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Storykeeper
“A stunning novel and a joy to read” Helen Hollick, Managing Editor -
Historical Novel Society (Editor’s Choice)
“Smith writes fluidly, and the society he depicts is intriguingly complex.” - Kirkus Reviews
“Steeped in immediacy and vivid detail.” D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer - Midwest Book Review
The first recorded Europeans to cross the Mississippi River reached the western shore on June 18, 1541. Hernando De Soto and his army of three hundred and fifty conquistadors spent the next year and a half conquering the nations in the fertile flood plains of eastern Arkansas.
Three surviving sixteenth-century journals written during the expedition detailed a complex array of twelve different nations. Each had separate beliefs, languages, and interconnected villages with capital towns comparable in size to European cities of the time. Through these densely populated sites, the Spanish carried a host of deadly old-world diseases, a powerful new religion, and war.
No other Europeans ventured into this land until French explorers arrived one hundred and thirty years later. They found nothing of the people or the towns that the Spanish had so vividly described. For those lost nations, the only hope that their stories, their last remaining essence will ever be heard again lies with one unlikely Storykeeper.
~~~
Editorial Reviews for Storykeeper, winner of Best Indie Book Award 2013
“‘A man without a story is one without a past,’ Smith writes, ‘and a man without a past is one without wisdom.’ By the time readers have wandered freely through the strange realm of the Storykeeper, they may well find those words more prophetic, and more powerful.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Storykeeper is a complex read . . . With both perspective and time in flux, readers are carried along on a historical and cultural journey that, while compelling, requires attention to detail: not for those seeking light entertainment, it's a saga that demands - and deserves - careful reading and contemplation.” D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer - Midwest Book Review
“I was not only entertained by this book, but educated about a period of history of which I knew nothing. I loved the chapter structure which has a rhythm of its own, all wrapped in an attractive and appropriate cover. I have no hesitation in recommending this book no matter where your historical interest may lie. I give it 5 stars!” Helen Hollick, Managing Editor - Historical Novel Society (Editor’s Choice)
“Smith has created a wealth of history and culture that will make you weep. Creating words and phrases with a poetic sense, building a feel for Native American culture that feels so genuine and, yet, is eminently readable.” Kathy Davie - Books, Movies, Reviews!
“I love this story, and I applaud Daniel A. Smith on his diligent research. Smith writes some strong characters in this gripping story. Every human emotion is engaged, and at times I felt like I was right there with Manaha and the tribes who fought against DeSoto. Superbly done.” SK - The Jelly Bomb Review
“The book's images, enhanced by objective historical writing are portals into the distant past, sometimes humorous, often heartbreaking, but always illuminating.” Fred Petrucelli - Log Cabin
“Smith writes fluidly, and the society he depicts is intriguingly complex.” - Kirkus Reviews
“Steeped in immediacy and vivid detail.” D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer - Midwest Book Review
The first recorded Europeans to cross the Mississippi River reached the western shore on June 18, 1541. Hernando De Soto and his army of three hundred and fifty conquistadors spent the next year and a half conquering the nations in the fertile flood plains of eastern Arkansas.
Three surviving sixteenth-century journals written during the expedition detailed a complex array of twelve different nations. Each had separate beliefs, languages, and interconnected villages with capital towns comparable in size to European cities of the time. Through these densely populated sites, the Spanish carried a host of deadly old-world diseases, a powerful new religion, and war.
No other Europeans ventured into this land until French explorers arrived one hundred and thirty years later. They found nothing of the people or the towns that the Spanish had so vividly described. For those lost nations, the only hope that their stories, their last remaining essence will ever be heard again lies with one unlikely Storykeeper.
