Product Description

Recounting twelve significant battles, and the reverberating consequences of their outcomes, that took place in the American West between the United States and American Indians from 1854 to 1890, this book is filled with harrowing stories of sacrifice and misdeeds that are well documented in the annals of history, as well as others that are less well known. Commonly and callously referred to at the time as the "Indian Problem," this issue, and how it was handled, became the defining factor in shaping how American Indians live today and reflects interestingly on how the American military currently handles conflicts with insurgents throughout the world. Further reading suggestions are offered at the end of each chapter.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #635532 in Books
• Published on: 2006-08-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 176 pages

Review
"... a history of the crucial period when Native resistance to White expansion was put to an often brutal end." -- The Arizona Republic

"...brilliantly captured all the pathos and romance, the heroes and villains, and the overwhelming sense of humanity and tragedy..." -- Paul Andrew Hutton

"Blake clearly shows the mistakes and misconduct in each situation which lead to warfare...[he] details battles which altered history." -- Times Record News

"It documents the actual events and answers many questions previously unavailable to the American public. Every American should read [it]." -- Leonard Peltier

Blake tears away rumors and half-truths and quickly makes history draw breath within the gripping pages of..."Indian Yell." -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

From the Publisher
Eloquently written by award-winning author of Dances With Wolves, Michael Blake presents these conflicts with a perspective that goes beyond the basic facts of date, place, and outcome. Blake's insightful account of these battles finally answers the less pondered, more human questions about this crucial part of America's history. Blake's narrative shatters stereotypes, eloquently bringing to light the undercurrents of conflict between nations that are familiar themes to a contemporary audience.

From the Author
"In the most simple and self-serving way, all I have wanted is to be there; to witness the power of the buffalo, to interact with free-roaming tribes, to march with the troops, to fill my spirit to the brim. What follows are conclusions I have made concerning events that occurred during what I consider one of the most poignant, instructive, and, despite enormous tragedy, most romantic periods in the history of America. For those who revel in investigating this slice of the past, much will be familiar. For those who know little, much will be new. But all will view what became America's greatest insurgency through a unique lens whose light is not that of a worthy historian or academician. This light emanates from a teller of stories whose heart and should have been enriched immeasurably by what took place in the living West one hundred fifty years ago. Or was it yesterday? Or tomorrow?" MB

Customer Reviews

Not much learned!
From Michael Blake, author of Dances with Wolves, comes a brief account of the "Indian Problem" between 1854 and 1890, described in Indian Yell: The Heart of an American Insurgency. Blake tries to capture how the American Indian was, and is treated, by picking twelve of most significant conflicts/events in American Indian history.

The dust jacket gives voice to Blake's intention: "Beginning in 1854 with a decrepit cow that wandered onto a Sioux encampment that sparked a slaughter, and ending with the last freezing gasps of breath from the victims of the Wounded Knee in 1890, the horrors and shame of war within our borders is recounted." Sounds fascinating, right?

Unfortunately Blake tries to do too much with too little. If the reader isn't steeped in the history, the reader will be as lost as the Indian way of life. Key information is missing in each event.

For example, in "Deceit," the chapter is supposed to provide illumination on how the Apaches were lied to and the fall of Cochise. Instead, sentences like "A new general, known equally for self-promotion and effectiveness, was installed to oversee a mammoth military commitment" leave the reader wondering what is happening. Which general? Does his name live in the history books? Should I know him? Could it be Custer? His name is never mentioned.

Sentence like the one mentioned abound throughout the book. I found this jarring and interruptive to an already dull narrative.

There are two saving graces to Indian Yell. One is that the chapter titles are creative and interesting "The Music Freezes," "Burned at the Tongue," and "Shock and Awe." Second, is that at the end of each chapter, Blake provides a "Recommended Reading" suggestion to further enlighten the reader of that episode.

As far as reading Indian Yell, readers would be better off taking the author's suggestions and reading his recommendations.

Armchair Interviews says: History lesson that leaves much yet to be learned from this author.

A Good Choice, Especially For Young People
It is true as the author states that those who have done previous reading on this subject will find little that is new in this book. I have read other works on the conflicts between the Native Americans and the Whites as the latter encroached on their land, but still found the book to be enjoyable. Those with little or no background will find much to learn about this infamous part of our nation's history. Author Michael Blake has chosen twelve incidents between the warring factions and provided the reader with an interesting review. Such incidents as the Sand Creek Massacre, The Battle (?) of the Washita, the Little Big Horn, Wounded Knee, and others, some of which are not so well known, are included. The book is 170 pages long including the index, and is larger than a conventional hardcover which I feel is a definite plus. Also included are a number of photographs of the areas covered and the individuals involved. My one negative comment is the lack of the Fetterman Massacre and Wagon Box Fight near Fort Phil Kearney in Wyoming in 1866. The book is easy reading, and whether you have a background in this area or not I feel you would find it interesting reading. I would especially recommend it to young people in middle or high school.

fine writing, but how much new history?
Blake is a terrific writer, and if you want a place to start learning about the Indian Wars, this is a pretty good one. It's very clean, focused writing, with nice photos at a decent size (unlike the usual grainy small photos publishers skimp on.) But if you want more info, Utley's books are better. And I was a little put off by the sensationalistic chapter titles, like "Shock and Awe." On the other hand, the prose is terrific, and the history is very solid.