The Arrow-Maker

About the book

"The Arrow-Maker: A Drama in Three Acts" by Mary Austin is a play first performed in 1911. Set among the Paiutes in the Sierra Nevada, it centers on The Chisera, a Medicine Woman who serves as intermediary between her people and the gods. When she abandons her sacred role for forbidden love with Simwa, the Arrow Maker, her choice triggers a chain of tribal conflict, betrayal, and tragedy. Austin crafted the work with archaeological precision, drawing on authentic Native American ceremonies, music, and customs.