Ways of Indian Wisdom: Stories

VanEtten is to be commended for making these Pueblo myths and legends (which she translated from the Tewa language) available to a general readership. The 20 selections included here are remarkable for the insight they give us into a culture unknown to most readers that has all but disappeared. Furthermore, VanEtten (author of a previous collection of Indian tales, Dead Kachina Man has made her choices wisely, including myths and legends that focus on a variety of issues in the Pueblo world, relationships between men and women, between the old and the young, and between the Indian and nature. The only shortcomings of this collection are the incidental bits of dialogue between the author and her friends that frame each tale. These do nothing to enhance the stories and are, in most cases, annoying distractions from an otherwise interesting volume. Illustrations not seen by PW. (April)