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American Character: The Curious Life of Charles Fletcher Lummis
The fascinating, utterly absorbing story of a turn-of-the-century American renaissance man -- journalist, photographer, anthropologist, editor, poet, archeologist, librarian, Indian rights advocate, and author -- a free-spirit of the Southwestern frontier who spent a lifetime fighting injustice in the West.
372 pages, Hardcover
First published March 14, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 16, 2020
Reading this book has been satisfying. It is a very good biography. Readers are given both the weaknesses and strengths of Charles Fletcher Lummis (1859-1928). I dislike hagiographies. I want balance, and this is what you get here. There is an appropriate amount of background information. The book stays on track; it stays focused on the events in Lummis’ life, and his personality comes through loud and clear.
Lummis was many things. He was a poet—his first published book was Birch Bark Poems. Even the covers he manufactured himself. He was a journalist and the editor of the Los Angeles Times, the City Librarian from 1905 to 1911 of the Los Angeles Public Library, an historian, a preservationist, an archeologist, an ethnographer and photographer. Above all else, he was an activist for the rights of the Native American people.
Lummis extolled the Spanish influence in the American Southwest. He favored their treatment of Native Americans over the Anglo Saxon’s. He championed the rights of Native Americans and the importance of preserving their traditions and culture. Lummis’ protégé, John Collier, was, after Lummis’ death, appointed Commissioner of Indian Affairs. As a proponent of social reform, he played a significant role in reshaping the federal policy concerning Native Americans--particularly through the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act. Prior to the act the government had actively sought to disband tribes and suppress Native American culture. With the passage of the act, this was to change. The act is today viewed as a turning point toward a better treatment of Native Americans.
Lummis’ endeavors were important and had lasting consequences. His free spirit attitude, although invigorating, had negative side effects on those living close to him. He had three wives, four kids and a fifth that died at six years of age. One child, Bertha, was illegitimate--he welcomed her into his home too! He is said to have adored all his kids…when he had time for them.
Lummis’ extramarital relationships were many; his second wife’s divorce lawyer claimed he had at least twenty five, perhaps as many as fifty. Nor was his marital life ordinary—he and his first two wives were on congenial terms and they lived as a threesome for a while.
For pets, Lummis had not only dogs and fish but also a mammoth African frog and a turtle which he claimed was 135 years old.
What Lummis wore, what he did, everything about him stood out. He defied conventions, wanted to make a splash, was never one to blend in. He was artistic, he was an eccentric, he was a one of a kind type—which is why I find him so interesting.
We are told of Lummis’ four-and-a-half-month, 3,507-mile-long tramp across the continent from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Los Angeles, California. He tramped through portions of the Mojave Desert in Arizona and southern California. In the desert, a dog he had picked up along the way went crazy. Lummis had to shoot him, not once but twice! Can you imagine!?
Lummis’ home, El Alisal, on the edge of Arroyo Seco, in northeast Los Angeles is handcrafted, made of stone, with each door, window and fireplace unique. El Alisal was like its owner!
I like very much Joe Barrett’s narration of the audiobook, so his performance I have awarded four stars. It is read at a leisurely pace and there is no excess of dramatization. Both the presentation of historical facts and Lummis’ own words, drawn mostly from his numerous letters, are well read. I don’t know if the Spanish and Native American words are correctly pronounced, but they sounded fine to me.
Lummis is an incredibly interesting person. Anyone interested in the American Southwest and the path toward an acknowledgment of the rights of Native Americans will enjoy this book. As an activist for Native American’s rights, Lummis was far ahead of his time.
******************
*A Tramp Across the Continent by Charles F. Lummis 4 stars
*American Character: The Curious Life of Charles Fletcher Lummis by Mark Thompson 4 stars
*The Library Book by Susan Orlean 3 stars,
The book that first made me curios to learn more about Lummis!
*The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp by W.H. Davies 4 stars
*Charles F. Lummis: The Man and His West by Turbesé Lummis Fiske TBR
Lummis was many things. He was a poet—his first published book was Birch Bark Poems. Even the covers he manufactured himself. He was a journalist and the editor of the Los Angeles Times, the City Librarian from 1905 to 1911 of the Los Angeles Public Library, an historian, a preservationist, an archeologist, an ethnographer and photographer. Above all else, he was an activist for the rights of the Native American people.
Lummis extolled the Spanish influence in the American Southwest. He favored their treatment of Native Americans over the Anglo Saxon’s. He championed the rights of Native Americans and the importance of preserving their traditions and culture. Lummis’ protégé, John Collier, was, after Lummis’ death, appointed Commissioner of Indian Affairs. As a proponent of social reform, he played a significant role in reshaping the federal policy concerning Native Americans--particularly through the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act. Prior to the act the government had actively sought to disband tribes and suppress Native American culture. With the passage of the act, this was to change. The act is today viewed as a turning point toward a better treatment of Native Americans.
