by David Treuer
First published 2006
David Treuer brings both a novelist's perspective and a critic's analytical skills to bear on Native American literature. He focuses his attention on a carefully chosen group of the most significant Native American novels rather than attempting to map out an exhaustive cultural timeline. Treuer examines works by Sherman Alexie, Forrest Carter, James Fenimore Cooper, Louise Erdrich, Leslie Marmon Silko, and James Welch through a literary lens. His approach is speculative and witty, designed to engage curious readers who want to understand these works on their own merit. Treuer argues that Native American literature deserves to be read as literature first and foremost. He contends that most critical attention has focused on how these texts relate to historical and cultural contexts rather than their literary qualities. The book makes a case for prioritizing the power of language and storytelling craft in evaluating these works.
Genres: american-fiction, 20th-century, american, 21st-century, native-american
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: literary-analysis
224 pages · Paperback · Graywolf Press