Leslie Marmon Silko is one of the most controversial
writers of her generation. Although frequently
classified as a Native American author,her work
defies such a simplistic definition. Born and raised
in the Laguna Indian tradition, but educated in the
white system,her work displays characteristics
which are both traditionally Indian and also modern
American. Her writings are centered on aspects of
Native American life, for example Indian myths and
legends but are written in a distinctly modern
style. It is this unique style of writing which sets
Silko apart from other novelists of her genre. She
refuses to be restricted to the traditional
characteristics of minority writing and continues to
conquer the preconceptions of the modern world. Her
work crosses boundaries which have been in place for
centuries,providing a bridge between the world of
the traditional and the contemporary. Because of her
ability to embody these dualistic tensions in her
work Silko has been hailed as one of the most
important Native American writers of her generation.
writers of her generation. Although frequently
classified as a Native American author,her work
defies such a simplistic definition. Born and raised
in the Laguna Indian tradition, but educated in the
white system,her work displays characteristics
which are both traditionally Indian and also modern
American. Her writings are centered on aspects of
Native American life, for example Indian myths and
legends but are written in a distinctly modern
style. It is this unique style of writing which sets
Silko apart from other novelists of her genre. She
refuses to be restricted to the traditional
characteristics of minority writing and continues to
conquer the preconceptions of the modern world. Her
work crosses boundaries which have been in place for
centuries,providing a bridge between the world of
the traditional and the contemporary. Because of her
ability to embody these dualistic tensions in her
work Silko has been hailed as one of the most
important Native American writers of her generation.