To Save the Man
To Save the Man by John Sayles, published by Melville House Publishing LLC on January 21, 2025, is a historical narrative that explores the Wounded Knee Massacre and the cultural genocide faced by Native American children at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. This edition spans 336 pages and is presented in English. The story unfolds in September 1890, as students at the Carlisle School navigate the oppressive environment enforced by Captain Richard Henry Pratt, who believes in assimilating Native Americans into white culture.
Readers will find a poignant examination of identity and survival as the young students hear of a “ghost dance” aimed at restoring Native power. The narrative captures the tension between the students’ cultural heritage and the pressures to conform to white societal norms. As rumors of impending violence grow, each student faces a critical decision: to adhere to the imposed path or remain true to their roots. This book delves into themes of resistance and the struggle for cultural identity amid historical upheaval.
Official synopsis Publisher
In the vein of Never Let Me Go and Killers of the Flower Moon, one of America’s greatest storytellers sheds light on an American tragedy: the Wounded Knee Massacre, and the ‘cultural genocide’ experienced by the Native American children at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School . . .
In September of 1890, the academic year begins at the Carlisle School, a military-style boarding school for Indians in Pennsylvania, founded and run by Captain Richard Henry Pratt. Pratt considers himself a champion of Native Americans. His motto, “To save the man, we must kill the Indian,” is severely enforced in both classroom and dormitory: Speak only English, forget your own language and customs, learn to be white.
As the young students navigate surviving the school, they begin to hear rumors of a “ghost dance” amongst the tribes of the west—a ceremonial dance aimed at restoring the Native People to power, and running the invaders off their land. As the hope and promise of the ghost dance sweeps across the Great Plains, cynical newspapers seize upon the story to whip up panic among local whites. The US government responds by deploying troops onto lands that had been granted to the Indians. It is an act that seems certain to end in slaughter.
As news of these developments reaches Carlisle, each student, no matter what their tribe, must make a choice: to follow the white man’s path, or be true to their own way of life . . .
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “To Save the Man” about?
Who is the author of “To Save the Man”?
When was “To Save the Man” published?
What is the ISBN for “To Save the Man”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
