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Sherman Alexie

シャーマン・アレクシー

Shāman Arekushī

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1966-10-07 （Spokane, Washington, U.S. (Sacred Heart Hospital)）
Nationality
Spokane Tribe of the Spokane Reservation, United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Spokane Indian Reservation, Washington → Seattle, Washington, U.S.

Career

Occupations
novelist, short story writer, poet, screenwriter, filmmaker
Active Years
1992-
Affiliations
Longhouse Media (founding board member)
Influenced By
Joseph Bruchac, Alex Kuo

Education

Gonzaga University
Period: 1985–1987（途中中退）
Country: United States
Originally enrolled in pre-med; left before completing degree.
Washington State University
Degree: 名誉学士
Period: 1987–（在籍およびその後名誉学位）
Year of Graduation: 1995
Country: United States
Studied creative writing; awarded an honorary bachelor's degree in 1995.

Awards

National Endowment for the Arts Poetry Fellowship
1992
Organization: National Endowment for the Arts
Result: 受賞
PEN/Hemingway Award
1993
Work: The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven
Organization: PEN America
Result: 受賞（最優秀処女作）
American Book Award
1996
Work: Reservation Blues
Organization: Before Columbus Foundation
Result: 受賞
National Book Award (Young People's Literature)
2007
Work: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Category: ヤングアダルト
Organization: National Book Foundation
Result: 受賞
Odyssey Award
2009
Work: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (audiobook)
Category: オーディオブック
Organization: American Library Association (ALSC)
Result: 受賞（最優秀YAオーディオ）
PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction
2010
Work: War Dances
Organization: PEN/Faulkner Foundation
Result: 受賞
Native Writers' Circle of the Americas Lifetime Achievement Award
2010
Organization: Native Writers' Circle of the Americas
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

2007 Young adult / semi-autobiographical novel 230 pages

A semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story about 14-year-old Arnold ('Junior') from the Spokane Indian Reservation who transfers to a predominantly white high school and struggles with identity, poverty, family, and survival. Told with humor and poignancy.

identitycoming-of-agereservation lifepoverty and alcoholism

Reservation Blues

1995 Novel (with elements of magical realism) 288 pages

A novel revisiting characters from earlier short stories; follows men from the Spokane Reservation who form a band, blending music, myth, and contemporary reservation life to explore cultural conflict and identity.

music and storytellingtradition vs. modernitycultural identity

The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven

1993 Short story collection 192 pages

A linked collection of short stories following characters such as Victor Joseph and Thomas Builds-the-Fire, depicting life on the reservation; material from this collection was adapted into the film Smoke Signals.

memory and narrativecommunity and friendshipreservation realities
Adaptations
  • [Film] Smoke Signals / Chris Eyre (1998)

War Dances

2009 Collection of short stories and poems 160 pages

A mixed collection of short stories and poems combining personal anecdotes, humor, and sharp observations to explore identity and relationships.

self and familycultural conflicthumor and pathos

Bibliography

  • The Business of Fancydancing: Stories and Poems (1992)
  • The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven (1993)
  • Reservation Blues (1995)
  • Indian Killer (1996)
  • The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (2007)
  • Flight (2007)
  • War Dances (2009)
  • You Don't Have to Say You Love Me (2017, memoir)
  • Thunder Boy, Jr. (2016, children's book)

Adaptations

  • Smoke Signals (1998) — film adapted from The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven (screenplay by Alexie, directed by Chris Eyre)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
humorous and acerbic narrative voicemix of semi-autobiographical realism and allegorical elementscolloquial, direct voice often using character-specific patois
Recurring Motifs
reservation lifealcoholism and povertyintergenerational conflict and bondsmusic and storytelling

Health

  • Hydrocephalus
    乳児期（生後6か月時に手術）
    Underwent brain surgery as an infant for hydrocephalus; survived serious early-life risks. Experienced seizures and bedwetting in early childhood; did not suffer major cognitive impairment according to available accounts.

Legacy

As a prominent Native American writer from the Spokane Tribe, Alexie brought reservation life and identity issues to wide readership with humor and pathos, influencing younger writers and young readers. His reputation is complicated by sexual harassment allegations since 2018, which led to reassessments and rescinded recognitions in some institutions.

Academic Societies

  • Native Writers' Circle of the Americas

In Popular Culture

  • The film Smoke Signals (1998) received acclaim as a Native American feature and broadened Alexie's public recognition.

Quotes

  • Arizona has made our books sacred documents now.
    Source: Response to Arizona HB 2281 (reported comment/article) (2012)

Trivia

  • Born with hydrocephalus and underwent brain surgery as an infant.
  • Attended Reardan High School and excelled in basketball.
  • Dropped out of Gonzaga University; later associated with Washington State University and received an honorary bachelor's degree in 1995.
  • The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven provided material for the film Smoke Signals.
  • Faced multiple sexual harassment allegations in 2018, leading to reputational and institutional consequences.