Reviews
"A splendid overview of the Native American West to the end of the eighteenth century."--Larry McMurtry, New York Review of Books "The first volume in the publisher's new series History of the American West, this clearly written, monumental history of Native Americans and of white-Indian interaction in the trans-Appalachian West up to the beginning of the nineteenth century synthesizes a vast body of archaeological, ethnographic, and historical scholarship. It will long remain the authoritative treatment of its subject."--Benjamin Schwarz, The Atlantic Monthly "[A] masterful synthesis of an extensive literature. . . . Without taking sides, Calloway points to controversies in scholarship, and, in a reasoned way, he integrates Native oral histories and origin stories into his narrative. The book is a solid contribution to our understanding of the American West."-Western Historical Quarterly "What makes this book so interesting is the author's consistent use of native American oral traditions as a bridge between recorded history and the prehistory normally investigated only through archaeological techniques. In the last several years there have been several attempts to rewrite American history from a native American perspective... but this book by Calloway stands out for its greater scope, its greater emphasis on Indian sources, and the overall superb synthesis of history, anthropology, and geography."--Robert A. Dunn, Historical Geography "[An] enthralling and brilliant survey. . . . [Calloway] masterfully integrates the disciplines of archaeology, anthropology, environmental science, and history to provide a wonderful panorama illustrating both the diversity and the vibrancy of these rich cultures."-Booklist "Author of First Peoples and a distinguished Dartmouth historian, Calloway concentrates on the Indian experience from the Appalachians to the Pacific, in a time frame from prehistory to the 18th century. The scope is staggering, but Calloway masters it, demonstrating a remarkable command of a broad spectrum of historical, ethnographic and archaeological sources including printed material and oral traditions. . . . One Vast Winter Count is both a major work in its own right and a magnificent first volume in Nebraska's new History of the American West series."--Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Calloway draws on tribal histories, anthropology, and archaeology, as well as traditional historical sources, to present this useful and insightful overview of vibrant nations actively charting their futures in the time of great change and tremendous challenge before Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery set forth in 1803. . . . Calloway's balanced treatment of a topic so easily given to polemics is welcome indeed. Highly recommended for academic and public libraries."--Library Journal "The author resurrects a shifting patchwork of native cultures. With an impressive and far-reaching grasp of his subject, Mr. Calloway replaces simplified notions of fixed boundaries, lifestyles, and tribes with a nuanced account of migrations and evolving tribal identities."--Jerome Tharaud, The New York Sun "Straightforward and unsentimental, this epic history does not glorify any sect or tribe or race, but presents the collisions, hard and soft, that created our modern world."--Andrew Burstein, The American Scholar "The author's research for this project is prodigious. It combines extensive uses of archaeology, ethnology, tribal accounts, personal reminiscences, and historical accounts, both primary and secondary. His familiarity with existing scholarship is impressive. Clear prose, cogent arguments, and a willingness to place multiple groups into the broad histrical processes that occurred make this a model study. . . . This book is first-rate sholarship and includes a wealth of useful and important ideas and data. As such it deserves wid
