Selling Your Father's Bones
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Review
‘Brian Schofield’s heart-rending account is interwoven with contemporary scenes from his researches, in a second-hand van, in the hardscrabble ex-lumber towns of 21st-century Idaho. A quiet fury burns through his careful prose, not least in his exquisite footnotes.’ The Times
‘Schofield’s book, which is admirably ambitious in scope, could well turn out to be a classic.’ Geographical Magazine
‘Schofield…listens respectfully to Native voices and emphasizes their resilience then and now.’ TLS
The notion of homeland is powerfully extended throughout this painstakingly researched book, with it's many possible meanings explored for those who were displaced and those who displaced them.' Claire Coughlan
The Times
"Brian Schofield's heart-rending account is interwoven with contemporary scenes from his researches, in a second-hand van, in the hardscrabble ex-lumber towns of 21st-century Idaho..."
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
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This book examines the familiar story of the settling of the American West that we all grew up with thanks to John Ford, John Wayne and the rest. The author takes this story from the point of view of the Nez Perce tribe of Idaho. One of the main themes of the book is the historical flight of 700 Nez Perce men, women and children from the United States army following their refusal to abide by a treaty signed by other Nez Perce bands in 1877. Their passage across Oregon, Idaho and Montana is interwoven with a travelogue along their route where the author describes the effects of 130 years of European colonisation on the Native American peoples and on the environment of the north western United States.
I enjoyed this book, it told me two stories I was not familiar with. The desperate flight of the Nez Perce as they tried to escape the mendacity of the United States government in thrall to the settlers and their big business backers is told well. The Europeans do not come out of the book well while the sympathy lies with the Nez Perce who only wanted to live in their traditional lands in peace.
The second story is of what happened to the Nez Perce and their lands after they were forced on to reservations. Here the settlers are now the victims of big business which wants to exploit the water, salmon, timber and minerals seemingly so inexhaustible in these mountains. This tale makes sad reading and here there is more sympathy for the descendants of the pioneers. Schofield also looks at the fate of the various groups of Nez Perce who still battle with high unemployment, alcoholism and domestic abuse. Yet the Nez Perce are recovering as they exercise their treaty rights through the courts they have become leaders in the conservation movement of the region, trying to undo some of the damage wrought after their land was stolen from them.
As I said I enjoyed this book but its themes and bias probably chime with my own political and environmental viewpoint. Other readers may find the book is a little black and white with the Native Americans as the put upon peaceful good guys and the US Army and European settlers as the rapacious, untrustworthy and not very bright bad guys. If you are interested in the history of the West and in the environment then this is a book I would recommend you read.
I enjoyed this book, it told me two stories I was not familiar with. The desperate flight of the Nez Perce as they tried to escape the mendacity of the United States government in thrall to the settlers and their big business backers is told well. The Europeans do not come out of the book well while the sympathy lies with the Nez Perce who only wanted to live in their traditional lands in peace.
The second story is of what happened to the Nez Perce and their lands after they were forced on to reservations. Here the settlers are now the victims of big business which wants to exploit the water, salmon, timber and minerals seemingly so inexhaustible in these mountains. This tale makes sad reading and here there is more sympathy for the descendants of the pioneers. Schofield also looks at the fate of the various groups of Nez Perce who still battle with high unemployment, alcoholism and domestic abuse. Yet the Nez Perce are recovering as they exercise their treaty rights through the courts they have become leaders in the conservation movement of the region, trying to undo some of the damage wrought after their land was stolen from them.
As I said I enjoyed this book but its themes and bias probably chime with my own political and environmental viewpoint. Other readers may find the book is a little black and white with the Native Americans as the put upon peaceful good guys and the US Army and European settlers as the rapacious, untrustworthy and not very bright bad guys. If you are interested in the history of the West and in the environment then this is a book I would recommend you read.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Brian Schofield has written this book in a way that can't fail to capture your imagination, challenge your thinking and provide you with a very good read.