~~~
Editorial Reviews for Storykeeper, winner of Best Indie Book Award 2013
“‘A man without a story is one without a past,’ Smith writes, ‘and a man without a past is one without wisdom.’ By the time readers have wandered freely through the strange realm of the Storykeeper, they may well find those words more prophetic, and more powerful.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Storykeeper is a complex read . . . With both perspective and time in flux, readers are carried along on a historical and cultural journey that, while compelling, requires attention to detail: not for those seeking light entertainment, it's a saga that demands - and deserves - careful reading and contemplation.” D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer - Midwest Book Review
“I was not only entertained by this book, but educated about a period of history of which I knew nothing. I loved the chapter structure which has a rhythm of its own, all wrapped in an attractive and appropriate cover. I have no hesitation in recommending this book no matter where your historical interest may lie. I give it 5 stars!” Helen Hollick, Managing Editor - Historical Novel Society (Editor’s Choice)
“Smith has created a wealth of history and culture that will make you weep. Creating words and phrases with a poetic sense, building a feel for Native American culture that feels so genuine and, yet, is eminently readable.” Kathy Davie - Books, Movies, Reviews!
“I love this story, and I applaud Daniel A. Smith on his diligent research. Smith writes some strong characters in this gripping story. Every human emotion is engaged, and at times I felt like I was right there with Manaha and the tribes who fought against DeSoto. Superbly done.” SK - The Jelly Bomb Review
“The book's images, enhanced by objective historical writing are portals into the distant past, sometimes humorous, often heartbreaking, but always illuminating.” Fred Petrucelli - Log Cabin
352 pages, Paperback
First published March 4, 2012
671 people are currently reading
1685 people want to read
About the author
Daniel A. Smith
3 books67 followersDaniel grew up in Arkansas. In his youth, he worked for his father, riding in an old Studebaker pick-up around the state servicing refrigeration units in tourist courts and small country stores. Years later, Daniel traveled some of those same back roads for his own business, repairing and installing sound systems.
For the first time, he began to notice the amazing number of ancient earthworks that covered the state and realized he knew very little about who built them; when or why. What began as an observation grew to a driving curiosity to research historical documents and the state’s vast archeological findings. The untold stories and lost history, all around him, inspired Daniel’s debut novel, Storykeeper.
Smith began his artistic career as a professional audio engineer. For over thirty-five years, he crossed the country, providing sound engineering services for all types of events from outdoor music festivals, concerts, and political rallies to lectures. A parcel list of celebrities Smith worked with includes numerous dignitaries such as Presidents: Ronald Reagan, George H. Bush, William Jefferson Clinton, and George W. Bush, also Bob Hope, Colin Powell, Paul Harvey, Martha Stewart, and Dr. Ruth, and wide variety of entertainers, including, Kris Kristofferson, Alice Cooper, Dolly Parton, Steve Martin, Allman Brothers Band, Jimmy Buffet, Barbara Mandrell, Ray Charles, Rebra McEntire, Dizzy Gillespie, Iron Butterfly, Dave Brubeck Quartet and Willie Nelson.
For the first time, he began to notice the amazing number of ancient earthworks that covered the state and realized he knew very little about who built them; when or why. What began as an observation grew to a driving curiosity to research historical documents and the state’s vast archeological findings. The untold stories and lost history, all around him, inspired Daniel’s debut novel, Storykeeper.
Smith began his artistic career as a professional audio engineer. For over thirty-five years, he crossed the country, providing sound engineering services for all types of events from outdoor music festivals, concerts, and political rallies to lectures. A parcel list of celebrities Smith worked with includes numerous dignitaries such as Presidents: Ronald Reagan, George H. Bush, William Jefferson Clinton, and George W. Bush, also Bob Hope, Colin Powell, Paul Harvey, Martha Stewart, and Dr. Ruth, and wide variety of entertainers, including, Kris Kristofferson, Alice Cooper, Dolly Parton, Steve Martin, Allman Brothers Band, Jimmy Buffet, Barbara Mandrell, Ray Charles, Rebra McEntire, Dizzy Gillespie, Iron Butterfly, Dave Brubeck Quartet and Willie Nelson.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
May 15, 2022
Historical fiction of DeSoto pillaging the Mississippi River valley in search of fame, gold and fortune, as seen through the eyes of a boy taken from a local tribe early in the expedition. Arrogance, ignorance, hypocrisy, brutality, smallpox, etc., abound, so nothing new, but a bibliography at the end supports the possible accuracy. The split timeline of two different storytellers adds some interest but it can be both confusing and gimmicky.
