Book reviews for the historical novel, Great Spirit of Yosemite: The Story of Chief Tenaya
Book reviews for Great Spirit of Yosemite – a book set in Yosemite National Park
Great Spirit of Yosemite Book Review: Stunning Book
“One will feel in their mind and soul for these noble people, long after one reads and places this stunning book on a shelf. Take this journey, empathize and long for justice overdue.” Vincent J. Tomeo, Author of “My Cemetery Friends”, Poet, Novelist, Archivist, Historian, and Community Activist
The Story of Chief Tenaya: Highly Recommended
“Set in a natural backdrop of mountains capturing the Indian way of life. The Story of Chief Tenaya is a refreshing insight into historical events interwoven with a skillfully written story. Most books tend to focus on tales of new settlers whereas
The Story of Chief Tenaya offers an awareness of tribal life, resulting in being both an educational and compelling read. We learn of the sacrifices Indians were forced to endure as their heritage was threatened by greed and violence. The book not only offers literary insight but is also filled with beautiful photographs. A fantastic and beautifully written novel which I highly recommend reading.“
Mary Crowley, Novelist, Freelance Writer and Reviewer, The Munster Bookshelf
Ahwahneechee: Skilled and Passionate Prosaic
“This fine book of Edmondson’s tells anew of the culture clash between white American settlers and the Native Americans who occupied the land for millennia prior to white settlement. But it’s not a re-warmed version of “white might wins;” instead, the author lives within the mind and heart of Tenaya, Chief of the Ahwahneechee Indians, settled in the California mountains.…..Whites begin to encroach on Ahwahneechee territory, and war ensues – the Mariposa Indian War of 1850-51.
Edmondson follows the tracks of this conflict, never leaving Tenaya’s emotional side. He alternates a skilled and passionate prosaic view of Tenaya’s loyalty to his people, his sly ways with Savage and other whites, with superbly written poetic paeans to Tenaya and his tribe. As such, the book has the feel of George Keithley’s poetic opus, “The Donner Party.” “Great Spirit of Yosemite” will no doubt add value to this canon of the white push westward, and the inevitable ceding of Native American homelands to them. It’s a powerful closeup of both sides of this particular conflict and should be read and appreciated widely.” Bob Mustin, award-winning Novelist and Founder of Gridley Fires Books.
Yosemite Book: Good Literature
“I am one of these people who reads a bit of a book and then skips to the end, but I didn’t want this book to end. I devoured every word………The story is told without sentimentality and is non-judgmental. It never seeks to blame either side. The book is unusual in that it is scholarly and at the same time accessible to the ordinary reader. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves good literature or has an interest in what happens where greed blinds us to the consequences of our actions.” Geraldine Rogers, Poet, Goodreads Review
Historical Fiction: Beautifully Crafted Fiction
“This book helps keep the spirit of these tribes alive today and is a book I would recommend to anyone interested in history as it really happened. Beautifully crafted fiction with a very accurate historical backdrop. At times it is hard to believe that it is indeed fiction”. Michael Curran, Goodreads Review.
Great Spirit of Yosemite, Book Review: Real Characters and Real People
“The book is about real characters and real people. You clearly put a huge amount of research into it, not just in terms of history, but who the people were, how they lived, how they hunted for food, how they felt when all this started to happen, what it was like for the women and children” Mary O’Neill, Broadcast Journalist with WLR FM (The full WLR FM radio interview can be heard here)
You can find 5-star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reviews and Ratings from Goodreads here:
Paul Edmondson’s books on Goodreads
Additionally, there are further reviews and ratings for this Yosemite National Park Book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.
To find out a little more about the author please visit my Biography page or catch up with external Profiles.
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I’ve read this book and admired both the story, which, imagined though it may be, gives an exciting and touching account of what so many Indian tribes suffered and lost, not just the Yosemites but also a reflection of the many others who were driven out of their lands; but the most exciting part of this book is not only the imagined story but the real photographs, the real names of the areas concerned and from which background they were driven out and the names of their places of heritage changed to inconsequential English names.
This is a book to be treasured and the word spread of the Great Spirit of Yosemite.
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the Native American history. Paul write beautiful with such rich colour in his words, his poetry and his stunning photos of Yosemite. Well done !
The Great Spirit of Yosemite effortlessly transports us back in time to witness at first hand the sad ending of an ancient civilisation, amid the background of one of the most beautiful areas in the world. Through meticulous research the author weaves a story of the plight of Chief Tenaya and his tribe as they try in vain to cling to their heritage in the face of the greed of the Californian Gold Rush. This is not “Hollywood history” but real history, gripping stuff indeed. The story is further supplemented by the inclusion of the authors stunning photographs and appropriate poetry.
Sadly the story of the Ahwahnee tribe and indigenous tribes has been replicated in so many countries throughout history. This book helps keep the spirit of these tribes alive today and is a book I would recommend to anyone interested in history as it really happened. Beautifully crafted fiction with a very accurate historical backdrop. At times it is hard to believe that it is indeed fiction. Well done on keeping such a balance and remaining faithful to the real history.
Well done Paul.
Spirits Never Die…
A Review of Paul Edmondson’s “Great Spirit of Yosemite; The Story of Chief Tenaya” by Vincent J. Tomeo, novelist, poet, historian
Mr. Tomeo did not know this story. Paul Edmondson takes one backstage behind the curtained valleys, mountains, streams, stunning, natural backdrop, and beauty of Yosemite National Park, and narrates a saga of Chief Tenaya’s last stand against all the odds. The untold story is a struggle expressed in prose, poetry, and photography. Against such an extraordinary landscape, one learns of the suffering and struggle of the native people.
This epic narrative journey tells us of the very fabric of this valley, and like a river, the natives flowed. Their past is always with us as it proceeds like a river, and never ends. The river is a road, a ceremonial refuge of millennial people who only wanted to live in their land, off the land, on the land, from the land in harmony and peace.
Gold, greed, pandemic, violence, war, and desolation would end all that. Although this indigenous group forcibly removed from this valley, their spirit will live.
The photographs are stunning, spectacular, and astonishing, and the poetry is absorbing. One will not be disappointed.
One will feel in their mind and soul for these noble people, long after one reads and places this stunning book on a shelf. Take this journey, empathize and long for justice overdue.
An enthralling description of Chief Tenaya and his Ahwahnee tribe in a well-researched story of the tragic fate of the various tribes of the Yosemite Valley. At the time of the 49ers greed for gold and land, and the final humiliation of the Mariposa Indian War of 1851/52, the tribes buckled, and were eventually herded into Reservations. Wonderfully descriptive in word and map, with many related photographs. I fully recommend this book relating to the struggles of the tribes to hold on to their homeland and their heritage in this beautiful area of rivers, valleys, forests and mountains.
Wonderful descriptive narrative flows through this book, consisting of a mixture of fiction and well-sourced historic fact. Through prose and poetry and the author’s exquisite photography, the reader is transported back to the time of the Gold Rush and the terrible plight suffered by the indigenous settlers of Yosemite. A truly engaging and brilliant read!