Nicholas Black Elk

Medicine Man, Missionary, Mystic

By: Michael F. Steltenkamp

Narrated by: Charles Henderson Norman

Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Since its publication in 1932, Black Elk Speaks has moved countless readers to appreciate the American Indian world that it described. John Neihardt’s popular narrative addressed the youth and early adulthood of Black Elk, an Oglala Sioux religious elder. Michael F. Steltenkamp now provides the first full interpretive biography of Black Elk, distilling in one volume what is known of this American Indian wisdom keeper whose life has helped guide others.

Nicholas Black Elk: Medicine Man, Missionary, Mystic shows that the holy-man was not the dispirited traditionalist commonly depicted in literature, but a religious thinker whose outlook was positive and whose spirituality was not limited solely to traditional Lakota precepts. Combining in-depth biography with its cultural context, the author depicts a more complex Black Elk than has previously been known: a world traveler who participated in the Battle of the Little Bighorn yet lived through the beginning of the atomic age.

Nicholas Black Elk explores how a holy-man’s diverse life experiences led to his synthesis of Native and Christian religious practice. The first book to follow Black Elk’s lifelong spiritual journey - from medicine man to missionary and mystic - Steltenkamp’s work provides a much-needed corrective to previous interpretations of this special man’s life story.

The book is published by University of Oklahoma Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

"A valuable contribution...offers a consistent and insightful interpretation of Black Elk's religious life." (Western Historical Quarterly)

"Easily the best reference work on Black Elk's life to date." (Montana: The Magazine of Western History)

"A significant contribution.... The author is to be commended." (Wendy L. Fletcher, Dean, Vancouver School of Theology, British Columbia)

©2009 University of Oklahoma Press (P)2018 Redwood Audiobooks

Good book for information on Nicholas elk

I enjoyed this book and the information that was put in it. Good book instead of black elk speaks.

Excellent History Lesson

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. This review is for the audio copy of Nicholas Black Elk, Medicine Man, Missionary, Mystic by Michael F. Steltenkamp and narrated by Charles Henderson Norman. I really enjoyed this story with all the background and references that help validate the story. This is one of my most favorite things to learn about and this book provided a plethora of information. The narration was perfect for the story. Charles treated it with the reverence and respect required for this history lesson.

A life well lived

I have listened to other books narrated by Charles Henderson Norman, so I was expecting the deep timber and strong voice. For this book, it was perfect.

Although I am Canadian and had never heard of Black Elk, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. We have stories of Canadian Indigenous persons throughout our studies and there is always a question of how much of their story is based in reality and how much is added after the fact. For Nicholas Black Elk, I would say much of his story has been now told.

This book is part repudiation and part addition to John Neihardt’s 1932, Black Elk Speaks. In this book, Michael F. Steltenkamp delves deeper into Nicholas Black Elk’s life, examining each documented event in his life, verifying it for accuracy. Everything from Black Elk’s date of birth through to his conversion to the Catholic Church, to his death, is examined in great depth, making this a definitive tome. Although steeped in history, the book had a narrative quality that I enjoyed, bringing to life this famous Indian. It also shed light on some of the dark periods of interactions between Native Indians and the white settlers who clearly felt themselves superior. The treatment of the original people of North America is often shameful and I always hope the situation will improve, but it never seems to.

This book is also full of hope for a man who set a shining example of what a life well-lived looks like. I enjoyed it and recommend it.

What an interesting man

I was surprised at how interesting this man was. I don’t have as much time to read these days and when this book came out I thought this would be a good time to get it

Black Elk

Good book with a lot of information. Not exactly what I was expecting but I enjoyed it very much. It would have been a lot better for me if I had read the other books that are repeatedly referenced here. I felt like there was a lot I was missing. I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Interesting

A lot of references were made to earlier works of other authors about the person of Black Elk. I did not expect or particularly care for that, probably because I am unfamiliar with those books and thoughts.

Regardless I enjoyed learning more about this unique person. It is worth a listen.

I received this audiobook free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent insights!

I have read Black Elk Speaks,. so this was an interesting addition to the other. Black Elk was an amazing Holy Man with great knowledge to share. I enjoyed this book immensely and recommend it to anyone interested in his life and thoughts. The Narrator did a super job... as always.

Perfect

This was an awesome review of a complex man’s life. The context of his last Fr was taken into account in a new way when looking at the words he gave to Niehardt earlier in his life.

It looks a a great review of the entire life and time of a great holy man of two traditions.

Read this if you want to know who he was

The best book on Nicholas Black Elk ever written. The narrator takes some getting used to, but one you do, he does a great job.

Nicholas Black Elk

I found this a very interesting and educational book.It makes you want to delve into the subject more. Charles Henderson Norman was a fine narrator.Very precise in pronunciations.I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.