Leslie Marmon Silko
American Indian
1948-
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As a novelist, poet, and essayist, Leslie Silko has earned
acclaim for her writings about Native Americans. Although
her first book published was the 1974 volume of poems
called Laguna Woman, Silko received wide and substantial
critical attention in 1977 with her novel Ceremony. Her
novels, as well as her poems, are shaped by her Native
American heritage. In her writings, Silko draws from many
of the traditional oral stories that she heard growing
up at Laguna Pueblo Indian reservation in northern New
Mexico. Her works primarily focus on the alienation of
Native Americans in a white society and on the importance
of native traditions and community in helping them cope
with modern life. She has been noted as a major contributor
to the Native American literary and artistic renaissance,
which began in the late 1960s...
Considered by many as one of the most important contemporary
Native American writers, Silko is also a writer who bridges
cultures. "I see myself as a member of the global
community," Silko told Thomas Irmer for an interview
in the Write Stuff. "My old folks who raised me saw
themselves as citizens of the world. We see no borders.
When I write I am writing to the world, not to the United
States alone. I do believe that the things I am talking
about will finally, maybe not in my lifetime . . . turn
out." (Contemporary Authors)
For more information check out the display in Burling
or visit her page in Literature
Resource Center online...
Related Authors:
Sherman Alexie (1966-)
Simon Ortiz (1941-)
Luci Tapahonso (1953-)
Louise Erdrich (1954-)
