'Black Elk Speaks' leaving NU Press
“But now that I can see it all as from a lonely hilltop, I know it was the story of a mighty vision given to a man too weak to use it; of a holy tree that should have flourished in a people’s heart with flowers and singing birds, and now is withered; and of a people’s dream that died in bloody snow.”
— Nicholas Black Elk, “Black Elk Speaks,” 1932
A Native literary classic long associated with Nebraska is leaving the Plains — headed east to a New York publishing house.
The University of Nebraska Press no longer will publish “Black Elk Speaks” by John G. Neihardt, Nebraska poet laureate in perpetuity.
Starting in August, the State University of New York Press will publish the biography of the Lakota holy man.
“It’s a loss for not only the press but for the state,” said acting NU Press director Ladette Randolph. “There wasn’t a lot we could do.”
“Black Elk Speaks” sold nearly a million copies during the more than 20 years NU Press published it, Randolph said.
And she had no idea the New York publisher was looking at the book, she said, although in December NU Press director Gary Dunham left to become director of SUNY Press.
The Neihardt Trust — made up of Neihardt’s grandchildren, who own the book’s publication rights — agreed in late April to sell the publication rights to SUNY Press, Dunham said.
He described the book as one of the most influential books on religion and Natives of all time.
Randolph first became suspicious Dunham might be trying to lure the family from NU Press when Dunham called her earlier this year, requesting permission to publish a limited edition book of Neihardt’s poetry.
Then, in early April, one of Neihardt’s granddaughters informed her the family was planning to sign a contract with SUNY Press.
“It had obviously been in the works for a long time,” Randolph said. “It’s not that I’m blaming the family so much, but it was hard.”
But the University of Nebraska Press, which publishes 160 books a year, will survive without “Black Elk Speaks,” she said, and will retain the publication rights to at least four other Neihardt books.
Dunham contacted the Neihardt family in mid-February and spoke to them about selling the book’s rights to SUNY Press, which publishes more than 200 books a year, he said.
He said it’s not unusual for press directors to take certain authors with them when they leave for new publishing houses.
“The Neihardt family has been yearning to move their books to a national platform for a long time,” he said.
He said the contract between the family and NU Press for “Black Elk Speaks” expired in 1999 and was never renewed. The press had been publishing the book on a yearly basis without a contract since then.
“‘Black Elk’ was never taken by SUNY Press,” Dunham said. “It had been lost by Nebraska Press when the contract expired in 1999.”
SUNY Press plans to publish a new, annotated version of the book in August and will extensively promote the book, he said.
The press, which has marketing connections the smaller NU Press simply doesn’t have, also plans to start an annual distinguished lecture series promoting Neihardt’s work, Dunham said.
He’s hopeful the promotional events will reawaken interest in the book.
“It’s going to remind everyone why Neihardt and why ‘Black Elk Speaks’ matter,” he said.
Published in 1932 to lukewarm public reception, the book went out of print after less than two years until 1961, when it was reissued and enthusiastically received by readers.
To Paul Olson, who taught Native literature around the time “Black Elk Speaks” was reissued, the book awakened an interest among the nation’s youth in Native culture and history.
The book gave meaning to Native students exploring their roots, as well as non-Native students looking for religious meaning in their lives, he said.
“When it first appeared, it was like Kilimanjaro in the middle of the plains of Africa,” said the University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor emeritus of English.
Since 1961, numerous books about Native history and culture have been published, he said. But “Black Elk Speaks” remains one of the first books of its kind.
“Now it’s a great peak, but it’s surrounded by other great peaks,” he said.
Reach Kevin Abourezk at 473-7225 or kabourezk@journalstar.com.
— Nicholas Black Elk, “Black Elk Speaks,” 1932
A Native literary classic long associated with Nebraska is leaving the Plains — headed east to a New York publishing house.
The University of Nebraska Press no longer will publish “Black Elk Speaks” by John G. Neihardt, Nebraska poet laureate in perpetuity.
Starting in August, the State University of New York Press will publish the biography of the Lakota holy man.
“It’s a loss for not only the press but for the state,” said acting NU Press director Ladette Randolph. “There wasn’t a lot we could do.”
“Black Elk Speaks” sold nearly a million copies during the more than 20 years NU Press published it, Randolph said.
And she had no idea the New York publisher was looking at the book, she said, although in December NU Press director Gary Dunham left to become director of SUNY Press.
The Neihardt Trust — made up of Neihardt’s grandchildren, who own the book’s publication rights — agreed in late April to sell the publication rights to SUNY Press, Dunham said.
He described the book as one of the most influential books on religion and Natives of all time.
Randolph first became suspicious Dunham might be trying to lure the family from NU Press when Dunham called her earlier this year, requesting permission to publish a limited edition book of Neihardt’s poetry.
Then, in early April, one of Neihardt’s granddaughters informed her the family was planning to sign a contract with SUNY Press.
“It had obviously been in the works for a long time,” Randolph said. “It’s not that I’m blaming the family so much, but it was hard.”
But the University of Nebraska Press, which publishes 160 books a year, will survive without “Black Elk Speaks,” she said, and will retain the publication rights to at least four other Neihardt books.
Dunham contacted the Neihardt family in mid-February and spoke to them about selling the book’s rights to SUNY Press, which publishes more than 200 books a year, he said.
He said it’s not unusual for press directors to take certain authors with them when they leave for new publishing houses.
“The Neihardt family has been yearning to move their books to a national platform for a long time,” he said.
He said the contract between the family and NU Press for “Black Elk Speaks” expired in 1999 and was never renewed. The press had been publishing the book on a yearly basis without a contract since then.
“‘Black Elk’ was never taken by SUNY Press,” Dunham said. “It had been lost by Nebraska Press when the contract expired in 1999.”
SUNY Press plans to publish a new, annotated version of the book in August and will extensively promote the book, he said.
The press, which has marketing connections the smaller NU Press simply doesn’t have, also plans to start an annual distinguished lecture series promoting Neihardt’s work, Dunham said.
He’s hopeful the promotional events will reawaken interest in the book.
“It’s going to remind everyone why Neihardt and why ‘Black Elk Speaks’ matter,” he said.
Published in 1932 to lukewarm public reception, the book went out of print after less than two years until 1961, when it was reissued and enthusiastically received by readers.
To Paul Olson, who taught Native literature around the time “Black Elk Speaks” was reissued, the book awakened an interest among the nation’s youth in Native culture and history.
The book gave meaning to Native students exploring their roots, as well as non-Native students looking for religious meaning in their lives, he said.
“When it first appeared, it was like Kilimanjaro in the middle of the plains of Africa,” said the University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor emeritus of English.
Since 1961, numerous books about Native history and culture have been published, he said. But “Black Elk Speaks” remains one of the first books of its kind.
“Now it’s a great peak, but it’s surrounded by other great peaks,” he said.
Reach Kevin Abourezk at 473-7225 or kabourezk@journalstar.com.
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