Warrior Woman: The Story of Lozen, Apache Warrior and Shaman

By Peter Aleshire

Warrior Woman is the story of Lozen, sister of the famous Apache warrior Victorio, and warrior in her own right. Hers is a story little discussed in Native American history books. Instead, much of what is known of her has been passed down through generations via stories and legends. For example, it is said that she was embued with supernatural powers, given to her by the gods. She would lift her arms to the sky and place her palms against the wind, and through the heat she felt in her open hands, she could detect the direction and distance of her enemies. Whether true or not, she did ride into battle alongside Geronimo in the Apache wars, and fought bitterly and savagely until she was captured along with her people, packed into railroad cars, and sent to imprisonment in the east, where she spent her last days. Peter Aleshire uses historical facts and oral histories to recreate her life. With immaculate detail he tells the story of her childhood, surrounded by the vastness of nature and the Chiricahua legends and religions that shaped her thoughts. He describes her coming-of-age ceremonies, and induction into her tribe as a spiritual leader. As the white men slowly took over the land of her people and forced them from one reservation to another, her role slowly evolved to match that of the staunchest warrior -- an almost unheard-of occurence among the Native Americans of the 19th century, where a woman's place was with the children in the villages. This is not only the story of Lozen, but the story of her people, from the events leading up to the Apache Wars until their inevitable and unfortunate conclusion.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312244088
• ISBN13: 9780312244088
• Release Date: April 2001
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.9" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Must read

The book could be described as "dry" on occasion but it's History, forgotten History at that. I loved Mr.Aleshire's book about a true Hero that so little has been written of. I enjoyed the chapter notes and appreciate that Mr. Aleshire added his own assumptions at time. I had a hard time putting this book down and have recommended it to people I know would enjoy it. My Great-Grandmother mentioned Lozen when I was younger and until I was in High School I thought she was a myth. What a terrible shame it is to know so little about someone so legend worthy.

Lozen.

I have learned from a reliable source (another author in fact)that Peter Aleshire is an Apache? His book I found hard to put down. One of the best written on this elusive and mysterious woman. He has given an honest account of her life and weaved facts with probabilities that he has recorded as his own assumptions to fill in the gaps where no records exist.

Fascinating!

This book, though rather dry at times, is still a fascinating account of a forgotten warrior. Detailing the life of Lozen is a worthy endeavor (though it's been done before in another book called "Lozen: Apache Woman Warrior" - which is also worth reading by the way.) I found this book to be well worth reading, as well - it's one of those history explorations that seem to take you back to the time and place of it's account, and spark your imagination to what the life of the people of that time might have been like. I hope more people read this book so that Lozen's name is not forgotten (as so many great, historical women in other cultures are) I would love it if one day her name were as recognizable as Geronimo or Crazy Horse. Maybe this book will help with that - who knows!

Good--but incomplete

Finally, this warrior woman's story is being told! This well researched biography reads like a novel. Peter Aleshire presents her as a hero to her people. He researches every battle and skirmish and reveals Lozen's known or most probable role in them. He shows that her warrior exploits took up the bulk of her life. He attempts to write from an Apache viewpoint. I'm not sure if he succeeds, but he does choose Apache sources of information over others, and admits his limitations as an outsider, even as he felt compelled to write this book. This book desperately needs maps and photographs. There are none. Lozen's life criss-crossed much of the Southwest and Mexico. Mr. Aleshire mentions a famous photograph of Lozen without including it in this volume. I had to go to outside sources to track her movements and see her face. So, I call this book incomplete. But, I am immensely glad this book has finally been written. It's existence is a hundred years overdue.