University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications associate professor of practice Tim Anderson’s biography on American poet John Neihardt, “Lonesome Dreamer: The Life of John G. Neihardt,” is available for preorder.
Neihardt, one-time Nebraska poet laureate, was an American poet and author best known for his book “Black Elk Speaks,” the story of Lakota holy man Black Elk. The first biography on Neihardt in nearly 40 years offers insight into both his personal and literary life. Born in Illinois and living more than 20 years in Bancroft, Nebraska, he dedicated himself to telling the stories of fur trappers and Plains Indian wars.
The book will be available August 1, 2016.
“I met Neihardt once, about a year before he died, when he was promoting the first volume of his memoirs,” Anderson said, “and I’ve been interested in him ever since.”
Anderson first started thinking about writing a book about Neihardt 20 years ago and has been working on it for more than 10 years. He has read all of Neihardt’s books, poems and more than 3,000 pieces of journalism and traveled across the country tracking down Neihardt’s letters at libraries and museums.
The University of Nebraska Press is publishing the book with help from a grant from Friends of University of Nebraska Press.
After 11 years teaching at University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Anderson is retiring at the end of this semester. Anderson taught reporting, editing and design classes at University of Nebraska–Lincoln, including Nebraska Mosaic, a senior-level course in which students cover Nebraska’s growing refugee communities.
Before teaching, he spent more than 30 years in newspapers in Nebraska, Missouri, Florida and New York, including nine years at New York Newsday, becoming executive news director, and nine years at The New York Times as the news design editor.
“I first left University of Nebraska–Lincoln 41 years ago this month when I graduated with a degree in journalism,” Anderson said. “I feel like I’ve come full circle and, once again, it’s time to go.”
A Retirement Reception will be held for Tim Anderson this Friday, Dec. 11 at 3:30 p.m. in the Hitchcock Center at Andersen Hall.
More details at: http://go.unl.edu/zc9t
