American Plains Indians

Osprey Men at Arms #163

by Jason Hook

The adoption of a horse culture heralded the golden age of the Plains Indians - an age that was abruptly ended by the intervention of the white man, who forced them from their vast homelands into reservations in the second half of the 19th century. Jason Hook's fascinating text explores the culture of the American Plains Indians, covering all aspects of their society from camp life to the art of war, in a volume packed with fascinating illustrations and photographs, including eight striking full page colour plates by Richard Hook.

Genres: Westerns, Nonfiction, Military History, History, Native American

48 pages, Paperback

First published July 25, 1985

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Martin Koenigsberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

No. 163 in the Osprey Men At Arms Series is a wonderful look at the American Plains Indians- the Classic adversaries in the old Cowboys, Cavalry and Indians movies. Or the ill-fated indigenous pNative Americans destined to have their Golden Age harshly snuffed out by the voracious Settlement of the Americans plains. These are the peoples who lived near my present home in Boulder Colorado, the Blackfoot, the Assiniboin, the Crow, the Cheyenne, the Sioux, Arapapaho, Kiowas, and Comanche, all of whom get some coverage in this taut 48 page format. You get lots of black and white pictures, some good maps, great line drawings of details, and of course the classic four great pages of colour plates in the center in this case the truly impressive artwork of Richard Hook, who really sells out so show you indigenous decoration at its finest.

Of course in discussing these tribes, the usual Osprey format of history, then description of armies and then uniforms is changed. The American Indigenous Tribes did not have the sort of Feudal/Capitalist societies like South America, Asia, or Africa. Having developed from a resource poor society where the dog was the only pack animal- and then suddenly developing a horse culture- the Native Americans had developed a culture that saw war as a sort of religious game where taking resources(horses/pelts) and achieving "coups"- feats of Bravery- were the aim. Killing was not actually valued as highly as taking totems or touching an enemy without being touched in return in combat. So most of the book explains Native American societal /religious practices -where other books in the series would be discussing Regiments, companies and platoons. The Colour plate descriptions are really great and will help you understand the meaning of the various details of Native American daily and wartime attire.

With direct prose, few adult themes and only a little raw casualty discussion, this is a fine book for any reader over about 10 years old with and interest in the topic. for the Gamer/Modeller/Military Enthusiast- pure gold. Native American minis are notoriously difficult to paint well- or realistically. I'll admit- the tendency is to use movies as a basis- and here you learn that is NOT as accurate as you might like. Understanding the rationale behind the various elements of dress can help with choices- from a 6mm or 15 mm army of many figures to a single 110mm Miniature you want to be a real Artwork. I think this will really help make miniatures that salute these amazing Warriors- and not a bunch of guys painted like a B Movie set. This book can help you make striking figures, more realistic tipis, or just appreciate a once dominant culture in its colorful glory. A good addition to any Western History, Colonial History, or Horse Culture library shelves.

[Declan Waters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covering the Plains Indians which are the Native Americans most would recognise from Hollywood and TV depictions. Riding horse-back and hunting Buffalo.

This brief book explains their history from the arrival of the white man through to Little Big Horn in 1876 and a short period afterwards. As with many in the 'Men-At-Arms' series it reviews the weapons and clothing of the Plains Indians, but also explains the inevitability of the white man's virtual destruction of them first with trade (so the Indian's themselves killed too many buffalo) to the white hunters who finally finished off their main source of meat... and other items.

[Tom Axworthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A succinct and very useful history of the original inhabitants of the Great Plains.

[Steve Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

For such a short book this was a remarkably good overview of indigenous tribes of the Great Plains. The illustrations were excellent.