Steltenkamp (religious studies, Wheeling Jesuit U.) has written what is said to be the first complete interpretive biography of Nicholas Black Elk (1863-1950), an Oglala Sioux religious elder who, as the title suggests, was a medicine man, mystic, and missionary. While the book explores Black Elk's entire life, it follows his last 50 years closely--a period frequently overlooked by those who think of him and have portrayed him as a strictly 19th century icon. In reality, Black Elk's fascinating life was a set of contrasts. He participated in the Battle of the Little Bighorn, yet also saw the early years of the atomic age. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)