John Neihardt facts for kids
John Gneisenau Neihardt (born January 8, 1881 – died November 3, 1973) was an American writer and poet. He was also an amateur historian and ethnographer. This means he studied different cultures and their history. He grew up when the American Plains were being settled. He became very interested in the lives of European-American settlers. He also cared about the Indigenous peoples who lived there before.
His most famous book is Black Elk Speaks (1932). In this book, Neihardt shares the story of Black Elk. Black Elk was a Lakota medicine man. The book describes Black Elk's important visions. It became very popular, especially after 1961. Many people became interested in Native American cultures. The book has been printed many times. However, some people question how accurate the book is.
A Writer's Life
John Neihardt was born in Sharpsburg, Illinois. He published his first book, The Divine Enchantment, when he was just 19 years old. This book was inspired by Hindu spiritual ideas.
In 1901, Neihardt moved to Bancroft, Nebraska. This town was near the Omaha Reservation. This move started his lifelong interest in Native American cultures. He also helped run the local newspaper, the Bancroft Blade. After visiting the Black Hills, Neihardt published A Bundle of Myrrh. This book contained romantic poetry written in free verse.
In 1920, Neihardt moved to Branson, Missouri. In the summer of 1930, he was researching the American Indian Ghost Dance movement. As part of this research, Neihardt met an Oglala holy man named Black Elk. Neihardt wrote the book Black Elk Speaks based on their talks. These conversations continued in the spring of 1931. The book was published in 1932. It is now Neihardt's most famous work. The book was translated into German in 1953. In the United States, it was reprinted in 1961. Since then, it has had four more editions. In 2008, a special edition of the book was published with notes. However, some people still debate how accurate the book is.
Neihardt taught poetry at the University of Nebraska. He also worked as a literary editor in St. Louis, Missouri. From 1948 on, he was a poet-in-residence and lecturer at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri.
In 1971 and 1972, Neihardt appeared on The Dick Cavett Show. His appearances helped create new interest in Black Elk Speaks. Neihardt passed away in 1973.
Honors and Recognition
- In 1974, Neihardt was added to the Nebraska Hall of Fame.
- A student dormitory at Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska, is named after Neihardt.
- An elementary school in Omaha, Nebraska is named after Neihardt.
- A park in Blair, Nebraska, is named for both Black Elk and John Neihardt.
See also
- American writers
- American philosophy
- List of American philosophers
- Lilith: A Dramatic Poem, George Sterling's 1919 play, which Neihardt influenced.
