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208th out of 565 books
—
1,963 voters
Hanta Yo
A multigenerational saga that depicts the lives of two families of Teton Sioux from the late 1700s to the 1830s, before the arrival of the white man.
Paperback, 834 pages
Published
April 1st 1981
by Warner Books
(first published 1979)
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Aug 17, 2012
Clif
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who is intrigued by native-American culture
I found this paperback in a box of old books left by a neighbor who moved away.
Over 1100 pages long, it truly is a saga and, in the manner of Moby Dick, transports the reader into the details of a kind of life never again to be lived, not with dry details but through a vivid story.
Following the life of a character from his birth to his death, nothing is held back about the culture of the Lakotah (Sioux to the white man) who were masters of the Great Plains near the Black Hills until the coming o...more
Over 1100 pages long, it truly is a saga and, in the manner of Moby Dick, transports the reader into the details of a kind of life never again to be lived, not with dry details but through a vivid story.
Following the life of a character from his birth to his death, nothing is held back about the culture of the Lakotah (Sioux to the white man) who were masters of the Great Plains near the Black Hills until the coming o...more
I stumbled across this book by accident when it was first published. I had always felt an affinity for Native American culture so I was a motivated reader and struggled through the constant going back to see how something was pronounced or what it meant. It took a long time to read because of that.
It was worth it!
In the preface it talks about how the author lived with the tribe and heard the stories firsthand. She found someone who was willing to help her write the book so that she did it righ...more
It was worth it!
In the preface it talks about how the author lived with the tribe and heard the stories firsthand. She found someone who was willing to help her write the book so that she did it righ...more
Before Jean M. Auel and her
The Clan of the Cave Bear
; before Kathleen O'Neal Gear & W. Michael Gear and their
The People of the...
series there was Ruth Beebe Hill and her
Hanta Yo
. It depicts the daily life of three generations of two families that were part of the Mahto band of the Teton Sioux from about 1750-1834 C.E.
Die hard purists among aficionados of Westerns will probably object to my placing it in "their" genre; the same may hold true, to a lesser de-gree, for fans of historical...more
Die hard purists among aficionados of Westerns will probably object to my placing it in "their" genre; the same may hold true, to a lesser de-gree, for fans of historical...more
This was truly one of the most revealing books about the nature of the North American Native worldview I've ever read. Th author not only had to learn the language, but also the conceptual framework from which the language arose, one completely different from the subject-object view that frames our language and understanding of the world. This was an enormous undertaking, yet the only way someone from outside a culture could authentically portray a foreign culture, its values and how they arose....more
Ruth Beebe Hill’s Hanta Yo is a noteworthy rendering of Native American history…historical fiction to be sure but how much history and how much fiction? From today’s viewpoint, of course, we view most everything about the Indian Nation through the lenses of the white man … which gives us a different perspective and language. Original records from Native Americans predating the incursion of the white man are practically nonexistent, at least records we can understand. While there are some drawing...more
If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would. This book came out in the '80's, I believe, long before "The Last of the Mohicans" and "Dances with Wolves" wove their way into our American culture. This book is, I think, is over 1,000 pages and every one of them sings. Hill masterfully tells the story of the Plains Indians and follows one tribe in particular. You learn the mores of the tribe, the ins and outs of their culture and way of life. It is a fascinating read and I loved the book s...more
This book was recommended by my sister Sue who read every book on Native Americans she could find. Hanto Yo was her hands down favorite and she convinced me to read it. Although not a topic I was originally interested in, within a few pages I was hooked, hoping never to leave this wonderful world. Hanta Yo should be read by all Americans, as invaders who destroyed a way of life of an entire continent of people, we owe them, at the very least the understanding of what they lost. This is not a sad...more
This is my all time favorite book. I read it back in the late 80's and have been ruined for a good fiction book ever since. I compare every book I ever read to this one and 99.99% of them fall short.
The story of how the book came to be written is fascinating in itself. For those of you that don't know, this book is an actual history of a tribe of Lakota, Sioux. It seems that many years ago an elder in the tribe had a 100-winter count. These were pieces of leather/animal skins with drawings that...more
The story of how the book came to be written is fascinating in itself. For those of you that don't know, this book is an actual history of a tribe of Lakota, Sioux. It seems that many years ago an elder in the tribe had a 100-winter count. These were pieces of leather/animal skins with drawings that...more
I came across this book when my mother took a cultural anthropology course, and brought it home as required reading. She had a tough time getting into it, and since I am an avid reader, she gave it to me so I could give her an idea of what it was about. Because the text was translated into the Lakota/Dakota language, and then translated back into English, the organization of the sentences seems awkward at first. However, once you get used to it, you realize that you are entering into a world few...more
One of the best books I have read about Native Americans. It is well written and holds your interest while taking you on a long journey through Sioux history with great characters. The author spent a lot of time with Sioux elders learning their oral history (and the Sioux language!) she then wrote the book in Sioux before translating it into English. This book was like seeing Dances with Wolves at the theater. They both evoked life on the prairie but the movie much more superficially.
When I read on the jacket of this book that it took the writer 25 years to write the story, I had to read it. It covers three generations in the life of Lakota/Dakota/Siouan native people, the generation before the arrival of the settlers, the generation during the influx of settlers, and the generation after the land was settled. This book effected my life in that I was amazed by the history in it and it set me off reading history books for about the next ten years.
I read Hanta Yo over twenty years ago and just recently read it again. It's like entering a world that holds such poetry and beauty it almost hurts. There is a rhythm to both the words and the story, one almost feels as though they are being rocked in a mother's arms and being told a legend. Among my top five lifetime reads.
Ruth Hill uses language that can seems bit too flowery at points and it makes it hard to understand what's going on. But this book is based on accounts and translated from Lakota to English. It flows nicely from the Lakotah's way of life to the white men coming and bringing their 'fire water' and the tribe falling apart because of it...
Flawless writing, I simply loved this book. Only drawback was when the characters would speak Sioux, I was constantly having to flip to the dictionary in the back which made getting back into the story difficult. Otherwise, indeed a flawless story!! Highly recommend this book to any who love historically accurate fiction.
One of my all time favorites! I was very glad it was a very thick (long) book because I did not want this one to end. I was immersed into a culture that is very different from today's and could not help but regret some of the beliefs that have been lost. I have reread this a few times and enjoyed it as much as the first time. It reminds me of Shogun because I get more and different details with each reading. Highly recommended!!!
What a powerful book. I have read this book 4 times. Hill had this translated into Soiux and back to english to capture the wonderful idioms. (cunning red dog=fox) and it makes for a unique feel to the book. Not a glamourous time in history for America, but such a rich cultural snapshot.
An amazing historical novel that immerses you into the Sioux world. The language, culture, religion and more. I first read it as a young adult and was very moved by it. It was one of the books that began my lif-long study of Native Americans. Have read it several times since and will again.
I read it 30 years ago. It is difficult and amazing. It surfaced in my memory just recently , I am guessing when I finished it. It would applealto someone who wants a more mystical and spiritual understanding of the Plains indians than the Hollywood version.
I enjoyed the book but it is very long and a little hard to follow as the Sioux use three different names for each person as they age. The book also uses the Sioux names for animals and places so I spent a lot of time using the glossary to keep track.
Another all time favourite. Fascinating, authentic insight into native american culture before, during and after Europeans came and destroyed America and decimated the people. I need to read it again, it's been many years. Couldn't put it down.
One of my all time favorite books. I would get so caught up in the story, that I would read until 3 or 4 in the morning. Then it would be time to get up, get kids ready for daycare and go to work. Those late nights were worth it.
This book was basically forced upon me by my father, which is a rare thing. Book pushing is usually my mother's thing. He gave me the preface that it is not an easy read but it is worth it. The language is a bit hard to follow at first but then the problems dissolve. If I remember correctly it was written in the native Lakotah and then translated to English. I find myself bringing up things from this book all the time, just yesterday I was telling someone a story from it. Be it fact or fiction o...more
I really enjoyed the storytelling once I gained an understanding of the writer's style and intentions, regardless of the intellectual and other controversy surrounding it--or perhaps even because of it.
May 28, 2010
Chris Bernard
added it
More than any other book on Native Americans, this informed my knowledge and understanding, particularly through the author's exhaustive study of their language.
I read this book at least 20 years ago and have never forgotten this beautiful story. I walked away from this book with a new appreciation for the Sioux and thier spiritual culture. I've been checking "gently used book stores" to find a paperback or hardback copy. I guess I'm going to have to bite the bullet and purchase it from Amazon. Any of my friends who are interested in reading this book, let me know. Warning...the book has over 1100 pages.
I just love rhis book... I read it many years ago and have never forgotten its simple and amazing story... it has taught me many lessons
Jun 12, 2009
Chris
added it
this is one of the few books i plan to read again.
wonderful story, gives a sense of lakota culture although it is fiction.
wonderful story, gives a sense of lakota culture although it is fiction.
Kinda corny in places but still a good historical novel. Good book to take on a long trip or to the beach.
I've kept it for 29 yrs; must have loved it but need to re-read before making a recommendation.
Read this years ago - loved it! I still have it and plan on re-reading when I get time.
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Jul 08, 2008 07:50pm
Jan 31, 2009 02:16am