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Letters and Notes on the Manners, Customs and Condition of the North American Indians
In 1832 George Catlin set out on a journey into the wild regions of North America.
He travelled widely across the western frontier to meet and live with some of the most remote and fascinating Native American tribes.
During this period Native Americans were under severe pressure as the U.S. government was implementing policies which forced many of them off their ancestral lands and onto reservations west of the Mississippi River.
Catlin’s remarkable collection of letters are a brilliant study of the forty-eight different tribes that he spent time with.
His work provide a vivid depiction of how various Native Americans lived, covering their homes, their weapons, their stories and jokes, their religious beliefs, how they treated the dead, their appearances, their celebrations and ceremonies.
Catlin met many prominent Native American chiefs during the course of his travels and gives many fascinating biographies of their lives.
This edition includes both volumes of Catlin’s in one. The first volume covers Catlin’s journey among the peoples of the Great Plains, including the Crow, Blackfeet and Mandan tribes. The second volume concentrates on tribes in Arkansas, Texas and Florida.
“His task was to rescue ‘from oblivion the looks and customs of the vanishing races of native men in America,’ a task to which he dedicated his life and his energies. This volume helps us to appreciate the significance of the cause — and the varied achievements of a remarkable man who accepted his own challenge.” James T. Forrest, The Western Historical Quarterly
George Catlin was an American author and traveller who was particularly famous for his portraits of Native Americans in the Old West. Travelling to the American West five times during the 1830s, Catlin was the first white man to depict Plains Indians in their native territory. His book Letters and Notes on the Manners, Customs and Condition of the North American Indians was first published in 1841 and Catlin passed in 1872.
He travelled widely across the western frontier to meet and live with some of the most remote and fascinating Native American tribes.
During this period Native Americans were under severe pressure as the U.S. government was implementing policies which forced many of them off their ancestral lands and onto reservations west of the Mississippi River.
Catlin’s remarkable collection of letters are a brilliant study of the forty-eight different tribes that he spent time with.
His work provide a vivid depiction of how various Native Americans lived, covering their homes, their weapons, their stories and jokes, their religious beliefs, how they treated the dead, their appearances, their celebrations and ceremonies.
Catlin met many prominent Native American chiefs during the course of his travels and gives many fascinating biographies of their lives.
This edition includes both volumes of Catlin’s in one. The first volume covers Catlin’s journey among the peoples of the Great Plains, including the Crow, Blackfeet and Mandan tribes. The second volume concentrates on tribes in Arkansas, Texas and Florida.
“His task was to rescue ‘from oblivion the looks and customs of the vanishing races of native men in America,’ a task to which he dedicated his life and his energies. This volume helps us to appreciate the significance of the cause — and the varied achievements of a remarkable man who accepted his own challenge.” James T. Forrest, The Western Historical Quarterly
George Catlin was an American author and traveller who was particularly famous for his portraits of Native Americans in the Old West. Travelling to the American West five times during the 1830s, Catlin was the first white man to depict Plains Indians in their native territory. His book Letters and Notes on the Manners, Customs and Condition of the North American Indians was first published in 1841 and Catlin passed in 1872.
590 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1841
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About the author
George Catlin
298 books21 followersGeorge Catlin (July 26, 1796 – December 23, 1872) was an American painter, author, and traveler, who specialized in portraits of Native Americans in the Old West.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_...
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 3, 2016
North American Indians is one of the essential primary sources, both in word and images, on North America’s indigenous populations in the early 19th century. It is also a fascinating, observant, and deeply empathetic account of Catlin’s western wanderings.
Catlin, a self-taught American artist—he was trained as a lawyer but, a hundred and twenty years before the Beats, Catlin need to go, man, just go. So he did. Catlin covered thousands of miles on foot, horseback, in canoe, and riverboat between the Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains, between Canada and Mexico. Sometimes he was alone. Sometimes he traveled with trappers and guides. At least once he traveled with American cavalry troopers into Comanche territory. Always though he was sharp-eyed, careful in his analysis, respectful of the culture and way of life of those he visited, and sympathetic to the plight of the Native Americans generally, seeing their doom in the established pattern of interactions with whites, the fatalities caused by illness in sweeping epidemics, the corruption and dissipation brought by fur traders, the impact of whiskey, and, most fatal of all, the greed of advancing “civilization”.
As a young man, Catlin had seen some western American Indians pass through his hometown on their way to Washington, D.C., and was captivated by them. He understood that the frontier was moving west, that so-called civilization was forcing eastern and midwestern tribes ever further west, dispossessing them of a way of life and the land upon which they lived and putting them in conflict with the Plains tribes. Catlin’s restlessness and his interest in the lives of these "wild people" came together in an ambition to document with paint and pen the lives of those Native Americans yet living in the wild. He would pay some heed to frontier Indians, those being pushed together west of the Mississippi as the whites filled the East, but was most desirous of traveling among and staying with those beyond the frontier.
