N. Scott Momaday, House Made of Dawn

Kathryn Napier Gray (University of Plymouth)
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House Made of Dawn

was first published in 1968 and is N. Scott Momaday’s first novel. The novel has received an extensive amount of attention from a wide range of writers, critics and academics, all of whom admire his ability to engage with the literary and cultural entanglements of Euro-American and Native American traditions. In recognition of the groundbreaking force of this first novel, Momaday was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1969.

The novel is set in the American southwest immediately after World War II; Abel, the protagonist, returns from combat psychologically scarred, disillusioned and drunk. As the novel develops, the reader witnesses Abel return to his grandfather, and his Jemez Pueblo heritage. The journey is not easy or straightforward and this is heightened by the

1669 words

Citation: Napier Gray, Kathryn. "House Made of Dawn". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 10 January 2005; last revised 07 April 2006. [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=13248, accessed 29 March 2024.]

13248 House Made of Dawn 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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