February 20, 2019
I imagined from the description that this would be focused more on history than it turned out. It is three stories or more aptly called journeys. One is the story of Tatianto, an Indian brave who is a teenager at the time Hernando DeSoto and his Spanish army traveled through the Ozarks looking for gold and silver. The major historical source comes from DeSoto’s reports of the mission. The second story is of an Indian girl just reaching puberty. Tatianto saved her from small pox as small child when her parents left her in a grave believing she would die. Tatianto also was a small pox survivor. The girl’s name is Nanza. From her early years, when Tatianto saved her, she has lived alone with him in the mountains. The third story is of an old woman, Manaha, living with a small tribe of Indians. She is not part of the tribe and is therefore, an outsider. It is soon revealed in the story that Manaha is Nanza as an old woman.
This first story (chronologically) is Tatianto’s story that begins just before DeSoto arrives on July 4, 1541 and Tatianto follows DeSoto and the Spaniards. Next is Nanza’s story, forty-nine years after the arrival of the Spaniards when Tatianto agrees to take her on a journey to her parents’ people. Manaha’s story is ninety-four years after the arrival of DeSoto. In her story, she receives a vison pushing her to tell the people the stories about the Spanish that she heard from Tatianto.
The stories are told in small bits taking turns. A snippet of Tatianto is followed by a snippet of Nanza, then Manaha, and then back to Tatianto starting a new cycle. It is generally difficult to jump back and forth between two stories, though I have seen it done very successfully. However, jumping between three stories takes great deal of skill and thought. This book got going awry early. The Tatianto story was pretty good, but the breaks were not well done and created a hard to follow, choppy effect. Added to that was the problem of having to wade through two other stories in order get back to Tatianto.
The Nanza journey consists of her trip, guided by Tatianto, to her people. This story is painfully boring. This barely gets one star. Each day the two travel through the mountains where most of the narrative is a description of the land they travel through. A general description of the land could be interesting but dealing with every log they had to step over, every bush they passed by, every weird rock, on and on was a yawner. A little bit of story bleeds into it, some of it fairly interesting but not enough to get above one star.
Manaha’s story is a little bit better than Nanzy’s but I wouldn’t give it more than two stars.
I’d give Tatianto four stars, but the other two drag the book down to three stars.
Started:2019.02.04 - finished: 2019.02.13
This first story (chronologically) is Tatianto’s story that begins just before DeSoto arrives on July 4, 1541 and Tatianto follows DeSoto and the Spaniards. Next is Nanza’s story, forty-nine years after the arrival of the Spaniards when Tatianto agrees to take her on a journey to her parents’ people. Manaha’s story is ninety-four years after the arrival of DeSoto. In her story, she receives a vison pushing her to tell the people the stories about the Spanish that she heard from Tatianto.
The stories are told in small bits taking turns. A snippet of Tatianto is followed by a snippet of Nanza, then Manaha, and then back to Tatianto starting a new cycle. It is generally difficult to jump back and forth between two stories, though I have seen it done very successfully. However, jumping between three stories takes great deal of skill and thought. This book got going awry early. The Tatianto story was pretty good, but the breaks were not well done and created a hard to follow, choppy effect. Added to that was the problem of having to wade through two other stories in order get back to Tatianto.
The Nanza journey consists of her trip, guided by Tatianto, to her people. This story is painfully boring. This barely gets one star. Each day the two travel through the mountains where most of the narrative is a description of the land they travel through. A general description of the land could be interesting but dealing with every log they had to step over, every bush they passed by, every weird rock, on and on was a yawner. A little bit of story bleeds into it, some of it fairly interesting but not enough to get above one star.
Manaha’s story is a little bit better than Nanzy’s but I wouldn’t give it more than two stars.
