The Ancient Child: A Novel

The Ancient Child by N. Scott Momaday, copyright 1934, ISBN 0-385-27972-8, and published through Doubleday, is a story about the crisis of identity and one man and woman's struggle to discover their true selves. Written as four books, The Ancient Child explores the undeniable tie to identity and the discovery of how the soul truly exists. There's an enlightening quality to the novel that leaves the reader with a deeper understanding of the major themes and how these ideas of identity, feminism, land, and languages are tied to a true identity. By working through two separate characters, Set and Grey, who struggle with the same identity crisis, the reader is able to perceive the intricacies of such an issue and the unique ways in which a person must find and establish who they are. The Ancient Child is truly a masterful work that combines the sweet poetic language of a dream world with ruthless punches of reality to create a story that can resound through the hearts of readers across generational and cultural boundaries. Through the use of Spanish, Navajo, and Kiowa words, phrases, myths, and traditions, the reader becomes embroiled in the world of Momaday and the depth of the lives of these struggling characters. The beauty of the world that surrounds these characters is often eclipsed by their desperation for a true and whole identity and the harshness of their realities. Delicately portrayed and profoundly thought provoking, The Ancient Child is truly a work of art. If you're searching for a book that will challenge your perceptions of reality and introduce you to a world where myth, legend, dreams, and fantasy still hold a powerful sway, then The Ancient Child is a must read. The Ancient Child is excellent for any reader, college age or above, who is searching for an intellectual challenge and a gateway to a world interweaved with the words of Native languages. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this powerful, beautifully articulated work to anyone and would gladly pursue the text again and again. --Loretta Haskell

Momaday, as you probably know, won the Pulitzer Prize in 1969 for his first novel, "House Made of Dawn." In that book, the hero, torn between the Native American world and modern America, and deeply affected by his Vietnam war experiences, finally disintegrates, unable to continue fighting the forces trying to destroy him.Twenty years later, Momaday published his second book, "The Ancient Child," and it's just as powerful, just as beautifully written, as his first.The premise is similar to the first book. A man is torn between two worlds, tormented by nightmares, and finds himself drawn to the desert. He finds his destiny, and it too is disintegration. But whereas the disintegration in "House Made of Dawn" is a violent, tragic event, in "The Ancient Child" it comes across as a process of spiritual resolution and healing, rather than destruction.That's why I regard this book as superior to its Prize-winning predecessor. Momaday's vision seems more holistic, more encompassing in this book. His first novel's tragic vision leaves you haunted and a little horrified. This book will leave you equally haunted, not in horror, but in quiet awe of the inevitable metaphysical reckoning we all must undergo when we leave this world, and the paths we take to get there.Read it.

His mind is the atelier. The depicted soul of the young woman, Grey, Koi-ehm-toya, was hauntingly perfect. Entwined with notoriety, she grew to an assured love, preserving the heart of a Kiowa man, Loki. Man or mythological God? Distant, the sublime power draws into the solar plexis of humanity, and remains. As if two souls, autoecious azygos, encompassed all characters; Kope'mah, the grandmother earth, 'anomalous cohesion and disintegration of form...motion...color at once.' 'A timeless rejoicing entered into their veins...', (pg35), Grey the elements within, water and root, '"You are Set-angya, the chief of dog soldiers...best of warriors, of battles...enemies."', (pg258), 'Here are weeds about his mouth...', (pg234), the elements above earth, air and fire, introspection and preparation create a watercolor backdrop. Grey, '...a question of control, coordination, mastery: how to bring her body and the body of the horse into concert...', (pg185), eradicated, effectively, Billy the Kid, from the vines of youth, and those who harmed her bodily nature; with hoyden grace. J. Jaederland ([email protected])

I love this book. It's my favorite by Momaday. The main female character, Grey, is strong and fascinating: "Set remained curious about Grey - Grey had taken hold of his imagination..." (pg 69). Grey also has all sorts of daydreams that affect her 'real' life, and her 'real life' has some very strong affects on those she meets. It's a great book! Oh, and then there's the main male character - Set, an artist who has a breakdown that gets him back in touch with family and heritage (and Grey). But Grey is my favorite. For more info on reviews & stuff about this book, visit: http://users.mwci.net/~lapoz/N.Scott.Momaday.html