Description
By: Owen Wister (1860-1938)
Red Men and White by Owen Wister is a captivating novel that delves into the complexities of relationships between Native Americans and white settlers in the American West. Set against the backdrop of the late 19th century, the story follows the intertwining lives of two young men – one white and one Native American – as they navigate the changing landscape of the frontier.
Wister’s prose is rich and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the harsh realities faced by both Native Americans and white settlers during this tumultuous time. The characters are well-developed and engaging, drawing the reader into their struggles and triumphs as they navigate the challenges of cultural differences and societal expectations.
The novel’s exploration of themes such as friendship, loyalty, and the destructive power of prejudice is both thought-provoking and timely, offering a powerful commentary on the enduring legacy of colonization and its impact on indigenous communities.
Overall, Red Men and White is a poignant and compelling read that will resonate with readers long after they have finished the final page. Wister’s masterful storytelling and insightful commentary make this novel a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the complexities of race and identity in America’s history.
Book Description:
These eight stories are made from our Western Frontier as it was in a past as near as yesterday and almost as by-gone as the Revolution; so swiftly do we proceed. They belong to each other in a kinship of life and manners, and a little through the nearer tie of having here and there a character in common. Thus they resemble faintly the separate parts of a whole, and gain, perhaps, something of the invaluable weight of length; and they have been received by my closest friends with suspicion. …When our national life, our own soil, is so rich in adventures to record, what need is there for one to call upon his invention save to draw, if he can, characters who shall fit these strange and dramatic scenes? One cannot improve upon such realities. If this fiction is at all faithful to the truth from which it springs, let the thanks be given to the patience and boundless hospitality of the Army friends and other friends across the Missouri who have housed my body and instructed my mind. And if the stories entertain the ignorant without grieving the judicious I am content.
