (Author), Nancy Wood (Editor)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up

This peerless compendium, voted best nonfiction book of the year by the Mountains and Plains Booksellers' Association, pays tribute to one of North America's most enduring cultures, offering a rich sampling of works by noted Pueblo and non-native scholars, writers, and artists. Carefully selected from an exhaustive catalog of sources, the more than one hundred text selections include works of prose, poetry, autobiography, and historical narrative. Seventy-five unusual illustrations--from a rare drawing by D. H. Lawrence to striking portraits by photographer Edward S. Curtis and the brilliantly colorful paintings of Pablita Velarde and Helen Hardin--illuminate life in the pueblos, recording ceremonies, symbols, and spaces.

Lavishly designed in five colors, this eminently readable volume offers a story and mood for everyone and an authentic introduction to the cultural legacy of the ancient peoples of the Southwest. Fully annotated with bibliography, source notes, maps, and biographical entries, and with an inviting thematic organization for the casual reader, this beautiful book will find a permanent place in homes, libraries, and collections across the country.

Contributors include:

Paula Gunn Allen
Willa Cather
Frank Hamilton Cushing
Tony Hillerman
Oliver la Farge
Harold Littlebird
Barry Lopez
Simon J. Ortiz
Joe S. Sando.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4 Up. What Hyemeyohsts Storm did for the Plains Indians in his Seven Arrows (Ballantine, 1985), Wood has done for the New Mexico Pueblos. This accomplished and wide-ranging anthology brings together primary-source accounts, poetry, legends, recipes, reminiscences, and beautifully reproduced art and photographs to chronicle the tribes' history. Divided into eight sections, the handsome, oversized volume covers creation myths, childhood, the given truths of the tribes, spiritual beliefs, the actual pueblos, hunting, ceremonies and courtship, and the meeting of the Pueblo with outside worlds. The writings have been meticulously chosen from an array of Native and non-Indian sources including those of prominent anthropologists. N. Scott Momaday, Willa Cather, Barry Lopez, D. H. Lawrence, Edward S. Curtis, and Tony Hillerman are a few of the better-known names that appear. Add to this mix a stunning array of artwork that includes photogravures, paintings, archival reproductions, drawings, and sculpture, and the result is a clear revelation of the world of New Mexican Native Americans. Students of all ages will find the book interesting browsing material, if only for the art. However, it will prove most useful for librarians, teachers, and storytellers who need information or legends from this particular culture. The retold myths especially lend themselves well to oral presentation. The extensive bibliography and notes on contributors, art, and literary sources make this is an indispensable resource for collections where the Pueblo tribes are a focus, and a sound purchase for anyone interested in the history of our nation.?Ann Welton, Terminal Park Elementary School, Auburn, WA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Award-winning writer and journalist Nancy Wood first became involved with the Pueblo people in 1962. Her collaboration with the late Frank Howell produced five best-selling volumes of poetry, including Spirit Walker. Her latest book is Thunderwoman: A Mythic Novel of the Pueblos, about which Booklist said in a starred review: "No thinking reader will come away unshaken, unmoved, untouched."

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Dutton; 1st edition (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525455140
• ISBN-13: 978-0525455141
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 9.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #640,970 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)