William Joseph Snelling's Tales of the Northwest

by William Joseph. Snelling

This reissue of an extremely rare collection, first published anonymously in Boston in 1830, rescues from undeserved oblivion, a story-teller rivaling James Fenimore Cooper. William Joseph Snelling (1803-48), son of Colonel Josiah Snelling, for whom Fort Snelling was named, spent seven years of the 1820's among the Indians in the territory now occupied by Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. As an outgrowth of his experience, he wrote Tales of the Northwest, subtitled "Tales of Indian Life and Character by a Resident beyond the Frontier". This was the first work of fiction to deal with the Northwest and one of the earliest short story collections published in America. First edition of the work in this format and binding, and/or set or series. 8.1 x 5.4 x 1.3 inches. 252 pages. Photos available on request. Quantity 1. Shipped 1-2 kilos. History; Indigenous Cultures. ISBN/ 9780880290647. Inventory 4918.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1936

Reviews

[Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impressive in its anachronistic realism during this pre-marketable era for the short story form, the rambling, adventurous, nev'r-do-well son of the Colonel for whom Fort Snelling was named anonymously relates legendary tales of the cultures in which he became steeped in his young adulthood travels, namely those of the soldiers at frontier forts, the French traders, and the Dakota and Ojibwe Indian tribes. Many are documented historical fact that are merely rendered as fiction, and others are from a grander oral tradition of the region, but most are on balance decent for their era in fiction history, with only The Bois Brule running a bit long and slow. I'd say this book is most valuable for palatable versions of material that can be found elsewhere, but is usually a bit drier or less narrative in delivery.

[Annika · Rating 4 out of 5]

My American Lit prof had us read The Bois Brule (which is a 5-star novella) but since I haven't read the rest of the anthology, I gave it a 4-star rating.

[Cws]

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