Hostiles and Friendlies: Selected Short Writings of Mari Sandoz

by Mari Sandoz

Book Overview

Here in one volume are Mari Sandoz's reminiscences of life in the Sandhills country; a study of the two Sitting Bulls (the Hunkpapa and the Oglala) and other Indian pieces; a novelette, Bone Joe and the Smokin' Woman; and nine short stories, mostly with a rural setting, including The Vine," her first to be published. Introduced by an autogiographical sketch of the author's early years and linked by a commentary derived from her letters,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803292082
• ISBN13: 9780803292086
• Release Date: January 1959
• Publisher: Bison Books
• Length: 254 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Another excellent selection by Sandoz

Sandoz wrote in such a strong and sensitive way about what she knew and lived. She was a white girl who grew up in Nebraska in the days of the frontier, and she wrote about her experiences with both the frontier settlers as well as the native inhabitants.Her stories about the Indians are particularly piercing and exquisite. She shows beautifully what a mature and intelligent society the Native Americans had constructed, and how the whites misunderstood and disregarded their culture, and contributed to its decimation. She doesn't simply demonize the whites and exalt the natives, but she is forthright and unafraid to say who did what, and why they did what they did. She has a keen sensibility for the way the native people lived their lives, and I so appreciate getting a feel for what their existence was like during the days of the frontier, and before. I love getting to know about her life, too, about how she overcame lack of early schooling and harsh treatment from her parents.This is a great read for anyone who lives in, or even just visits, the Great Plains region, to get a sense of its history, or for anyone who is interested in the lives and history of Native Americans or frontiersmen. It it also excellent if you just love a well-crafted story. I give it four stars because the selections are somewhat uneven in quality, but the best ones more than make up for the less stellar ones.