Book Review: The Healing of Natalie Curtis by Jane Kirkpatrick
I love reading historical fiction that is based on a true story and this book certainly weaves truth and fiction together so well.
The story is set in the 1900’s. It is a story of a young woman raised in New York society who is a classically trained pianist. She decides to travel West with her brother to search for physical and emotional healing. What she receives is more than a healing, she receives a total life transformation.
The Western land, the Native American people she meets, and the Western Culture soon transform her into an advocate for social justice as she begins fighting for the rights and freedom of the Native American people who were being un-justly treated under the US government’s Code of Offenses.
Their music, dancing and voices were being silenced and Natalie was determined to find a way preserve their songs, and bring the people the freedom they deserved.
Natalie Curtis was in love with music, not just the classical music she grew up with, but also the music of the American Indigenous people she met and loved in the West, and she was determined to see their music was kept alive for generations to come, as she appealed to President Teddy Roosevelt to end the government silencing of their music and dance, she documented their songs so they would remain for posterity.
This book holds so many rich treasures of interests that will appeal to many a reader.
I recommend it to those who love historically based true stories, especially those who love the Native American people and/or social justice advocating.
I was given a copy of this book by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.
–Leona J. Atkinson