Mari Sandoz Criticism
Mari Sandoz (1896–1966), also known by the pseudonym Mari Macumber, was an American writer celebrated for her historical and fictional narratives about the American West. Despite lacking formal historical training, Sandoz's works are lauded for their accuracy and vivid realism. Born in Nebraska to Swiss immigrants, her upbringing amidst frontier hardships deeply influenced her writing. Her first book, Old Jules, is a portrayal of her father and the pioneering spirit in Nebraska, noted for its realism and cultural exploration, as discussed by William Allen White and Stanley T. Williams.
Sandoz's nonfiction works, collectively called The Great Plains Series, include notable titles such as Crazy Horse and Cheyenne Autumn, which explore Native American history with empathy and detail, though sometimes critiqued for bias, as seen in the works of Stanley Walker and J. Frank Dobie. Her dedication to portraying the historical and cultural narratives of the West is evident in her nuanced depiction of the Plains Indians' struggle and the impact of westward expansion.
Sandoz also penned novels like Slogum House and Capital City, addressing themes of power and societal threats with a stark narrative, though they received mixed critical attention. Rose C. Feld and Margaret Wallace highlight the novel’s deep character exploration against the backdrop of harsh frontier life.
Overall, Sandoz’s work reflects a profound appreciation for the American landscape and its historical complexities, balancing lyrical prose with a journalistic eye. Her contributions provide critical insights into the cultural conflicts and transformations of her time, as emphasized by critics like Helen Winter Stauffer.
Contents
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A Prize Winner
(summary)
In the following essay, William Allen White argues that Mari Sandoz's Old Jules vividly chronicles the life of a pioneering Swiss man in the harsh, semi-arid plains of western Nebraska, highlighting not only his rugged individualism but also the broader struggle and cultural evolution of successive waves of pioneers in this challenging environment.
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A Nebraska Outpost
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In the following essay, Stanley T. Williams argues that Mari Sandoz's Old Jules captures the authentic and brutal reality of frontier life, highlighting the struggles and triumphs of pioneers against the backdrop of an unforgiving landscape, while simultaneously revealing the broader historical sweep of America's westward expansion.
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Pioneer Strength Divorced from Goodness
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In the following essay, Rose C. Feld contends that Mari Sandoz's novel "Slogum House" powerfully portrays the brutal and ruthless nature of pioneer life through its protagonist Gulla Slogum, challenging romanticized depictions of that era with a narrative marked by violence and the corruptive pursuit of land.
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Mari Sandoz, Author of 'Old Jules', Writes Again of the Nebraska Cow Country
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In the following essay, Margaret Wallace praises Mari Sandoz's novel "Slogum House" for its artistic merit and vivid portrayal of America's last frontier, emphasizing the novel's focus on human character over social or political philosophy and noting its depiction of the West as a place of opportunity and ambition.
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Sandburg Finishes Lincoln—Setup for Fascism—Why We Travel
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In the following essay, Clifton Fadiman critiques Mari Sandoz's novel "Capital City," arguing that despite its potentially explosive subject matter and strong journalistic elements, the book falls short as a novel, lacking in character development and failing to effectively convey its important message about the threat of Fascism.
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Greatest of the Buffalo Hunters
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In the following essay, Stanley Walker critiques Mari Sandoz's portrayal of Crazy Horse, noting her deep admiration and thorough research but criticizing her stylistic choice to write in a manner reflecting Sioux thought and language, which he finds renders the work difficult to read while acknowledging its poetic beauty and historical fidelity.
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Nemetskies
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In the following essay, Clifton Fadiman critiques Mari Sandoz's "Crazy Horse: The Strange Man of the Oglalas" as an ambitious but uneven work that blends history with heroic epic, ultimately becoming more of a biographical apologetic while still contributing substantially to the historical record of the American Indian.
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The Frozen Flight of Little Wolf and His People
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In the following essay, W. R. Burnett admires Mari Sandoz's "Cheyenne Autumn" for its deep insight and sympathetic portrayal of the Cheyenne people, despite his reservations about the author's partisan depiction of Native Americans as noble and whites as flawed.
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When the Cheyennes Went Home
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In the following essay, J. Frank Dobie examines Mari Sandoz's "Cheyenne Autumn," comparing its dramatic elements to a Lear-like tragedy and praising Sandoz's sensitive portrayal of the Cheyenne people, while also reflecting on the broader implications of the United States' historical treatment of Native American tribes.
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The Passing of a Great Race
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In the following essay, W. R. Burnett praises Mari Sandoz's "The Buffalo Hunters" for its epic and detailed portrayal of the intertwined demise of the Plains Indians and the buffalo, highlighting her authentic depiction of historical figures and events while conveying both the sadness and exhilaration of this historical narrative.
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The Lady Was a Medic
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In the following essay, W. R. Burnett critiques Mari Sandoz's attempt to write conventional fiction in "Miss Morissa, Doctor of the Gold Trail," arguing that the novel is overshadowed by its numerous unrelated incidents, despite Sandoz's successful previous works that offer vivid and naturalistic portrayals of the Old West.
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Battle of the Beef
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In the following essay, J. Frank Dobie critiques Mari Sandoz's The Cattlemen for its historical and stylistic inconsistencies, while acknowledging its vivid descriptions, particularly of the American West, but ultimately finds its reliance on familiar narratives uninspiring and lacking originality.
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Soldiers and Indians
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In the following essay, Alvin M. Josephy, Jr. praises Mari Sandoz's retelling of "The Battle of the Little Bighorn" for its superior narrative quality, noting her interpretations offer fresh perspectives on Custer's motivations, despite some historical uncertainties and potential disagreements from enthusiasts.
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Fascists in Fiction: Two Early Novels of Mari Sandoz
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In the following essay, Scott L. Greenwell examines Mari Sandoz's didactic approach in her early novels, highlighting her attempts to critique the will-to-power individual and society's tendency towards fascism, though acknowledging her works fell short of her aspirations due to excessive manipulation of plots and characters.
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Mari Sandoz: Story Catcher of the Plains
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In the following essay, Stauffer explores Mari Sandoz's literary contributions, emphasizing her unique integration of historical research and narrative to depict the interplay between humans and the Great Plains, while addressing themes of fate, cultural conflict, and the moral implications of historical events.