Lummis’ endeavors were important and had lasting consequences. His free spirit attitude, although invigorating, had negative side effects on those living close to him. He had three wives, four kids and a fifth that died at six years of age. One child, Bertha, was illegitimate--he welcomed her into his home too! He is said to have adored all his kids…when he had time for them.
Lummis’ extramarital relationships were many; his second wife’s divorce lawyer claimed he had at least twenty five, perhaps as many as fifty. Nor was his marital life ordinary—he and his first two wives were on congenial terms and they lived as a threesome for a while.
For pets, Lummis had not only dogs and fish but also a mammoth African frog and a turtle which he claimed was 135 years old.
What Lummis wore, what he did, everything about him stood out. He defied conventions, wanted to make a splash, was never one to blend in. He was artistic, he was an eccentric, he was a one of a kind type—which is why I find him so interesting.
We are told of Lummis’ four-and-a-half-month, 3,507-mile-long tramp across the continent from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Los Angeles, California. He tramped through portions of the Mojave Desert in Arizona and southern California. In the desert, a dog he had picked up along the way went crazy. Lummis had to shoot him, not once but twice! Can you imagine!?
Lummis’ home, El Alisal, on the edge of Arroyo Seco, in northeast Los Angeles is handcrafted, made of stone, with each door, window and fireplace unique. El Alisal was like its owner!
I like very much Joe Barrett’s narration of the audiobook, so his performance I have awarded four stars. It is read at a leisurely pace and there is no excess of dramatization. Both the presentation of historical facts and Lummis’ own words, drawn mostly from his numerous letters, are well read. I don’t know if the Spanish and Native American words are correctly pronounced, but they sounded fine to me.
Lummis is an incredibly interesting person. Anyone interested in the American Southwest and the path toward an acknowledgment of the rights of Native Americans will enjoy this book. As an activist for Native American’s rights, Lummis was far ahead of his time.
******************
*A Tramp Across the Continent by Charles F. Lummis 4 stars
*American Character: The Curious Life of Charles Fletcher Lummis by Mark Thompson 4 stars
*The Library Book by Susan Orlean 3 stars,
The book that first made me curios to learn more about Lummis!
*The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp by W.H. Davies 4 stars
*Charles F. Lummis: The Man and His West by Turbesé Lummis Fiske TBR
June 20, 2019
I first read the name Charles Lummis in Susan Orlean's The Library Book. Seems he was a journalist in Ohio who could have chosen to take a train to his new job in L.A., but he decided to walk the entire way, sending "dispatches" to his Ohio newspaper to chronicle the journey. That fact alone made me want to know more about this 19th century guy, and this biography of Lummis was fascinating. I now put Charles Lummis as one of my all time favorite American historical figures. Great read.
September 24, 2018
I first heard of Lummis in an article about President Theodore Roosevelt. Lummis was an adventurer of the nth degree and a journalist. He walked from the East Coast to the West Coast to report for work at a newspaper in LA, and he wrote letters about his adventures. He met a lot of famous people along the way, learned to respect Native Americans and Hispanics, and wrote about everything he experienced. Lummis was an early proponent of preserving the history of the American South West, and had a lifelong appreciation for cultures.
Very good biography.
Very good biography.
November 6, 2015
This was a GREAT book overall. I learned a ton, and discovered one of the more interesting historical figures in American history. Yes, Lummis was a bit of a misogynist, but a very Byronic one I suppose. He played an interesting role in Native American history too.
The narration of the audio book was superbly handled.
The narration of the audio book was superbly handled.
December 5, 2019
After reading The Library Book by Susan Orleans, I was surprised that he headed the L.A. Library. I have toured his home in L.A. so I was familiar with him. I did not realize he came to L.A. to work for the L.A. Times.
The book was informative and seemed to give a good account of both the man and the myth.
He was a fascinating man !
The book was informative and seemed to give a good account of both the man and the myth.
He was a fascinating man !
November 14, 2024
I was aware of Charles Lummis, and had visited his home, El Alisal, but it turns out that he was way more interesting than I thought. Reading the book one really gets a feeling for Lummis's personality, his quirks, and flaws. In some ways he was ahead of his time, but I think he's also a character that could only exist in that time and place. Overall a very engaging read/listen.
June 30, 2010
A very interesting book on a really odd and driven character in American history. Worth the time to read and check out.
March 7, 2021
A well-written biography of an amazing "character." Charlie Lummis was unique - walking across the U.S. to begin his job with the L.A. Times and on the way discovering the real life of native Americans. Later he fought for their cause and won in many ways. He worked day and night and also partied like crazy driving his wives nuts. Definitely a different type of person and fascinating to learn about!
August 2, 2020
Quite the character! Fantastic story of the west, and New Mexico, and all Charles Lummis did.
June 19, 2022
Fascinating individual. Well written.
August 10, 2024
Amazing story of Honest Ambition and true Courage.
March 21, 2012
Read my review at my blog.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews