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May 2015 Vol. 52 No. 9


University of Nebraska Press


The following review appeared in the May 2015 issue of CHOICE. The review is for your internal use only. Please review our Permission and Reprints Guidelines or email permissions@ala-choice.org.

Humanities

52-4568
E98
2014-19777 CIP
Sky loom: Native American myth, story, and song, ed. and introd. by Brian Swann. Nebraska, 2014. 537p bibl afp ISBN 9780803246157 pbk, $40.00.

Swann (humanities and social sciences, Cooper Union) has culled 26 pieces from six anthologies of Native American stories and song, five of which he edited (alone or in partnership with Arnold Krupat) and one of which—Salish Myths and Legends: One People’s Stories (CH, Mar'09, 46-3709)—was edited by M. Terry Thompson and Steven Egesdal.  The present compendium includes stories and songs from a wide variety of Native American traditions.  Each work is translated into accessible, engaging English by scholars familiar with the original language, sometimes transcribing directly from a contemporary oral performance.  The tales themselves are beautiful, and the translators' brief, informative introductions offer analysis, context, relevant history, and/or pronunciation guidance.  In some instances, as in Judith Berman’s spectacular discussion of “Oolachan-Woman’s Robe,” the rich explanation of the story far exceeds the story itself, deeply enhancing the understanding of the translation and the working of the native language.  This is a lovely, readable, and fascinating collection.

--G. D. MacDonald, Virginia State University

Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty; general readers.