I’d give Tatianto four stars, but the other two drag the book down to three stars.
Started:2019.02.04 - finished: 2019.02.13
January 1, 2013
I was gifted a copy of this eBook in return for a review.
I studied this area of American history in school and while it was quite a number of years ago now it still made me eager to read this book. I was not let down in the slightest. This was the perfect book to finish off last year with and one of the best books I had the pleasure of reviewing in 2012.
The storytelling structure of the book appealed to my own nature and each different timeline being talked about felt real and fresh. I could imagine every little detail described yet nothing felt over described or dragged out. The balance of narrative and pacing was spot on and over the few days that I read this book I kept finding myself thinking about the characters and being eager to sit back down and delve into their journeys. Really can't recommend the book highly enough.
I studied this area of American history in school and while it was quite a number of years ago now it still made me eager to read this book. I was not let down in the slightest. This was the perfect book to finish off last year with and one of the best books I had the pleasure of reviewing in 2012.
The storytelling structure of the book appealed to my own nature and each different timeline being talked about felt real and fresh. I could imagine every little detail described yet nothing felt over described or dragged out. The balance of narrative and pacing was spot on and over the few days that I read this book I kept finding myself thinking about the characters and being eager to sit back down and delve into their journeys. Really can't recommend the book highly enough.
January 21, 2019
After reading a little of this I realized that it was familiar because I had visited Parkin Archaeological State Park in Arkansas last year where Casqui was supposed to have been. Interesting little story though very repetitive and I feel like I missed something in Manaha/Nanza's life story. Maybe there will be a sequel? Warning: deSoto keeps vicious dogs which he uses to attack and kill captors.
September 28, 2013
This is a novel about the Indians in the area of the Mississippi River area at the time Desoto invaded it for Spain. I would give it a 3.5. It jumped around in time which is OK but dragged in parts.
September 3, 2017
Very good. Sad story illustrating the near extinction of native tribes by the Spanish all in the name of the hunt for gold.
January 9, 2019
Too Much Poetry
Beautiful writing, too much description of scenery and back and forth story tellers, made this a bit boring for me.
Beautiful writing, too much description of scenery and back and forth story tellers, made this a bit boring for me.
January 18, 2023
Storykeeper is three stories in one: the tale of the elderly Storykeeper Manaha, who, as an old woman, watches as the people she has grown old with adopt a new way of life; the tale of young Manaha on a journey to find the people of her birth with the man who has raised her, whom she refers to as Grandfather though they share no actual blood relation; and the story of her Grandfather, named Taninto, who, as a young man, was witness to the takeover of his people and surrounding tribes by Hernando de Soto and the Spanish.
It’s a cultural journey as much as it is the simple journey of people trying to find their ways through the complexity of ever-changing life. The book is deep in myths and appreciation for the Earth, and all the blessings that the Earth has to give. It explores the frailty of people, and the sometimes horrific mistakes that imperfect humans make while still remaining fundamentally good. In it are deeply rooted, important sacred understandings of Native people who have been lost to misfortune and time. I love a book that comes with a bibliography at the end. This is a book written with a ton of historical research, and it shows through the effortless storytelling, and the way that the world around the characters comes through vivid and believable.
It’s a cultural journey as much as it is the simple journey of people trying to find their ways through the complexity of ever-changing life. The book is deep in myths and appreciation for the Earth, and all the blessings that the Earth has to give. It explores the frailty of people, and the sometimes horrific mistakes that imperfect humans make while still remaining fundamentally good. In it are deeply rooted, important sacred understandings of Native people who have been lost to misfortune and time. I love a book that comes with a bibliography at the end. This is a book written with a ton of historical research, and it shows through the effortless storytelling, and the way that the world around the characters comes through vivid and believable.
