The Dying Grass: A Novel of the Nez Perce War

Written by William T. Vollmann

Narrated by Henry Strozier

The National Book Award winner takes readers inside the epic fighting retreat of the Nez Perce Indians In this new installment in his acclaimed series of novels examining the collisions between Native Americans and European colonizers, William T. Vollmann tells the story of the Nez Perce War, with flashbacks to the Civil War. Defrauded and intimidated at every turn, the Nez Perces finally went on the warpath in 1877, subjecting the U.S. Army to its greatest defeat since Little Big Horn as they fled from northeast Oregon across Montana to the Canadian border. Vollmann's main character is not the legendary Chief Joseph, but his pursuer, General Oliver Otis Howard, the brave, shy, tormented, devoutly Christian Civil War veteran. In this novel, we see him as commander, father, son, husband, friend, and killer. Teeming with many vivid characters on both sides of the conflict, and written in an original style in which the printed page works as a stage with multiple layers of foreground and background, The Dying Grass is another mesmerizing achievement from one of the most ambitious writers of our time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 13, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490684314

William T. Vollmann

William T. Vollmann is the author of seven novels, three collections of stories, and a seven-volume critique of violence, Rising Up and Rising Down. He is also the author of Poor People, a worldwide examination of poverty through the eyes of the impoverished themselves; Riding Toward Everywhere, an examination of the train-hopping hobo lifestyle; and Imperial, a panoramic look at one of the poorest areas in America. He has won the PEN Center USA West Award for Fiction, a Shiva Naipaul Memorial Prize and a Whiting Writers' Award. His journalism and fiction have been published in The New Yorker, Esquire, Spin and Granta. Vollmann lives in Sacramento, California.

Reviews for The Dying Grass

[jonfaith · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Indeed we are setting fire; we are burning the dying grass; we shall kill these Bluecoats as they have killed our people; we shall catch them all on fire.


Mighty brave, seeing you still here, son. Not many in a proper mind would keep pushing, over 1200 pages. Means you got "sand".

Do you pray, young Reader? Do you see the celestial dynamics unfolding in our triumph?

What's that, you mumbling? Can't stand that: enunciate, D____n you.

That weary ache from holdin' and reading? Son, that's admiration.

See, son, I wanted balance and to uphold that fluidity and follow the facts, I had to digress as well as maintain -- for the full duration. Uncle Billy would agree. Don't forget General Sherman ain't no war criminal, because we are winners. This train is bound for Glory -- not the Hague, mind you. We have Progress in our hearts and I remain ever so thankful that you've lugged around this tome this past month. Dismissed.

Likely 3.5 stars. I was hoping for more Authorial intrusion and hoodwinks. Where are you Blind One?

[pollymig · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.Thank you to NetGalley for this amazing book! William T. Vollman's latest installment in his Dream series is a long, delicious read, and his ability to take you into a different time was a huge part of this book for me. To look into the world of the Nez Perce and their relationship to their land is fascinating. Recommended for any reader of historical fiction.