'Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West' by Dee Brown is a heartbreaking and authentic account of the white expansion into the American West from the Native American point of view. Each chapter focuses on a different tribe or event, providing a comprehensive and intimate retelling of the fate of the American Indian. The writing style is described as poetic, insightful, and impeccably researched, with harrowing details provided by first-hand recollections, making it a great first read of American History that leaves a lasting impact on the reader.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is direct and impactful, employing historical documentation and personal accounts to convey a haunting tale.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative follows the distressing experiences of various Native American tribes during westward expansion, illustrating their struggles, tragic losses, and resilience.

Setting:

The setting reflects the tumultuous changes in the American West during the late 19th century, marked by conflict and cultural upheaval.

Pacing:

The pacing maintains a steady flow, though it can feel relentless as each chapter reflects similar patterns of tragedy.

Many reasons were given by both white men and Apaches for this sudden exodus from a reservation where everything apparently had been running smoothly. Some said it was because of the tiswin spree; others ...

Genres:

nonfiction

history

Topics:

genocide of native americans

cultural displacement

broken treaties

historical accounts of native tribes

indigenous resistance

historical narrative

victim perspective

colonization

Notes:

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee was first published in 1970 and is credited with changing how Americans view Native American history.

The book details the systematic destruction of Native American tribes from 1860 to 1890, emphasizing broken treaties and massacres.

Dee Brown uses primary sources and first-hand accounts to provide a voice to Native American leaders and their struggles.

The events described in the book include major conflicts like Custer's Last Stand and the Wounded Knee Massacre, highlighting the resilience of tribes such as the Sioux and Cheyenne.

Brown's narrative style shifts between various tribes, providing a more holistic view of the Native American perspective during westward expansion.

Each chapter begins with a timeline of global events, offering context for the struggles faced by Native Americans during that period.

Many readers report feeling heartbroken and angry after reading the book due to the brutal history it recounts.

Despite its heavy content, readers suggest it should be required reading in schools to provide a fuller understanding of American history.

The book has sold over 5 million copies and has been translated into multiple languages, indicating its wide impact and ongoing relevance.

Illustrations and photographs included in the book enhance the emotional connection to the stories shared.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include graphic descriptions of violence, genocide, and cultural trauma faced by Native Americans.

From The Publisher:

The landmark, bestselling account of the crimes against American Indians during the 19th century, now on its 50th Anniversary.

Using council records, autobiographies, and firsthand descriptions, Brown introduces readers to great chiefs and warrors of the Dakota, Ute, Sioux, Cheyenne, and other tribes, revealing in heartwrenching detail the battles, massacres, and broken treaties that methodically stripped them of freedom. A forceful narrative still discussed today as revelatory and controversial, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee permanently altered our understanding of how the American West came to be defined.

Ratings (14)

Incredible (2)
Loved It (9)
Liked It (1)
It Was OK (2)

Reader Stats (44):

Read It (15)
Want To Read (25)
Not Interested (4)

What can you read after
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West?

See the list (100 books)

About the Author:

Dee Brown was the author of over twenty-five books on the American West and the Civil War. His Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, considered a classic in its field, was a New York Times bestseller for over a year, and has been translated into many languages. Dee Brown died in 2002.

Hampton Sides is editor-at-large for Outside magazine, and the author of Ghost Soldiers, Blood and Thunder, Hellhound On His Trail, and, most recently, In the Kingdom of Ice.

Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West

Dee Brown