Review of “The Land Listens: Arrival Broke the Silence, Two Worlds Collides, and Everything Changed” by Marjan
This is the most powerful book I’ve read in a long time. I read it in a single sitting, unable to put it down, and will undoubtedly read it again, at least once, probably more. The author’s economy of words reminds me of Hemingway, but far more poetic. Words seem to breathe on the page. What’s not said is as vivid and impactful as what is. It operates on a timeless, spiritual level, conveying the essence of one of the most tragic epochs in American history.
The story centers around Elias Hawke, a surveyor sent westward by the U.S. Government in the 1800s to map the land and establish boundaries. It doesn’t take him long to realize that is contrary to what he senses from the land itself, especially as he builds a relationship with the local indigenous tribe that’s targeted for removal. He ultimately risks his life when he refuses to follow orders and allies himself with the natives. He is not welcomed so much as allowed, numerous confrontations that follow having mixed outcomes. Indeed, even the land itself is involved in a subtle yet moving manner.
Like the story of the Titanic, we know how it ends–but too many don’t comprehend the scope or immorality of what was done.
Many books have been written about the evils of colonization. Probably the most difficult part is that those involved with the Manifest Destiny era in the United States as well as in other countries believed what they were doing was right. Sadly, they had the approval of the pope, who gave them permission to kill or enslave indigenous people they were told were uncivilized savages. If there is one word in the Bible that was definitely translated incorrectly it was the word dominion.
Think about the context. The King James version was commissioned by a monarch, whose interests were on having exactly that, dominion. Not stewardship or responsibility, which is what I believe with every fiber of my being is the correct translation.
Without undue blood or gore, this book captures what occurred in a soul-stirring way. If you are of Western European heritage, it truly makes you question what your forefathers did, those who were deemed heroes and still are by many. I was furious when a few months back the current Secretary of War granted medals posthumously to men involved in the Wounded Knee Massacre. In many ways, those men were victims as well, lured by those in authority who imposed their conquering views on the populace as a whole. But heroes? For slaying unarmed, innocent people that were mostly women, children, and elders? [You can read my previous blog on that subject here.]
For me, this story was familiar, nothing I hadn’t already encountered while researching my own books in The Curse of Dead Horse Canyon trilogy. History is written by the victors so it’s no surprise how thoroughly it was sanitized in a country where there was supposed to be “liberty and justice for all.” My generation grew up on TV shows about “cowboys and Indians.” To their credit, there was usually at least a token “Indian” but the truth of what had been done was ignored.
I’m appalled that more compassion and help has been extended to those who attacked or threatened our way of life that we subsequently conquered, (e.g. Japan and Germany), than to those from whom we stole the land. Then there’s the matter of how those who came to this country illegally were given benefits denied to its original residents. Sadly, this continues today, with treaty violations ignored or rationalized while Native Americans on reservations live in Third World conditions most people wouldn’t believe.
Indigenous holy men prophesied they would some day get their land back. It’s exciting to see that in some cases that is already happening, where tribes are given back control (and might I add stewardship) over land that was originally their own. I must say it was beyond satisfying to accomplish that in my own novels. There’s also the fact that while tribes were offered payment for the Black Hills, they refused to accept it to this day because it was not for sale. And could a bigger insult be extended than Mount Rushmore? They may be the “Founding Fathers” to most Americans but certainly not those who still claim that land as their own.
This book is a stark reminder what was done and a call for justice, albeit generations late. It’s time to extend the help and compassion denied them for so long.
You can get a Kindle, paperback or audiobook copy on Amazon here.