He wrote “letters” that found their way into Eastern newspapers and drew and painted portraits by the scores. He didn’t hesitate to call them “wild” or “savages” but also repeatedly compares their conduct with that of white civilization, finding the Native Americans more honest, more considerate, and more generous and kind than their white oppressors. And while he leaves off judging the motives of the whites in their interactions, he is clear and frank that the treatment received by whites is unjust, selfish, and unrelentingly destructive. He will say positive things about individual federal Indian Agents and particular actions of the national government—though they each inevitably fail to offer protection or aid—but views trappers and the fur companies they represent as a deadly plague, cheating the Native American tribes who provided furs, recklessly if unintentionally introducing smallpox, and recklessly and intentionally plying them with whiskey. He tip-toes around the subject of Christian missionaries but does allow one tribal leader to condemn the “black robes” as an evil that brought harm and no good to the Indian peoples.
Peter Matthiessen edited the book, selecting from the larger published notes and letters of Catlin’s travels. He also provides a brief introduction that is helpful and interesting. It could have been longer and, knowing Matthiessen’s interest and expertise, it would have been wonderful had he annotated Catlin’s account as well in places. The book is well illustrated with black and white reproductions. If you have any interest in American history, the West, American Indians, American geography and culture, George Catlin’s North American Indians is essential and rewarding reading.
Catlin, a self-taught American artist—he was trained as a lawyer but, a hundred and twenty years before the Beats, Catlin need to go, man, just go. So he did. Catlin covered thousands of miles on foot, horseback, in canoe, and riverboat between the Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains, between Canada and Mexico. Sometimes he was alone. Sometimes he traveled with trappers and guides. At least once he traveled with American cavalry troopers into Comanche territory. Always though he was sharp-eyed, careful in his analysis, respectful of the culture and way of life of those he visited, and sympathetic to the plight of the Native Americans generally, seeing their doom in the established pattern of interactions with whites, the fatalities caused by illness in sweeping epidemics, the corruption and dissipation brought by fur traders, the impact of whiskey, and, most fatal of all, the greed of advancing “civilization”.
As a young man, Catlin had seen some western American Indians pass through his hometown on their way to Washington, D.C., and was captivated by them. He understood that the frontier was moving west, that so-called civilization was forcing eastern and midwestern tribes ever further west, dispossessing them of a way of life and the land upon which they lived and putting them in conflict with the Plains tribes. Catlin’s restlessness and his interest in the lives of these "wild people" came together in an ambition to document with paint and pen the lives of those Native Americans yet living in the wild. He would pay some heed to frontier Indians, those being pushed together west of the Mississippi as the whites filled the East, but was most desirous of traveling among and staying with those beyond the frontier.
He wrote “letters” that found their way into Eastern newspapers and drew and painted portraits by the scores. He didn’t hesitate to call them “wild” or “savages” but also repeatedly compares their conduct with that of white civilization, finding the Native Americans more honest, more considerate, and more generous and kind than their white oppressors. And while he leaves off judging the motives of the whites in their interactions, he is clear and frank that the treatment received by whites is unjust, selfish, and unrelentingly destructive. He will say positive things about individual federal Indian Agents and particular actions of the national government—though they each inevitably fail to offer protection or aid—but views trappers and the fur companies they represent as a deadly plague, cheating the Native American tribes who provided furs, recklessly if unintentionally introducing smallpox, and recklessly and intentionally plying them with whiskey. He tip-toes around the subject of Christian missionaries but does allow one tribal leader to condemn the “black robes” as an evil that brought harm and no good to the Indian peoples.
Peter Matthiessen edited the book, selecting from the larger published notes and letters of Catlin’s travels. He also provides a brief introduction that is helpful and interesting. It could have been longer and, knowing Matthiessen’s interest and expertise, it would have been wonderful had he annotated Catlin’s account as well in places. The book is well illustrated with black and white reproductions. If you have any interest in American history, the West, American Indians, American geography and culture, George Catlin’s North American Indians is essential and rewarding reading.