January 20, 2019
This is a good book. It follows a historical narrative we would expect from a 16th century encounter in North America between a European military/religious expedition and native peoples. We believe we have a good picture now of the extent to which European diseases decimated the Indian peoples and culture, in some cases years before the actual Europeans appeared. We know the brutality of the actual European encounters with native peoples. This history is a tragedy of epic proportions and one that occurred without perpetrator or victim in many cases being fully aware of the downstream consequences of the confrontations. The characters in the book are compelling, and I especially enjoyed seeing with my mind's eye what beauty there was in the natural world in those times and how people without sophisticated technology nevertheless build communuties that were sustaining. There is nostalgia and a temptation to believe that life was simpler and therefore better. Reality would have been different. I am glad I read it, and I recommend it for a feel of just how world changing a first encounter can be.
January 16, 2019
STORYKEEPER by Daniel A. Smith is my first 5-star rating of the year. In elementary school, I learned about Hernando De Soto as a Spanish explorer of the American southwest. Within a broader context of exploration, the author also shows him as conqueror, thief, despot, bringer of fatal disease, torturer, and brutal practitioner of genocide for the sake of claiming land and riches for the Spanish King. The fictional story is told in multiple timelines, all during the 16th century. But throughout is the narrative of story and history, their place in native cultures of the time, and how they become an indispensable part of how people live their lives. Smith writes poetically, with wonderful descriptions of the land, nature, people, emotions, and relationships. This is a book to be read, considered, deeply enjoyed. Skimmers and speed readers -- you'll never get it.
March 2, 2019
Beautiful and Heartbreaking
I love historical fiction but seldom read stories of America, particularly those about the westward push of the "pioneers" who believed they had a right exploit everything the encountered. I too often find myself deploring their actions.
This beautifully told story brought to life stories of great pre-Europe civilizations in Eastern mountains and plains of what is now the United States. The Spanish explorer, Hernando de Soto discovered and began the destruction of these civilizations during his march march from the Florida swamp lands north toward Canada. He searched for gold and left in his path disease and destruction.
The European genocide of the native peoples in the Americas deprived the world of a wisdom about the connectedness of all living things to the world we inhabit. We are only now beginning to acknowledge that loss.
I love historical fiction but seldom read stories of America, particularly those about the westward push of the "pioneers" who believed they had a right exploit everything the encountered. I too often find myself deploring their actions.
This beautifully told story brought to life stories of great pre-Europe civilizations in Eastern mountains and plains of what is now the United States. The Spanish explorer, Hernando de Soto discovered and began the destruction of these civilizations during his march march from the Florida swamp lands north toward Canada. He searched for gold and left in his path disease and destruction.
The European genocide of the native peoples in the Americas deprived the world of a wisdom about the connectedness of all living things to the world we inhabit. We are only now beginning to acknowledge that loss.
January 5, 2019
Conflicting emotions
This tale of days long ago is filled with wisdom and sacrifice. The storykeeper is written from the perspective of an ancient profession that allowed history to be shared with future generations and that continues today in the modern form of historians and other writers and orators. The story, while realistic, is full of conflicting emotions - sad but beautiful, lonely but fulfilling, and shameful but proud. Great story and well written.
This tale of days long ago is filled with wisdom and sacrifice. The storykeeper is written from the perspective of an ancient profession that allowed history to be shared with future generations and that continues today in the modern form of historians and other writers and orators. The story, while realistic, is full of conflicting emotions - sad but beautiful, lonely but fulfilling, and shameful but proud. Great story and well written.
February 1, 2019
Painful history
It took a few days of reading this to understand the leaping back and forth of the generations of storytellers, but once I understood the authors technique I was fascinated by this richly detailed story based on actual records from De Soto’s expedition. It is long but well worth reading if one is interested in the first people who lived in what we know as the southern United States and the terrible consequences of European exploration.
It took a few days of reading this to understand the leaping back and forth of the generations of storytellers, but once I understood the authors technique I was fascinated by this richly detailed story based on actual records from De Soto’s expedition. It is long but well worth reading if one is interested in the first people who lived in what we know as the southern United States and the terrible consequences of European exploration.
