Synopsis Erdoes and Ortiz
"have edited, translated and transcribed oral stories, classic
accounts, and tales from 19th century sources. The book is divided into
ten parts that arrange the tales of various tribes by theme, i.e.,
creation stories, trickster tales and tales of ghosts and the spirit
world. There are introductory annotations to individual tales, and a
note at the end of eachtale giving its origin. Each section has a two or
three page introduction. The book has . . . an appendix listing tribes
in alphabetical order with a short description of each tribe."
(Voice Youth Advocates) Bibliography. Index of tales.
L. Evers -
Choice
Only about a third
of the {166-odd} stories collected in this volume werecollected by the
editors. Alfonso Ortiz, a distinguished Tewa Pueblo anthropologist,
contributes six stories, which he has translated from his Pueblo
kinsmen. Richard Erdoes, a popularizer of American Indian religions,
adds some 50paraphrases and retellings of stories. . . . For the other
two thirds we havea real grab bag of stories from previously published
sources--some printed exactly from original sources, others retold from
original sources, or retold from retellings. General readers with no
previous experience with American Indian narratives will find much good
reading here. However, those anthropologists, linguists, folklorists,
and literary critics who have labored over the lastdecade to improve the
quality of presentations of Native American story and song to the
general reading public will be appalled.
Janice C.
Warner - Interracial Books for Children Bulletin
{The volume} gives a
clear message that Native Americans are people stillliving today with a
valuable culture. . . . This is a book that would appeal to adults as
well as young people. Though the book's size may be formidable to
younger children, many of the legends could be read to them. Since few
people seem to be aware of Indian literature, this would be a valuable
book for school and public libraries. The collection also would be
appreciated by the serious student of mythology and Indian history. The
illustrations by Richard Erdoes, based on images found in Indian art,
are most appealing and enhance thebook.
Jamake
Highwater - The New York Times Book Review
The presentation is
attractive and the writing is more than competent, but the tone and
intention of the collection fall into the very category . . . {described
as} 'too many adaptations from Native American traditions are presented
as children's stories.'. . . There is still a need for the kind of
prosaiccollection Mr. Erdoes and Mr. Ortiz have put together, just as
there is a need for scholarly renditions of folk materials. But the
Latin Americans have taught us the real future of Indian mythology is
for it to shed its limitations as ethnic expression and emerge as a
brilliant international literary metaphor.
American
Indian Myths and Legends