When the Tree Flowered: The Fictional Autobiography of Eagle Voice, a Sioux Indian

by John G. Neihardt

An aged Sioux recalls his youth and his fullness of life on the Great Plains

Genres: Native American, Nonfiction, Philosophy, History

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1951

About the author

John Gneisenau Neihardt

Reviews

[Jamie McFaul · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book of all time. It is a spoken story of a traditional elder that has been recorded faithfully and beautifully in this book.

[Sarahbeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I will tell you a story now. Once many months ago I started this book. Before I knew it, was doomed to walking the path of eternal anguish and boredom. Along the way I read many stories about buffalo and pipes. This caused my soul to cry out in pain as I read each word cramped onto the pages, praying that I would make it to the end of the chapter soon so I could stop reading. Each time I would force myself to read just a few pages, I had to binge watch netflix just to rejuvenate myself to face the day ahead. Because of this book, I am eternally scarred to know to horror of the most boring book ever.

[Paul Sauser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book. I don't know how literally to take it, though. Are the stories composites? How accurate is are the events? Is Plains Indian life romanticized at all? Despite my questions, I love the spare language and the voice of the storyteller. His stories cover both the daily life and the heroics of the time before white people, pivot on mythology and origins, and end with the coming of whites and the fading of his culture. My only complaint, unless it's true, is the thread of his long-lost love, the girl Tashina.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent memoir recalling the time of the Ghost Dancers. Eagle Voice was there just at that transitional period before and after the massacre at Wounded Knee- and speaks with great hope that the years ahead- whether or not they did- would bring the peoples of America- including the whites and every shade who came along with- to a new harmony of living. Inspirational.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was only a few hundred pages long, but it was so boring it took me three weeks to read. It's basically about an old guy sitting around telling old stories, with a lot of "maybe"s, "afterwhile"s, and "reverie"s. Admittedly, some stories were ok, but overall I did not like it

[Robin Ray Holbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet stories of Native-American lore. Excellent bathroom reading!

[Eliza Buffalo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this is a good book.... I read it so long ago i can hardly remember....but I know I kept it on my shelf as one not to be given away and lost forever....

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was too tired to read this right now I almost fell asleep