September 16, 2011
ahh.. que buen libro lo de George Catlin en este libro es muy atractivo.. no tiene la complejida de esos ensayos etnograficos que por momentos se ponen pesados.. Catlin es de esos hombres del siglo 19 cuya historia me parece fascinante.. sus cuadros tienen algo que siempre me interesó y en sus libros relata de una manera muy chevre sus viajes.. que lo llevaron no solo por las praderas de norteamerica, tambien a la amazonia y a lugares tan remotos como los aleutianas.. este libro es solo sobre las tribus de norteamerica.. las cuales supó que iban a desaparecer y decidió dejar todo atras para ir a registrar como vivian esos hombres.. chevre e interesante.. LIBRAZO¡
October 27, 2019
I red volume one of this 1 & 2 set earlier in the year. I was happy that the illustrations were very clear and easy to see. Catlin was an artist and he gained a lot of fame among the natives with his skill since many of them wanted to be immortalized on a plate. I think I mentioned that Volume one's illustrations were not good at all. Some I couldn't even make out what they depicted. The writing was about the same as the first book. Catlin writes in a manner that is very much "Man on the street". He is easy to understand. There are some parts which are a little difficult to understand for me but the majority was not a problem in that area at all. The subject matter is his interpretation of the Native life in their environment and his experiences there. I just finished "Bury my heart at wounded knee" a few weeks ago and it is more a portrayal of strong language telling of the atrocities put on the natives by the white western Europeans in their advance to attain land lived on by the natives. A propaganda if you will. I'm not saying it's not true, just tells more one side of the story only. This book by Catlin is more matter of fact. He displays his love and respect of the natives in his writing. He also displays a bit of the attitude at the time that the natives were not civilized so they could use some improvement learned from the white society. He doesn't use hurtful language. But his telling doesn't take sides. He DOES say that the natives were cheated and abused but not by all the whites. If you would like to read a bit about the lives of the Native Americans in the early eighteen hundreds in a realistic tone then I think this is worth at least a try. I am glad I read both these books. Thanks for your attention.
October 10, 2010
I have been interested in Catlin since we learned about his portraits in several of my undergrad art history classes. Really fascinating guy who left a successful law practice to live with and record the Native Americans, whom he recognized as a dying peoples. His descriptions are remarkable and beautiful. He talks about the people he met in an endearing way and conjectures about their inevitable demise at the hands of "civilization". I've always loved his paintings, but have a much greater appreciation for them after learning the stories of their sitters. Read this book.
September 8, 2011
George Catlin's artwork and writings regarding the American Indian. Many of these were painted while Catlin lived among the various tribes.
March 1, 2024
I enjoyed reading this book written by the artist George Catlin. He lived among the Indians in the 1800’s and captured them in hundreds of paintings.
September 21, 2019
Wonderful book
This is a detailed journal by George Catlin the famous painter of the American Indians during his travels in the American West in the early 1800’s. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
This is a detailed journal by George Catlin the famous painter of the American Indians during his travels in the American West in the early 1800’s. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
May 10, 2024
An absolutely riveting account of various groups of Native Americans only a decade or two before they were forced to move by the government or succumbed to smallpox and were wiped out. Catlin went among them and tried his best to document their way of life while painting various portraits and scenery along the way. Full of pathos and intriguing tales, Catlin had some antiquated notions and made some obviously wrong guesses, but the majority of his writing was sympathetic to a culture so alien to his own, and he was obviously heartbroken and ashamed of the way the Native Americans were treated. Without him, so much of this vital history would have been lost forever.
May 17, 2012
Unfortunately, the reproductions of Catlin's paintings in this 2004 Penguin edition are generally of poor quality: overinked, blacking out detail, and of course printed on cheap paper.
However, the content of Catlin's letters, in the context of the period (1830's), is definiteley worth checking out. At times enlightened (again, for the period!), and humbly observant, at others more smug and self-righteous, Catlin's voice remains as vivid testimony to a land and people in profound mutation.
Excellent introdution and editing by Peter Matthiessen.
However, the content of Catlin's letters, in the context of the period (1830's), is definiteley worth checking out. At times enlightened (again, for the period!), and humbly observant, at others more smug and self-righteous, Catlin's voice remains as vivid testimony to a land and people in profound mutation.
Excellent introdution and editing by Peter Matthiessen.
December 23, 2012
the writing is understandably dated, but the accounts are as straightforward as you'll find. replace some outdated terms with some other ones, and take the "noble savages/us-v-them" comparisons, and the detailed, relatively descriptions of day-to-day are incredibly detailed. it was interesting to see a man writing at a time when a) tribes were still warring against and taking each other captive, and b) the government had started taking land via treaty and was starting displacement. doubtless this book has inspired and informed many western movies and novels.
March 25, 2020
The absolute best and most convincing account of the plains Indians wonderful heritage that one could read
George Catlin was a great historian and a wonderful artist who documented the customs and mores of the plains Indians precisely as he witnessed in 1832.
George Catlin was a great historian and a wonderful artist who documented the customs and mores of the plains Indians precisely as he witnessed in 1832.
