Paula Gunn Allen Books

This pioneering work, first published in 1986, documents the continuing vitality of American Indian traditions and the crucial role of women in those traditions.

In this collection of goddess stories gleaned from the vast oral tradition of Native America, the author evokes a world of personal freedom and communal harmony, of free communication among people, animals, and spirits, of magic and its discipline, of balance between the sacred and the mundane.--From publisher description

"Impressive....Haunting....Enchanting...Every story in the book, which covers nearly a century of tradition, is interesting, written with intelligent passion."THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEWNative American scholar, literary critic, poet, and novelist Paula Gunn Allen, who is herself a Laguna Pueblo-Sioux Indian, became increasingly aware in her academic career that the writings of Native Americans, especially women, have been marginalized by the Western literary canon. Allen set out to understand why this was so and, more importantly, to remedy the situation. The result is this powerful collection of traditional tales, biographical writings, and contemporary short stories, many by the most accomplished Native American women writing today, Louise Erdrich, Mary TallMountain, Linda Hogan, and many others.

The collection features essays by Paula Gunn Allen that delve into the intricate relationship between Native American culture and Western society. By intertwining her personal history with that of other Native peoples, she seeks to uncover connections that bridge eco-spirituality and multicultural heritage, addressing the challenges posed by a globalized, culturally dominant community. This work highlights the importance of understanding and integrating diverse cultural perspectives in a rapidly changing world.

In striking counterpoint to the conventional account, Pocahontas is a bold biography that tells the extraordinary story of the beloved Indian maiden from a Native American perspective. Dr. Paula Gunn Allen, the acknowledged founder of Native American literary studies, draws on sources often overlooked by Western historians and offers remarkable new insights into the adventurous life and sacred role of this foremost American heroine. Gunn Allen reveals why so many have revered Pocahontas as the female counterpart to the father of our nation, George Washington.

Fiction. "An absorbing, often fascinating world is created.not only is it an exploration of racism, it is often a powerful and moving testament to feminism" -The New York Times Book Review.