North American Indians

The first 83 pages of this book provide a comprehensive introduction to George Catlin's inspiring life, which really helps you understand the sacrifices he made in order to record his "Letters and Notes"--not to mention beautiful paintings. He was an amazing man with the vision to realize that many of the North American Indian cultures thriving in his time would soon vanish, and the passion and dedication to do everything humanly possible to try to record as much as he could for future generations. He is the only outsider ever to have had contact with many cultures who since have been entirely lost except for his descriptions. Some of his revelations are startling--for example, the Mandan people, who apparently were completely isolated from caucasion genetics, displayed a wide variety of eye colors including blue and hazel eyes, and every color of hair except red and auburn, including bright silver hair unrelated to age. This is a rich, unique book that leaves you in awe.

I have always been extremely interested in North American Indians and own many books on the subject. I rate this one at the very top! George Catlin traveled among the tribes before their way of life was ruined by civilization. This book contains some of his journals, illustrations, and drawings. I wish there were Volume II!

This takes place some 30 years after Lewis and Clark... Excellent documentary of the North American culture just before the BIG change. Its evident Catlin realizes this change and through his travels, he meticulously describes the native civilizations from an eyewitness account. In the final chapter, he makes a bold hypothesis concerning the origins of a particular tribe: the Madans. Fascinating!

George Catlin is certainly a man to admire, as is this book.Catlin lived amongst the Native Americans for many years and writes carefully of his experiences.This is an interesting read and provides another dimension to the subject of American Indians.The book is fascinating in as much as Catlin portrays himself as a wordly man and a friend of the Indians ( And he certainly was)but despite that you can still find evidence of his ignorance within the text.Nevertheless he was a fascinating man who had a fascinating life,his artwork allthough basic in my mind, is well worth a look.My only critiscm of this book is that quite some time is spent describing the scenery whereas I would have prefered even more writing on the Indians themselves,that is my personal viewpoint, others may find that intruiging.The book is full of facts and personal experiences and that in itself adds to the validity of this book as musthave for your collection