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library_anne's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.25
josefinedal's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
3.5
malloryeasterday15's review against another edition
5.0
I cannot believe that I've never read this until now. Considering I've been calling myself a 19th century Americanist during graduate school but this is one of the few book length texts by an Indigenous author from the 19th century. Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins should be required reading.
deearr's review
5.0
For those interested in the history of western America in the 1800’s, this personal memoir from Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins provides an interesting alternate view. Grand-daughter and daughter of Piute chiefs, Ms. Hopkins’ initial encounter with “white men” inspired fear (she believed they would eat her).
Ms. Hopkins overcame her fear and became a much-used interpreter between her tribe and the settlers and soldiers who assumed ownership of the land the Piutes had lived on for centuries. The book chronicles not only her personal history, but includes Ms. Hopkins’ struggle with remaining loyal to people who did not always follow through on their promises. It documents the first years of contact between the Piutes and the European American settlers.
The Appendix presents numerous letters from soldiers and citizens, most of them corroborating the information Ms. Hopkins presents in her book. As a historical memoir, this book is considered the first known autobiography by a Native American woman. It should also be thought of as a must-read for any student of American history. Five stars.
Ms. Hopkins overcame her fear and became a much-used interpreter between her tribe and the settlers and soldiers who assumed ownership of the land the Piutes had lived on for centuries. The book chronicles not only her personal history, but includes Ms. Hopkins’ struggle with remaining loyal to people who did not always follow through on their promises. It documents the first years of contact between the Piutes and the European American settlers.
The Appendix presents numerous letters from soldiers and citizens, most of them corroborating the information Ms. Hopkins presents in her book. As a historical memoir, this book is considered the first known autobiography by a Native American woman. It should also be thought of as a must-read for any student of American history. Five stars.
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