Dahcotah or Life and Legends of the Sioux Around Fort Snelling

Mary Eastman

Published by John Wiley, New York, 1849

Mary Eastman's fascinating description of the Dahcotah (Dakota) or Sioux Native Americans and their culture and myths after living near them, at Fort Snelling in Minnesota with her military officer husband, for seven years. Condition: G+ to VG- BOOK INFO Published in 1849 by John Wiley in New York City. First edition. In its original green blind-stamped publisher cloth with intricately gilt decoration of a Sioux warrior on the front cover. Octavo. 8" x 5 1/8". Complete, including all four plates drawn by author's husband, Captain Eastman. A few within text illustrations. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mary Henderson Eastman(February 24, 1818? February 24, 1887) was an American historian and novelist who is noted for her works aboutNative Americanlife. She was also an advocate ofslaveryin the United States. In response toHarriet Beecher Stowe's anti-slaveryUncle Tom's Cabin, Eastman defended Southern slaveholding society by writingAunt Phillis's Cabin; Or, Southern Life As It Is(1852), which earned her considerable fame.She was the wife of the American illustrator and army officerSeth Eastman. In1841, Eastman accompanied her husband when he assumed command ofFort Snelling(in what is now Minnesota), where he served until 1848.During this period, Eastman learned theSioux languageto study and record theSiouxcustoms and lore.After the Eastmans left Fort Snelling, they lived in Washington, D.C., where she worked to defend Southern slaveholding society before changing her position on slavery and becoming aUnionist. Eastman's workDahcotah; Or, Life and Legends of the Sioux Around Fort Snellingdetailed Sioux customs and lore in a somewhat fictionalized accountant. The bookis claimed to have influencedHenry Wadsworth Longfellow?s famousThe Song of Hiawatha.It also documented the plight of women in the Sioux society, noting their unjust treatment by cruel and vindictive husbands. CONDITION REPORT The book is in Good+ to VG- condition. Firm binding though a bit strained in places, front hinge a little weak. Rubbed boards and extremities, lightly soiled in a few places. Rubbed joints, bumped corners. Spine a bit faded. Toned to slightly browned pages. Foxing to a few leaves at extremities; an infrequent spot otherwise, except for one plate with a bit heavier foxing. Grubby endpapers. No writing except for a scribbled-out name in ink on FFEP. No ex libris marks or bookplates. A few smudges and areas of creasing. . Seller Inventory # 303

Bibliographic Details

Title: Dahcotah or Life and Legends of the Sioux ...
Publisher: John Wiley, New York
Publication Date: 1849
Binding: Original cloth
Illustrator: John Eastman
Condition: Very Good
Edition: first edition.