July 23, 2008
journals,caitlin,American history,Native American Studies
December 19, 2008
I must have read this a dozen times over the years. The author's style of writing is very gentlemanly too.
February 12, 2010
Folio Society Edition is beautiful.
October 3, 2020
Although somewhat repetitive, a very interesting book. He is deeply critical of the westward expansion and destruction of native peoples, and the supposed moral and racial superiority of the "white" race. Catlin visited many of these people just before their way of life was gone forever.
In one part he is talking with a Sioux chief on the justice system:
"He also told me he had often heard that white people hung their
criminals by the neck and choked them to death like dogs, and those
their own people; to which I answered, “yes.” He then told me he
had learned that they shut each other up in prisons, where they keep
them a great part of their lives because they can’t pay money’ I replied
in the affirmative to this, which occasioned great surprise and excessive
laughter even amongst the women."
Apparently many people were suspicious of having portraits done of themselves and viewed it of a continuation of their soul in a way (and claimed they could see the eyes moving and following them). Similar to Australian aborigine suspicion of having images/voices of dead people?
September 5, 2018
Interessant boek over de native americans. Prachtig en bizar te gelijk hoe deze mensen leefden, met al hun tradities en rituelen. Het boek is een verzameling brieven van George Catlin en leest dan ook niet altijd makkelijk weg. Vooral in het begin is het even wennen. Ook is het vaak ‘ouderwets’ geschreven wat het soms wat vermoeiender maakt om te lezen. Toch zorgen deze punten juist ook voor een authentiek verhaal en reis je in gedachte mee met de schrijver.
August 9, 2024
Good books should transform us and this one touched me deeply. Catlin's document of his travels through the continent is a true time capsule that teleports the reader to a different world, one before the genocide of the Native Americans. His repeated predictions about the looming plight of the native people of this continent is heartbreaking. I loved learning about the different ways of living that the native tribes practiced. There were times when I couldn't continue reading the pain and sense of loss was so great.
I'll never let this book go.
I'll never let this book go.
December 11, 2018
Very enlightening, a prolifera of facts and first hand observations. Made me look up and appreciate Catalin's painting
A unique visit back into another time and, use and understanding of the English language, and written narrative. Best and most educational read on the tribes of north America, their arts, customs, social and family orientations.
A unique visit back into another time and, use and understanding of the English language, and written narrative. Best and most educational read on the tribes of north America, their arts, customs, social and family orientations.
January 31, 2021
This is the most informative book I have read on our native Americans history. The only thing I missed were the pictures. I hope the is a book of hos artwork that I can buy.
native Americans.would recommend it to any who likes history. I do wish it had his art work in it. I will search for a book of his pictures.
native Americans.would recommend it to any who likes history. I do wish it had his art work in it. I will search for a book of his pictures.
April 2, 2019
Very interesting,but extremely wordy and totally over the top with superlatives Believable!
Believable accounts,very detailed and thorough.Would have liked to have included some pix of the hundreds of portraits he painted of his many subjects.
Believable accounts,very detailed and thorough.Would have liked to have included some pix of the hundreds of portraits he painted of his many subjects.
April 8, 2020
Very interesting book about the authors experiences of living with Indians in the early 1800s. Fascinating look into several Indian tribes in their day-to-day lives. Perhaps a little long due to some redundancies but worth the time. A
June 11, 2019
Take in context
Read with the thought this was the status quo of the day. He contradicts himself but his heart is sincere. Loved it
Read with the thought this was the status quo of the day. He contradicts himself but his heart is sincere. Loved it
April 21, 2021
Eye opening
A very honest and thoughtful account of life in America during 18 1800s. Wonderful insights by a caring individual. Changed my view of the world.
A very honest and thoughtful account of life in America during 18 1800s. Wonderful insights by a caring individual. Changed my view of the world.
April 23, 2021
It was the most boring repetitive books I have ever read. Thanks but no thanks.
September 8, 2022
Molto interessante e ben scritto. Racconta i primi dell'ottocento quando c'erano tante tribù di pellerossa.....
February 5, 2020
a journey that describes the cultures of the great plains, laid down in the knowledge that these tribes were doomed, and all the more achingly poignant for it ...
July 4, 2019
Old book but great study
This is a very old book. What's written in this book probably already obsolete, but I gave full stars for the author's adventure in the Indian land. It's not easy for traveling out in that era and write this anthropology book.
This is a very old book. What's written in this book probably already obsolete, but I gave full stars for the author's adventure in the Indian land. It's not easy for traveling out in that era and write this anthropology book.
July 5, 2020
Interesting and informative.
Want to read
February 9, 2009satu dari sekoper buku yang belum sempat disentuh :D
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews