Chief Joseph  the Flight of the Nez ..., Kent Nerburn
Chief Joseph  the Flight of the Nez ..., Kent Nerburn
List: $29.99 | Sale: $21.00
Club: $14.99

Chief Joseph & the Flight of the Nez Perce
The Untold Story of an American Tragedy

Author: Kent Nerburn

Narrator: Malcolm Hillgartner

Unabridged: 16 hr 52 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 06/05/2018


Synopsis

Hidden in the shadow cast by the great western expeditions of Lewis and Clark lies another journey every bit as poignant, every bit as dramatic, and every bit as essential to an understanding of who we are as a nation—the 1,800-mile journey made by Chief Joseph and eight hundred Nez Perce men, women, and children from their homelands in what is now eastern Oregon to Montana. There, only forty miles from the Canadian border and freedom, Chief Joseph, convinced that the wounded and elders could go no farther, walked across the snowy battlefield, handed his rifle to the U.S. military commander who had been pursuing them, and spoke his now-famous words, "From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever."

Drawing on four years of research, interviews, and 20,000 miles of travel, Nerburn takes us beyond the surrender to the captives' unlikely welcome in Bismarck, North Dakota, their tragic eight-year exile in Indian Territory, and their ultimate return to the Northwest. Nerburn reveals the true, complex character of Joseph, showing how the man was transformed into a myth by a public hungry for an image of the noble Indian and how Joseph exploited the myth in order to achieve his single goal of returning his people to their homeland.

About Kent Nerburn

A two-time winner of the Minnesota Book Award, Kent Nerburn is the author of numerous books on spirituality and Native themes, including Chief Joseph & the Flight of the Nez Perce (featured on the History Channel), Neither Wolf nor Dog, and Voices in the Stones. He lives in Portland, Oregon.


Reviews

Goodreads review by L.G. on November 03, 2021

I found this book well written, engagingly presented, and to my understanding a more authentic portrayal of the Nez Percé flight than I've come across in Western culture history. There is much more to this story than many know, and it varies revealingly from the misinformation many have been exposed......more

Goodreads review by William on August 16, 2013

This is a challenging subject that has been handled by the author with an incredibly delicate approach and an engrossing style. Like the Trail of Tears, every American should know the story of the Nez Perce (Ne-Me-Poo) tribe of eastern Oregon and their quest for freedom. The story begins in the earl......more

Goodreads review by Timothy on December 03, 2017

Should be read in our schools Our public school systems are replete with mandatory reading assignments . While I support the public school systems, our list of works designated as mandatory reading needs an update. Too many of these books glorify or pertain to anglo, European, and/or greek heritage a......more

Goodreads review by Becky on December 17, 2017

"Chief Joseph" is a heart-breaking but informative read, told as a narrative but full of historic detail. While I knew the result of the Nez Perce leaving their homeland and the result of the ensuing battles, I couldn't help but hope as I read that the events would somehow unfold differently. This i......more

Goodreads review by Richard on December 15, 2023

Bravo…..excellent read......more