January 1, 2019
Storykeeper
Beautiful book! It is full of history and celebration of the Mississippian Culture of the Mound Builders. It helps to acquire more knowledge of that long ago time. I recommend it highly. Also Thank you for the beautiful bonus story!
Beautiful book! It is full of history and celebration of the Mississippian Culture of the Mound Builders. It helps to acquire more knowledge of that long ago time. I recommend it highly. Also Thank you for the beautiful bonus story!
January 1, 2019
Great reading!
I enjoyed this as a historical novel that enlightened me about the Spanish invaders. I am sadden when I realize that so many difficulties were caused to the native people. This is unfortunate in most historical renditions!
I enjoyed this as a historical novel that enlightened me about the Spanish invaders. I am sadden when I realize that so many difficulties were caused to the native people. This is unfortunate in most historical renditions!
February 6, 2019
Multigenerational Saga
Well-written adventure of pride, longing, fear, and revenge. The gentle weaving among three separate generations keeps each aspect of the story fresh and timely.
Well-written adventure of pride, longing, fear, and revenge. The gentle weaving among three separate generations keeps each aspect of the story fresh and timely.
June 22, 2019
Very Good
The format as well as the story itself kept me reading and reading. It is of course fiction, but the nonfiction presented in the book was incredibly woven into the stories. I throughly enjoyed this book
The format as well as the story itself kept me reading and reading. It is of course fiction, but the nonfiction presented in the book was incredibly woven into the stories. I throughly enjoyed this book
April 21, 2020
I loved this
I always loved American history but going back to 1540 Indian tribes was a different theme for me. Arkansas is my home state so my mental picture came easily. This author tells a compelling story.
I always loved American history but going back to 1540 Indian tribes was a different theme for me. Arkansas is my home state so my mental picture came easily. This author tells a compelling story.
July 26, 2017
love it..
December 28, 2018
A riveting read
I could not put this book down. It made me cry and grieve. The details and the legends kept me wanting to learn more. Than you for this story .
I could not put this book down. It made me cry and grieve. The details and the legends kept me wanting to learn more. Than you for this story .
December 28, 2018
A different story but good
Good story. Is it indian origin and when Spaniards came to United States. It revoles around several primary characters a good story.
Good story. Is it indian origin and when Spaniards came to United States. It revoles around several primary characters a good story.
January 5, 2019
Simply wonderful story of stories within stories. Sad, uplifting and superbly written, Storykeeper brings to life, and death, our history that should be taught in school
January 19, 2019
While the premise that all cultures need to pass down their stories is very important, the book itself is slow and vague.
January 21, 2019
Storykeeper
Quick read, couldn't put it down. Carquis Tribe 1541. Great descriptions people, fauna, mountains, rivers. Travails of living, family hierarchy of the time.
Quick read, couldn't put it down. Carquis Tribe 1541. Great descriptions people, fauna, mountains, rivers. Travails of living, family hierarchy of the time.
February 2, 2019
Good read
Good read for teens. I just could not get into the story. The characters seemed to be interesting. Good read.
Good read for teens. I just could not get into the story. The characters seemed to be interesting. Good read.
February 11, 2019
Incredibly moving story! I was engaged from the very beginning.
April 17, 2019
Storykeeper
Nice tale that was written in a clean, easy style. I enjoyed the multiple stories that made up the overall story.
Nice tale that was written in a clean, easy style. I enjoyed the multiple stories that made up the overall story.
July 12, 2019
Interesting!
This book has a unique fictional take on native American history that is interesting and entertaining. Well worth reading for all ages.
This book has a unique fictional take on native American history that is interesting and entertaining. Well worth reading for all ages.
August 6, 2019
Very interesting and well researched. Telling the story of de Soto the genocidal bastard in a way I've never heard it before.
August 11, 2019
An Old Tale
While the storyline had lots of action, it became lost in the voice of the main character which was aged and thus slow.
While the storyline had lots of action, it became lost in the voice of the main character which was aged and thus slow.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews