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102nd out of 143 books
—
29 voters
Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce: A Poem
Blue paper over boards backed with purple cloth, gilt letters. 64 pp.
Paperback, 64 pages
Published
March 12th 1983
by Random House Inc (P)
(first published 1983)
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This book-length poem by Robert Penn Warren held and lost my attention, surprised me with delightful language at some times, and at other times seemed prosaic, more like a nonfiction treatment of its subject than a poetic one. These lines typify, I think, the verse:
"In the North American Review, Joseph's words,
Translated, were published--
The fraud of, the suffering of, his people, the lies,
The thoughts of his heart. Thousands, bored, read.
Some read, remembered. Felt their hearts stir." (p. 50)
Th...more
"In the North American Review, Joseph's words,
Translated, were published--
The fraud of, the suffering of, his people, the lies,
The thoughts of his heart. Thousands, bored, read.
Some read, remembered. Felt their hearts stir." (p. 50)
Th...more
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Robert Penn Warren prefers a rather anglo-saxon mode of poetry, rich in alliteration and epithet-nouns, with loosely structured sentences and gnarly, vigorous rhythms. It works well for this long narrative work, which resembles an epic in that it has battles and a long journey in it, but an unconventional epic, centered on a war-hero who all his life kept trying to live in peace. Then too, Warren's modernism shows in the device he uses of constantly inserting historical quotes. I haven't read mu...more
May 10, 2009
Jan C
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
People interested in native american history and/or literature
Recommended to Jan C by:
Kirsti
Robert Penn Warren's epic poem on Chief Joseph who is primarily remembered for the line "I will fihgt no more forever" and the epic chase he lead the cavalry on as he tried to escape from Winding Waters (Wallowa, WA) to Canada. So sad when they are taken by the white man who violates his word almost as quickly as it is given.
I have been reading stories about the native americans for years, once I got hooked on "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" which wasn't exactly objective from a historian's poi...more
I have been reading stories about the native americans for years, once I got hooked on "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" which wasn't exactly objective from a historian's poi...more
A short, yet powerfully tragic poem about the slaughtering of the Nez Perce tribe, and the disintegration of their sacred culture.
This poetry clearly portrays the rich culture and society of Native American Indians, and devastating historical events.
"Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce" was unexpectedly violent, and far more bloody than I would have anticipated for a poem.
However, this takes away none of its harsh and sad beauty.
A realistic, darkly beautiful work of poetry and American history.
This poetry clearly portrays the rich culture and society of Native American Indians, and devastating historical events.
"Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce" was unexpectedly violent, and far more bloody than I would have anticipated for a poem.
However, this takes away none of its harsh and sad beauty.
A realistic, darkly beautiful work of poetry and American history.
This epic poem recounts the rise and fall of Chief Joseph as the Nez Perce are forced out of their homeland of Wallawa and struggle to reach the border of Canada. The language is brilliant and the poet works with numerous historical approaches, using lastly a road trip with some old friends to juxtapose the battles of the past with modern uncertainties. Falling just shy of an alchemical significance the text is nevertheless one of ringing archetypes: the one-armed general, the quest for the scri...more
The tragic tale of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce, pursued by the cavalry and senselessly murdered and removed from Wallowa. One is struck by the poignancy of the words of Joseph and horrified at the sordid hearts of bureaucratic politicians. Though the ages have swallowed up and hidden the injustices of man from his children, the cry of Joseph will never fade away.
After the completion of a World Religions class I took at Calvin, in which it was required to read [Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux] my interest in First Nations narratives has grown. Though there are many grand tales written from both Native American insiders and outside observers, I found that in most cases the stories themselves are more epic then the level of writing. Robert Penn Warren seems to fall in to this pattern as well, his pen barely does jus...more
Robert Penn Warren, Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce (Random House, 1983)
Warren's penultimate book of poetry, published as he was nearing eighty, is less something to be criticized or examined as it is to be learned from. Warren, seventy-five at the time of this long poem's writing, had been in the game for over a half century, had won the Pulitzer three times (as well as most other major prizes known to man), and was one of the last century's most influential writers on many fronts. Forget nitpick...more
Warren's penultimate book of poetry, published as he was nearing eighty, is less something to be criticized or examined as it is to be learned from. Warren, seventy-five at the time of this long poem's writing, had been in the game for over a half century, had won the Pulitzer three times (as well as most other major prizes known to man), and was one of the last century's most influential writers on many fronts. Forget nitpick...more
infinitely sad and yet wonderful
May 06, 2013
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Robert Penn Warren was an American poet, novelist, and literary critic, and was one of the founders of New Criticism. He was also a charter member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers. He is the only person to have won Pulitzer Prizes for both fiction and poetry. He won the Pulitzer in 1947 for his novel All the King's Men (1946) and won his subsequent Pulitzer Prizes for poetry in 1957 and then...more
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