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Title: A Terrible Glory: Custer and the Little Bighorn - the Last Great Battle of the American West
ISBN: 0316155780
Author:
James Donovan
Publicate Date: 2008-03-24
Publish: 2008-03-24
List Price: $26.99
Average Customer Rating: 4.5
Format: Hardcover
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $14.48
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $11.84
Amazon Merchant Price: $17.81
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Little Big Horn Explained
This book is sourced from primary accounts and field archaeology of the battle site.
It is the most insightful, defnitive and useful book on the Custer fight, having have read most others.
It explains the differences between Indian & Cavalry battle philosophies, and reveals why Custer could not win victory at Little Big Horn, and the reasons why such a talented experienced commander missed seeing it til too late.
The aftermath section of this comprehensive text shows how facts were blurred and a Custer legend, good and bad, came about.
For the first time I now understand what happened, and why. This book is required reading for anyone who wants to know what the true story was.
It is nice to rise above the fog of opinion and hear the tale as the ground tells it.
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2: Great "Last Stand".
This is popular history done right. Grammar, punctuation and style all perfect; a fine-detail index, a thorough bibliography, and all conclusions documented in copious notes and references; maps at relevant scale spaced through the text, so you always know where you (and the combatants) are, and dozens of portraits, both native American and white, to help you keep track of who's who in the Northern Plains country; facts all organized, clear, and eminently readable, but not getting in the way of a horribly compelling story.
Best of all, Donovan is objective: from page to page you can see his continuing effort to be scrupulously factual, neither condemning, nor apologizing for, either side of this controversial conflict. His ubiquitous impartiality lends all the more credibility to his critical treatment of Reno's conduct during the battle. He blames the catastrophe mainly on the corruption of the Grant administration and the army's disastrous underestimation of the sioux potential for organized battle -- which is surely where it belongs.
Some drawings or aerial shots of the terrain would be helpful (the jacket photo is obscured by title etc), and a final opinionated summary of Donovan's own take would be a good idea. He has earned the right to one.
Bravo!
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3: A terrible glory
This was a wonderfuly written book. It had more facts about the Last Stand than any other book I have ever read. The history in this book was well written and the book was an interesting read.
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4: A qualified 5 stars...
"A Terrible Glory" is one of the few books I've read on 1800's era history. I can't comment on the accuracy of the claims or facts presented in this book.
However, I can comment on the book's "readability" and apparent credibility...and ATG is an enjoyable work!! My prior opinion on Custer was one of a vain fop. However, the author brings the the man into light a one of social genius and puckish ego. If accurate, everyone knows someone like Custer and the author's telling helps the reader step into the book easily.
Presentation of facts and subsequent analysis are, in my opinion, fair and intelligently presented - no one has a time machine, so at some point the reader needs to suspend any argument and just read.
One topic clearly and succinctly addressed is that of treatment of the Native Americans - of course, you'll judge for yourself, but I found the author to be fair and rational, avoiding emotional extremes on such a volatile subject. Someone with a topical interest in Native American settlement will likely find themselves confident in either their new knowledge or clarified retelling of history.
Because of the easy writing and colorful subject, ATG is recommended as a read to consume in one or compacted sitting.
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5: One of the best
books on the battle of the Little Big Horn, and I have read them all!
Its great any time true versions of historic events are told...this does justice to this battle and I recommend it for any student of history.
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