Great Speeches by Native Americans (Dover Thrift Editions) (Paperback)

by Chief Joseph (Author), Sitting Bull (Author), Chief Tecumseh (Author), Chief Seattle (Author), Chief Geronimo (Author), Crazy Horse (Author), Bob Blaisdell (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Remarkable for their eloquence and depth of feeling, these 82 speeches encompass five centuries of Indian encounters with non-indigenous peoples. Speakers include Chief Joseph, Sitting Bull, Tecumseh, Seattle, Geronimo, Crazy Horse, and many lesser-known leaders, whose compelling words are graced by forceful metaphors and vivid imagery.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (June 20, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486411222
• ISBN-13: 978-0486411224
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #26,227 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #2 in	Books > Arts & Photography > History & Criticism > Regional > Native American
  #11 in	Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Special Groups > Native American Studies
  #24 in	Books > History > Americas > Native American

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A glimpse into what we lost when Native American culture was decimated. An absolutely gripping book., October 18, 2007

By	John P. Thiel "John T." (Astoria, Queens, New York City) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I can't recommend this book highly enough. Aside from being full of speeches and insights that belong in the Classics section of any decent library, the strong and concise way in which these speakers convey the greatness of Native American thought and culture is unlike anything you will ever get from your favorite writer of history books, or contemporary decendant of these great people.

I will even go so far as to say that if you are moved by the great words of Winston Churchill and Martin Luther King Jr. it would be a horrible oversight not to have read this volume.

Additionally, the book includes several short bits of historical background which are remarkable in themselves.

Great words, great thought, unlike Western or Eastern thought or any philosophy you have ever read. You can only wish these cultures had survived the holocost that was inflicted on them better so that we could have benefited to a greater degree than was done by taking their gold, land, and lives.

Credit must be also given to the Dover Thrift Edition series for not only making well known classics affordable and accessible to the average reader, but publishing such books as this which are lesser known yet of great importance to the reading and thinking public.

BOTTOM LINE: Please read this book. It's that important.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Valued Resource, November 11, 2008

By	oo - See all my reviews

Most of the orators in this book have passed long ago. This volume keeps alive their thoughts and feelings, for others to share today.

The original Americans, their words carry the weight of other great American speeches to follow, capturing a moment in time and making it palpable again.

More than an historic record, many of these speeches are an inspiration.


Indian Oratory: Famous Speeches by Noted Indian Chieftains (Civilization of the American Indian)

5.0 out of 5 stars Much insight can be gleaned from this collection of Native American speeches, May 10, 2009

By	z hayes (plano,texas) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

I love the Dover Thrift Editions - they are so affordable and comprise truly great classics of literature. I have been slowly collecting the series and "Great Speeches by Native Americans" is one of my favorites in the series. It contains about 82 speeches that cover approximately five centuries of history of the encounters between Native Americans and non-indigenous peoples.

The collection of speeches here range from emotionally stirring speeches by great leaders of the Native Americans such as Red Cloud's "The Great Spirit Made Us Both" in 1870 and Sitting Bull's "The Life My People Want is a Life of Freedom" in 1882, to lesser known orators and even unnamed ones. Each speech is preceded by the context in which it was given, which provides valuable historical insight in and of itself.

This is a must-read volume that will provide insights into the Native American culture and history. It should also be required reading in schools.