Lore of the Great Turtle : Indian Legends of Mackinac Retold

by Dirk Gringhuis

Gringhuis introduces readers to a collection of Native American legends at Mackinac and their significant role in the heritage of the region.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Mythology

96 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1970

Reviews

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copyright 1970. This was a favorite read when I was visiting at my grandma's house. As an adult I was overjoyed to find this & the companion book about the French Canadian Voyageurs still in print.
Published by the State Of Michigan State Parks.

19 stories retold from native American tribes - Chippewa ,Huron, & Ottawa. Most center around the Island of the Great Turtle (Mackinac Island). Legends of the various landmarks around the island are entertaining.
My family has roots in the area & we spent time every summer at Carp Lake, MI. I loved my time there & these legends & the history of the Straits area.

[Jennifer King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up on a whim at the library and quite enjoyed it! I was delightful to see the similarities between the tales of the people of Mackinac and European myths and legends. In both you can find the lovers dying for one another, the gods acting foolishly or cruelly, and the nearness and reality of the spirit world. Reading this made me want to dive deeper in the the myths and legends of many other peoples, to see what similarities exist.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The caveat is that if you’re not from Michigan and aren’t invested in Native American folklore, this book might not do much for you. As for me, I love it; it gave insights into the names and legends around famous sights on Mackinac Island (who knew that Skull Cave got its name from the Ojibwa skulls buried in it? Not me!) I wish I had discovered this book as a child.

[Melissa Baker]

Read to satisfy a book challenge prompt...

Interesting quick read about Indian legends of Mackinac. The writing was lousy and made for a lot of distractions and the need to reread passages, but I can't deny that it was enlightening to learn about some of Michigan's Upper Peninsula lore.

N/R

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this in the 1970s when we visited Mackinac Island while on a camping trip in Michigan. I loved reading the legends and just about wore the cover off my copy.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book, but I've always been interested in Native American lore and their way of life. I've been going to Mackinac since I was a kid, so this just sort of expanded on the knowledge I already learned whilst there. It's easy to read and understand and will be over quicker than you would probably like. A great read. 5 out of 5 stars.

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading the lore and legends of locations like this. Mackinac Island is a beautiful place to visit and being able to learn more about it makes it even more interesting.