41 pages • 1 hour read
John NeihardtBlack Elk Speaks
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1932A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Black Elk Speaks by John Neihardt recounts Black Elk’s journey from boyhood, through his “great vision,” to his role in numerous significant events including battles and the Wounded Knee Massacre, as he navigates the conflicts between the Lakota people and the Wasichus. The book includes accounts of violence and suffering experienced by the Lakota people.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Black Elk Speaks by John Neihardt is praised for vividly portraying the spiritual and cultural life of the Oglala Lakota through the perspective of Black Elk, a respected medicine man. Critics commend its poetic narrative and historical significance, though some question its accuracy and Neihardt's interpretive role. Overall, it's a compelling, though contested, work.
Who Should Read Black Elk Speaks?
A reader captivated by Native American history, spirituality, and memoirs will find Black Elk Speaks compelling. Comparable to Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee and The Sacred Pipe, it appeals to those interested in indigenous perspectives and poetic storytelling.