| 1912 - 1941 |
| Year | John Neihardt - Epic Poet of The American West 1881 - 1973 | Photos | |
| 1912 | Neihardt in 1912 began his chief work, five epic poems entitled A Cycle of The West. The Cycle covered the years 1822 to 1890 during the American settlement of the Great Plains. The Cycle with an account of The Death of Crazy Horse and The Battle of Little Big Horn became a favorite of that time. The Splendid Wayfaring which covers the explorations of the pioneer Jed Smith became the subject of the third song in the Cycle. Neihardt befriended many great cavalrymen and Americans Indians who fought in the Great Indian Wars and who participated in the fur trade. Thus, it can be argued, that Neihardt’s portrayal of American Westward Settlement is the most authentic version available today. |
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| 1931
1941 | Black Elk Speaks, Neihardt's most popular writing evolved from interviews with Oglala Sioux Holy Man Nicholas Black Elk during research on A Cycle of The West.
The universal symbolism of this perenial best seller made it a favorite of scholars such as Carl Jung and Josesph Campbell. |
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"Within a half hour, after I met him, Balck Elk had chosen me as his spiritual son." Neihardt recalls, "and he seemed not only to know that I was coming but had expected me a long time." 