Sandhill Sundays and Other Recollections

by Mari Sandoz

"No one in our time wrote better than the late Mari Sandoz did, or with more authority and grace, about as many aspects of the Old West," said John K. Hutchens. The proof of that is in her powerful re-creation of pioneer days in the Sandhills of northwestern Nebraska in these autobiographical pieces written between 1929 and 1965. Those who have not read her classic Old Jules (1935) will find Sandhill Sundays and Other Recollections a colorful introduction to Sandoz Country, and those who have will look for the same landmarks and unforgettable people. They include the Sandoz patriarch, the fiery libertarian Old Jules; Marlizzie, the archetypal pioneer woman who was Mari's mother; siblings, chums, neighbors, homesteaders, and Indians, all individualized and defined by a harsh and lonely frontier. Dangers in every form—blizzards, fires, rattlesnakes, murderous men—are described, and, just as vividly, so are the pleasures afforded by country cooking, storytelling, pet animals, and the first phonograph for miles around.

Even when she strays, as in the final piece, "Outpost in New York," Mari Sandoz never leaves the Sandhills in spirit. Included are a chronology of her career, a checklist of her writings, and a brief introduction by Virginia Faulkner.

Genres: Nonfiction

167 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1970

About the author

Mari Susette Sandoz (May 11, 1896 – March 10, 1966) was a novelist, biographer, lecturer, and teacher. She was one of Nebraska's foremost writers, and wrote extensively about pioneer life and the Plains Indians.

Reviews

[Denise]

Great stories bout living in the Sandhills during the early 20th century. I am sorry I had not read her books earlier.

[Jack Arnold]

As a child, growing up in Nebraska, I learned about Mari Sandoz in elementary school. Now, many years later, I read and re-read this book, and others, like Old Jules, Crazy Horse, Cheyenne Autumn, Love Song To The Plains, and am transported to places and times from long ago. Sandoz's writing reminds me of listening to my grandma telling stories about her childhood on the plains. It is the same voice.

[MSJLibrary]

Mari Sandoz lived in the Sandhills of Nebraska during its later pioneer days, and eventually wrote memoirs about her experiences there, several of which are included in this collection. She details the many dangers she and her family faced, including rattlesnakes, blizzards, fires, and murderous men. However, Sandoz also goes into the joys of pioneer life, including country cooking, storytelling, pet animals, and the time when they got their first phonograph record player.

[Tanja]

This is a book of short stories from Mari Sandoz' experiences growing up in the sandhills. Some of the writings already rang familiar from reading "Old Jules", yet could hold their own as a short story. My favorites were "Musky" about a pet muskrat, "The Son" which describes the upbringing of Native American children and "The Christmas of the Phonograph Records" in which Sandoz recollects a Christmas when her family received a phonogram and records and partied with settlers near and far.

[Jim D'Ambrosia]

It's an anthology, so there might be duplication if you've already read some Sandoz. Still enjoyable though.

[Connie Hansmeyer]

A great collection of short stories of Mari Sandoz's recollections of her life in the sandhills and the colorful pioneers who settled there.

[Katy Lovejoy]

Wonderful

[WBJ]

Mari Sandoz was about the same age as my grandfather. Her stories of growing up in the Sandhills of Nebraska are considerably different that my granddads stories of growing up in Central Pennsylvania. A striking comparison of the variety of cultures in the US during the early 1900's.

[Shawn Thrasher]

Next door to the little house on the prairie were the Sandoz. Mari Sandoz's life of growing up during the last part of the homesteader times is far grittier than that of Laura Ingalls Wilder - but still very engaging.

[Kevin]

She grew up in the area...I'd love to see her take on things back then.