Saga of Chief Joseph

by Helen Addison Howard, George D. MaGrath (Illustrator)

In Saga of Chief Joseph , Helen Addison Howard has written the definitive biography of the great Nez Perce chief, a diplomat among warriors. In times of war and peace, Chief Joseph exhibited gifts of the first rank. Even though he was a leader for peace and tribal liberty, he was destined to see the defeat of his people in the Nez Perce War of 1877 and the loss of all that was important to them—their lands, their horses, and their independence. The struggle of the Nez Perces for the freedom they considered paramount in life constitutes one of the most dramatic episodes of Indian history.

 

This completely revised edition of the author's earlier War Chief Joseph presents in exciting detail the full story of Chief Joseph, with a reevaluation of the five bands engaged in the Nez Perce War, objectively told from the Indian, the white military, and the settlers' points of view. Especially valuable is the reappraisal, based on significant new material from Indian sources, of Joseph as a war leader. Of War Chief Joseph, reviewers "A priceless contribution to the history of a great and noble race" ( Los Angeles Times ); "A stirring and dramatic biography of a great man ( Montreal Star ); "This work . . . is a standard in the field" ( Choice Books for College Libraries ).

Genres: History, Native American, Biography, Nonfiction

399 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

Reviews

[Nancy Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very detailed account of the events leading up to the surrender of Chief Joseph with a little about his life afterwards.

Hear me, my chiefs. I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this revised edition written by Helen Addison Howard in 1941, the reader is treated to a biography of Chief Joseph and a chronicle of the five bands of the Nez Perce people. Chief Joseph was a master statesman of the Nez Perce in times of war and peace. His true love of the Nez Perce lands and his people led him to constantly strive for dignity and honesty in his pursuit to have his people live on their native land in peace. This addition includes some interesting new material that gives new insight into Chief Joseph as a leader I've long had an obsession of reading truthful accounts detailing Native American people in the 1800's. This book was interesting and I really enjoyed learning things about this era of American History and the Nez Perce people.

Saga of Chief Joseph, Bison Classic Edition by Helen Addison Howard will be available December 1, 2017 from Bison Books, an imprint of the University of Nebraska Press. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a lot of details. It gives perspectives from the Indians and the military and the civilians. I think it is a good study in how not to treat people when taking over their land.
The author throws in some statements like, you can assume that Joseph was thinking of “x”; which gives supposition to something that no one could possibly know. However, by including these statements, the author forces you to remember that each of these persons was an individual simply doing their best as they each had been taught.
In one sense it is a easy read as the grammar and vocabulary is not complex. The large amount of information could be overwhelming for some.
If you’re interested in learning more about any portion of the USA-Indian affairs this is a great book for diving into one situation that displays the difficulties involved.

[Cindy Duke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this account about Chief Joseph. I would’ve liked to have met him. His story is a sad one. He only wanted to remain on his beloved land, but no one would listen. He died of a broken heart!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating history of a brave but ultimately tragic conflict between the Nez Percés and the US army

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A version of this book was published in 1941; it was revised in 1965. The amazing thing about it is that so much is based on the testimony of people who were alive, or who lived during the lifetimes of people who were alive, during the Nez Perce war of 1877. It also drew heavily on historical documents from the military, so the battles are rendered in detail. As always, the U.S. government and local functionaries treated the Indians duplicitously--although the book is careful to also take note of the many white people and "treaty Indians" who were sympathetic to Chief Joseph's cause. He wanted nothing more than to keep the ancestral lands originally promised to him. He and the other Nez Perce chiefs fought there battles brilliantly, but equally brilliant were the maneuvers that helped them lead thousands of men, women, and children and more thousands of horses and cattle away from conflict. They saved many. Chief Joseph comes across as an intelligent and kind man who could have benefited Indian/settler relations if only he had been treated with honor.

[Rhiannon Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book immensely. It didn't take me long to go through it, though, which was disappointing but certainly not enough to knock down the star rating. History is important and Chief Joseph's surrender, and the events leading up to it, is an important piece of American history. Too much is lost in translation, buried beneath years of dust and failed memories, but books like this bring the truth back into the light so that future generations can learn.

The writing and history within the book is an A+ as far as I'm concerned. Easy enough for middle school children to understand but more than interesting enough for adult readers, too.

However, I don't feel like there was enough of the story included. I feel there were things left out that could have been added within the book.