The Way of an Indian

by Frederic Remington

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

66 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1906

About the author

Frederic Sackrider Remington was an American painter, etcher, illustrator, sculptor, and writer who specialized in depictions of the Old American West, specifically concentrating on the last quarter of the 19th century American West and images of cowboys, American Indians, and the U. S. Cavalry.

Reviews

[Perry Whitford · Rating 4 out of 5]

The life story of a chief of the Chis-chis-chash tribe, better known as the Cheyenne, from his initiation into manhood via his first scalp, up to his final encounter with the hated Yellow-Eyes, the white man.

Plainly told, unsentimental and completely without a hint of condescension (rare for the time), Remington makes no concession to Westernising the native American in order to gain him any sympathy or understanding.

The boy White Otter becomes the man known as The Bat (Ho-to-kee-mat-sin), then a great warrior called Fire Eater, conversing with both the animal and spirit kingdoms, listening to his gods, alternately emboldened by good medicine and beleaguered by bad.

I found his story both stirring and sad for one so unvarnished. It helps that Remington renders the simple yet powerful speech of the native American convincingly, and that his own accompanying illustrations are excellent.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Remington is of course far better known for his pictures of the West. This is a verbal sketch of an Indian warrior's life during the period of amazingly rapid change when the plains Indian virtually vanished from the scene. Remington was there as a young man so it is fair to assume that this account is closer to the truth than many of the hairier tales that came 25 yrs after from more accomplished writers.

[Kaj Samuelsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

He could not only paint, he could write too, or paint with words, with an eye on the small details that makes a book or a painting interesting.
The main character of this book, "The Bat" knows what he wants and how to get it, his medicine is strong and the Good Gods are with him through most of his life. He earns the name "Fire Eater". I especially liked the way he gets his first rifle, very clever.

[Vipul · Rating 5 out of 5]

After visiting a recent exhibit at Portland Museum of Art on American History, I was introduced to Frederic Remington and his romanticism of the west .

The book can be summarized in one painting Hunted Down by the author himself.
It's a thrilling short story about the life of a warrior ,his beliefs and fate.

[David Carlson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inside the life and thinking of a Cheyenne warrior.

[Terrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good