Through both his fiction and non-fiction writing, James Welch gives voice to the history, heritage, and cultural identity of the American Indian. This companion provides a fascinating exploration of the man, his writing, and the impact and influence of his literary output. With information based on a series of personal interviews conducted for this book, the biographical chapter offers an insightful account of Welch's life as a Blackfoot Indian, and as a poet and novelist.Readers will gain further appreciation for Welch's literary contributions through an exploration of the themes and genres investigated in his writing. Welch and his work--including his work with film--are situated within the Indian literary and cultural heritage. Five subsequent chapters, organized chronologically, focus on full-length fictional works. Clear, accessible critical analyses are given for the novels Winter in the Blood (1974), The Death of Jim Loney (1979), Fools Crow (1986), The Indian Lawyer (1991), and The Heartsong of Charging Elk (2000).