My knowledge of the Native Americans was limited and the subject matter wouldn't have been my first choice, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It brings the story of the Native Americans to life and I warmed to some characters and hated others - and what more can you want from a book than that it really involves you. I found it a fascinating and very readable book, that I think would appeal to a very wide audience.
The author's technique of moving between the past and his recent visits to the Nez Perce is very effective. It gives a different angle to their story and helps you see how the past and present intertwine. It challenges us to think about what we do to other people and our environment, but never lectures and proves to be entertaining as well!
An excellent first book, Schofield has an emminently readable style and I look forward to his next book.
My knowledge of the Native Americans was limited and the subject matter wouldn't have been my first choice, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It brings the story of the Native Americans to life and I warmed to some characters and hated others - and what more can you want from a book than that it really involves you. I found it a fascinating and very readable book, that I think would appeal to a very wide audience.
The author's technique of moving between the past and his recent visits to the Nez Perce is very effective. It gives a different angle to their story and helps you see how the past and present intertwine. It challenges us to think about what we do to other people and our environment, but never lectures and proves to be entertaining as well!
An excellent first book, Schofield has an emminently readable style and I look forward to his next book.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I enjoyed this book overall and the essential elements being related were very interesting, however the tone of the book and the overall structure were clumsy and immature. Schofield could not decide on whether this was an historical account or a chummy telling-it-how-it-really-was with crude name calling thrown in among well researched material.
I have no problem with Schofield expressing strong emotion on this very emotive subject, but this book could have done with a lot more editing.
Worth reading if you are really interested in the subject, or it is an entirely new area for you, but if you have enjoyed similar (better) versions of native American history, don't bother.
I have no problem with Schofield expressing strong emotion on this very emotive subject, but this book could have done with a lot more editing.
Worth reading if you are really interested in the subject, or it is an entirely new area for you, but if you have enjoyed similar (better) versions of native American history, don't bother.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent read
A brilliant tale told from 'the other side' of the Native American struggle, intensely readable and gripping. Very highly recommended.
Published 16 months ago by Og Oggilby
Great read...but requires a bit more editing!
I'm a bit of a stick-in-the-mud with grammar, word repetition, punctuation, and the likes. I notice little errors. This can spoil my enjoyment of books - more fool me. Read more
Published 24 months ago by Mark Rees-Jones
More Interesting Than It Might Seem
Last year, I read a biography of the Lewis and Clark expedition: it was very dry and was more of an historical lecture than an entertaining read. Read more
Published on 16 April 2010 by MisterKeith
An excellent account of a dark charper of history
For me the book took a bit of time to get going, but it was well worth it. Though as some other reviews have alerady noted, I found the switching back and forth from the past to... Read more
Published on 20 Nov 2009 by Tim62
American History at it's finest
Brilliant, well written book that gave a clear & empathetic account of the development of the country from a native American and ecological perspective. Read more
Published on 17 Oct 2009 by Solo Walker
Undecided
I don't know why, but I just could not get into this book. It was a subject that interested me, or has done in the past, and should be a fascinating story and it's apparent from... Read more
Published on 17 April 2009 by Johnnybluetime
Worthy but a little dull
This book represents, I suspect, almost a cathartic experience for non-native Americans. In a worthy and through way it depicts the appalling experience native americans faced when... Read more
Published on 13 April 2009 by Paul S. Ell
A relevant history
When I was young, I hated history. It was all about dates and events in the past. I couldn't see how history could be relevant to something much more interesting; the future. Read more
Published on 27 Dec 2008 by M. Bhangal
Excellent and informative
I am very interested in the history of the USA and I found this to be an informative, fascinating and well-written account of one of the nation's defining struggles. Read more
Published on 3 Dec 2008 by Teejay
History in the American West
Anyone expecting an action-packed volume will be disappointed. However, if you require an accurate, scholarly presentation covering the history of the Nez Perce nation, then there... Read more
Published on 27 Nov 2008 by Mrs. Alison Taylor
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