In 1939, Anne Smith visited eastern Nevada and western Utah, traveling countless miles of remote road to collect stories, document Western Shoshone tradition, and determine the outlines of Great Basin culture. Out of her travels came Shoshone Tales.
Set primarily in the "Time When Animals Were People"--the legendary past when animals had the power of speech and established human customs through their adventures (and misadventures)--these tales were prized for their educational value and respected for the ways in which they were told. With insightful humor and blunt honesty, the collection prominently features tales that describe the exploits of Coyote the Trickster, along with Wolf, Cottontail, and Owl. Origin myths and "just-so" stories also form an important part of the collection. These informative and entertaining tales add immeasurably to the unique record of Western Shoshone oral tradition.
