Stone Song: A Novel of the Life of Crazy Horse [Hardcover]

Winfred Blevins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1995

Awakening at age 40, Joseph Blue Crow looks back at the road his life has taken. Instead of choosing to carry on the ways of the Sioux people, he has traveled down the White Road of basketball, booze, women, and blues. Seeking redemption he sets out on the path of the sweat lodge, vision quest and sacred pipe. The journey takes him to Wounded Knee where he must relive the trials of his ancestors in order to understand the past and heal the present.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The life of Crazy Horse, the greatest war chief of the Sioux Indian nation, is the subject of this moving and authentically detailed novel from Blevins (Snake River). Widely considered to be the finest Indian cavalry tactician of all time, Crazy Horse spent his adult life waging war against the white man. Taught by his uncle, Buffalo Hump, Crazy Horse eagerly embraced the traditional warrior's skills, honor and purpose, believing that "war was not meant to be cold rage but exhilaration." Adorned with his distinctive war paint?streaks of lightning and spots of hail?and accompanied by his spirit guide, Hawk, the chief led his Sioux warriors in many of the frontier's most famous battles from 1865 to 1876, including the Battle of Little Bighorn. Crazy Horse and his two loves, Black Buffalo Woman and Black Shawl, tried vainly to maintain their freedom, dignity and pride in the face of white encroachment, but they were finally and ironically overwhelmed by jealousy and betrayal at the hands of Sioux rivals. A deeply thoughtful and persuasive tribute, Blevins's novel offers the compelling story of a man destined for triumph and betrayal, but ultimately for glory.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Crazy Horse, the enigmatic Lakota Sioux best known for his role in defeating Custer at Little Big Horn, is eulogized in a fictional account that comes highly lauded by the publicist.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Forge; 1st edition (June 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312855672
• ISBN-13: 978-0312855673
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.8 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,417,079 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I came out of Missouri and Arkansas, of Irish, Welsh, and Cherokee heritage. After a whirlwind of colleges and jobs, I discovered that books are my calling, and I've written more than twenty, primarily about mountain men and Indian people. Though awards are less important than readers, I'm glad when they come, and was delighted to be named Writer of the Year in 2003 by Wordcraft Circle of Native writers.

I live with my wife Meredith, the novelist, in a remote corner of the canyonlands of Utah.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blevins does it again, June 23, 2001

By 

Marguerite P. Nico "Martial arts mom" (Allen, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stone Song: A Novel of the Life of Crazy Horse (Paperback)

This is the second book by Win Blevins that I have read, the first being Ravenshadow. I liked this one immensely. I found it very difficult to put down once I got into the story. From the beginning, with young Curly, who is determined to have a vision quest, but doesn't share what he has seen with his family, it hooks you. Then it takes you through the various times in his life, never letting you forget the conflict that was going on in the country at that time. Blevins did an interesting job of describing the conflicts between the whites and the Indians. He makes you feel like you were actually there. When he described the ones who hung around the forts, you got the impression that you could actually see them in their blankets, waiting to trade for whiskey. In the course of reading this book, I took the liberty to visit the Crazy Horse Foundation website and read the interviews with some of the people who knew him. I'm thinking that Blevins also read those interviews and that may be how he got some of his material. I'm sure he did extensive research before writing this book and to me, it reflects it. I am giving this book five stars. It will make you think and will bring His Crazy Horse (the literal translation of his name) the man to life.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Book about a True Hero, June 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Stone Song: A Novel of the Life of Crazy Horse (Paperback)

This book affected me like few others. I expected a well written, historical work of fiction on Native Americans - of which I've read a few. What I got was a story that followed me around for weeks and beyond. Blevins did an excellent of portraying the internal struggles of Crazy Horse - his desires, his anger, and his spiritual passion as well as his ultimate integrity and bravery. This is the story of one of the greatest men in history - a true hero. Blevins makes you understand why.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Portrait of a Human Hero, February 12, 2001

By 

Almut (London, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stone Song: A Novel of the Life of Crazy Horse (Paperback)

In this superbly crafted fictional biography Blevins portrays Crazy Horse from many angles : insecure adolescent, faithful friend, courageous warrior and non-committed lover guided by the need to fulfil his vision and remain true to his spirit guide.Always a man apart from the others, Crazy Horse makes attempts at escaping from his isolation although ultimately in the knowledge that isolation will be his destiny. The author convincingly describes life among the Lakota,their many warring factions, their social customs and the impact that the broken promises of the "wasicu" have on their very existence.There is of course no way of knowing if Crazy Horse felt as described in this novel (a problem from which all fiction based on a historical person suffers). But the beautiful poetic language crafted by Blevins renders his vision thouroughly believable. A major achievement.