About the Book

Minnesota Book Award Finalist

Many tales have been told of the Old West: the voyage of Lewis and Clark, the Gold Rush of 1849, and the building of the Intercontinental Railroad. But much less known is the story of Nez Perce leader Chief Joseph and his struggle to return his people to their homeland. Chief Joseph led a group of eight hundred Nez Perce men, women and children 1800 miles through difficult, wintry terrain to escape the U.S. Military. Finally, he surrendered, saying “From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.”

Kent Nerburn examines the life and character of this complex leader and to what lengths he would go to help his people. After reading Chief Joseph and the Flight of the Nez Perce, you will never look at Chief Joseph, the American Indian, or our nation’s westward journey in the same way again.

Kent Nerburn holds a Ph.D. in Religion and Art. For several years he worked with the Ojibwe of northern Minnesota helping collect the memories of the tribal elders. He is the author of the highly acclaimed Letters to My Son, the award-winning Neither Wolf Nor Dog: On Forgotten Roads with An Indian Elder, and Simple Truths. He is editor of Native American Wisdom, The Soul of an Indian, and The Wisdom of the Great Chiefs. Nerburn lives with his wife and son in northern Minnesota.

“The truth is powerful, and Chief Joseph and the Flight of the Nez Perce gets right at truth. Nerburn has written about a man of humility and grandeur, whose patient anguish and devotion to his people should be part of our national mythos. This is storytelling with a greatness of heart.” — Louise Erdrich

Critical Praise

“Innovative… an intriguing study of a man and a legend.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Nerburn has written about a man of humility and grandeur... This is storytelling with a greatness of heart.” — Louise Erdrich

“With measured words and narrative power, Nerburn presents a dramatic portrait of Chief Joseph as a man of peace…” — Spirituality and Health magazine

“Nerburn…writes from the Indians’ perspective with insight and reverence.” — Columbus Dispatch

“Crisp, energetic account... reads like fictionalized history in the tradition of Mari Sandoz’s Crazy Horse.” — The Oregonian (Portland)

“Nerburn deftly records a dark chapter of forced diaspora and forgotten promises—one as engrossing as a novel.” — People

“A masterful job of recreating this tragic story.” — National Catholic Reporter

“The story has been told many times but not often with as much color as Nerburn provides.” — Denver Post

“A must read for every instructor of American history ….” — Grand Rapids Press

“[An] exceptionally fine book…” — The California Literary Review

“Nerburn seems to have found the real story of Chief Joseph rather than rehashing the iconic status…” — The Olympian

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Product Details

• ISBN: 9780061136085
• ISBN 10: 0061136085
• Imprint: HarperOne
• On Sale: 10/10/2006
• Trimsize: 5.310 in (w) x 8.000 in (h) x 1.010 in (d)
• Pages: 448
• List Price: $17.99
• BISAC1 : HISTORY / Military / United States
• BISAC2 : HISTORY / Native American
• BISAC3 : HISTORY / United States / 19th Century
• BISAC4 : HISTORY / United States / 20th Century
• BISAC5 : HISTORY / United States / 21st Century
• BISAC6 : HISTORY / United States / State & Local / Middle Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA)
• BISAC7 : HISTORY / United States / State & Local / Midwest (IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI)
• BISAC8 : HISTORY / United States / State & Local / Southwest (AZ, NM, OK, TX)
• BISAC9 : HISTORY / United States / State & Local / West (AK, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, UT, WY)
• BISAC10 : HISTORY / Modern / 19th Century