Nothing But the Truth: An Anthology of Native American Literature

by John Lloyd Purdy (Editor), James Ruppert

This anthology includes some of the best works of Native American Literature -- with a good representation of major authors, geographic dispersion, gender balance, and a variety of genres. Its illustrative and popular material promote a deeper appreciation of different themes and approaches. Complete works that have become classics in the field, combined with ones from the modern era, make this collection rich in historical and theoretical context. Selections of non-fiction, fiction, poetry, and drama, include works by Paula Gunn Allen, Elizabeth Cook-Lynn, Carter Revard, Leslie Marmon Silko, Sherman Alexie, Kimberly Blaeser, Peter Blue Cloud, Louise Erdrich, Scott N. Momaday, Simon Ortiz, and many more. An effective introduction to Native American Literature for readers interested in this area of writing.

Contents:

Nonfiction. Postmodernism, Native American literature, and the real : the Silko-Erdrich Controversy by Susan Pérez Castillo
The American Indian fiction writers : cosmopolitanism, nationalism, the third world, and First Nation sovereignty by Elizabeth Cook-Lynn
Indian humor by Vine Deloria, Jr.
The Ghost Dance War by Charles Eastman Ohiyesa
The sacred hoop : a contemporary perspective by Paula Gunn Allen
The man made of word by N. Scott Momaday
Decolonializing criticism : reading dialectics and dialogics in Native American literatures by David L. Moore
Towards a national Indian literature : cultural authenticity in nationalism by Simon J. Ortiz
History, myth, and identity among Osages and other peoples by Carter Revard
The woman who loved a snake : orality in Mabel McKay's stories by Greg Sarris
Language and literature from a Pueblo perspective by Leslie Marmon Silko
An old-time Indian attack conducted in two parts : Part one, imitation "Indian" poemsbyPart two, Gary Snyder's Turtle Island
Introduction : only the beginning by Brian Swann. Fiction. The approximate size of my favorite tumor ; This is what it means to say Phoenix, Arizona by Sherman Alexie
Swimming upstream by Beth Brant
A good chance ; The power of horses by Elizabeth Cook-Lynn
The red convertible by Louise Erdrich
Unfinished business by Eric Gansworth
Aunt Parnetta's electric blisters by Diane Glancy
Deer woman by Paula Gunn Allen
Sleeping in rain by Gordon Henry
Aunt Moon's young man by Linda Hogan
As it was in the beginning by Pauline E. Johnson
Borders ; A seat in the garden by Thomas King
The hawk is hungry by D'Arcy McNickle
Veteran's dance by Jim Northrup
The killing of a state cop by Simon J. Ortiz
Blessed sunshine by Louis Owens
Report to the nation : repossessing Europe by Carter Revard
How I got to be queen by Greg Sarris
The man to send rain clouds ; Tony's story ; Yellow woman by Leslie Marmon Silko
The disposal of Mary Joe's children by Mary TallMountain
All the colors of sunset by Luci Tapahonso
The warriors by Anna Lee Walters
The soft-hearted Sioux by Zitkala-Sa. Poetry. The business of fancydancing ; Capital punishment ; Defending Walt Whitman ; The exaggeration of despair ; How to write the great American Indian novel ; Crazy Horse speaks by Sherman Alexie
Dear world ; Kopis'taya, a gathering of spirits ; Soundings by Paula Gunn Allen
Living history ; Rewriting your life ; Rituals : yours, and mine ; Where was I that day by Kimberly Blaeser
Bear : a totem dance as seen by Raven ; The old man's lazy ; Rattle ; To-ta Ti-om ; Turtle ; Yellowjacket ; Drum ; Reflections on milkweed by Peter Blue Cloud
Above the line ; Blessing the waters ; Copal, red blood : Chiapas, 1998 by Joseph Bruchac
Today was a bad day like TB by Chrystos
Salmon egg puller, $2.15 an hour by Nora Dauenhaur
Captivity ; Indian boarding school : the runaways ; Jacklight ; Old man Potchikoo ; Dear John Wayne ; Turtle Mountain Reservation by Louise Erdrich
She had some horses ; Transformations ; I give you back ; Call it fear ; Eagle poem ; The woman hanging from the thirteenth floor window ; Grace ; The woman who fell from the sky by Joy Harjo
Blessing ; Song for my name ; Bamboo ; Celebration : birth of a colt ; Drought ; The new apartment, Minneapolis ; The truth is ; Elk song ; Geraniums ; Heritage ; It must be ; Map ; Morning : the world in the lake by Linda Hogan
Akwesasne ; Legacy ; Sweetgrass ; The tell me I am lost ; Wild strawberry ; Wolf "aunt" by Maurice Kenny
Who am I by Joyce carlEtta Mandrake
Angle of geese ; The bear ; At risk ; December 29, 1980 : Wounded Knee Creek ; The colors of night ; The eagle-feather fan by N. Scott Momaday
Bend in the river ; The creation, according to coyote ; Dry root in a wash ; My father's song ; A story of how a wall stands ; The boy and coyote by Simon J. Ortiz
And don't be deaf to the singing beyond ; Driving in Oklahoma ; In Kansas ; An eagle nation ; What the eagle fan says ; Wazhazhe grandmother by Carter Revard
I expected my skin and my blood to ripen ; If I am too brown or too white for you ; Three thousand dollar death song by Wendy Rose
I...

Genres: Fiction, Native American, Anthologies, Indigenous, Poetry, Literature, Native Americans

640 pages, Paperback

First published August 26, 2000

Reviews

[Mary Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories by Native American authors that provide insight and introspect into being Native American in today’s society. Favorite stories in this collection are THE SACRED HOOP by Paula Allen Gunn (about the Indian belief that all things are related); ALL THE COLORS IN THE SUNSET by Luci Tapahonso (about memories, our elders, and our children); THE APROXIMATE SIZE OF MY FAVORITE TUMOR by Sherman Alexie (My favorite native American author, and this story is about finding humor when there is no hope). A worthwhile read for any interested in the Native American perspective.

[Mark Valentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purdy & Ruppert have collected an excellent volume of diverse Native American poets, storytellers and essayists. They include the Native American Renaissance leaders like McNickle, Momaday, Silko, Harjo and Alexie, and they have included younger writers too. I love that they have even included the script for "Harold of Orange" (Charlie Hill at his best).

To be fair, I have one complaint; there needs to be a 2nd Edition with expanded selections.

[Salvatore · Rating 5 out of 5]

great stories and poems

[Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of Native American Literature for the experienced reader or the beginner. I've found some favorite new authors.

[Angela Gyurko · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've come to the conclusion that I need to buy this anthology, rather than check it out of the library. So many stories and poems included here deserve re-reading, both for content and for craft.

Pauline Johnson's "As It Was in the Beginning" will haunt me for a long time. I could go on and on about each glimpse into traditional and modern Native American culture, but do yourself a favor, get this book, and dive in for yourself.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first anthology of Native American lit I came across as an undergrad in a 2011 class taught by Dr. Purdy at WWU, and since then, it has genuinely continued to serve as an important text in my academic and personal life. Organized by genre, it contains a wealth of materials key to this area of study.

[Maxine]

Read it. So many voices here that have survived the Silencing.