The Man Who Killed The Deer: A Novel of Pueblo Indian Life

by Frank Waters

The story of Martiniano, The Man Who Killed the Deer, is a timeless story of Pueblo Indian sin and redemption, and of the conflict between Indian and white laws; written with a poetically charged beauty of style, a purity of conception, and a thorough understanding of Native American values.

265 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 5, 2023

About the author

Frank Waters was an American novelist, essayist, and cultural historian best known for his profound explorations of the American Southwest and Native American spirituality. Deeply influenced by his Cheyenne heritage and early experiences on the Navajo Reservation, Waters wove themes of indigenous identity, mysticism, and the clash between tradition and modernity into much of his work. His celebrated novel The Man Who Killed the Deer (1942) is considered a cornerstone of Southwestern literature, offering a powerful portrayal of a Pueblo man’s internal struggle with cultural dislocation. Over the decades, Waters produced an impressive body of work, including both fiction and non-fiction, such as Book of the Hopi, Mexico Mystique, and The Colorado, which blended mythology, history, and esoteric thought. A strong advocate for the arts, he held various editorial and academic positions and was honored with several awards. His legacy lives on through the Frank Waters Foundation, which supports writers and artists in the spirit of his creative vision.

Reviews

[Kathy Helms · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hadn’t heard of Frank Waters until I went to Taos, NM, where he is legendary. (He’s been called the Steinbeck of the southwest). One of the first novels of Pueblo Indian life, it’s a story of conflict between Indian laws and white laws, traditional values versus those of the younger generation, but ultimately a story of sin and redemption.
Powerful.

[Mandy Brummer- stangl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting, a man who struggles with the shooting of the deer and what he thinks it does to him. Good book.