“Sometime you have to wonder just how much can be written about a certain subject/person/period in time. Tale Custer battle at Little Big Horn. There has been enough written about it that it would takes decades to read all of it. So what makes A Terrible Glory different.
Well Everything. I have to say this is the most researched and balanced account of that day of June 25 1876.
James Donovan does a splendid job of setting the time and the feelings on both sides, Indians as well as the Whites. First and for most he gives us a look at the history between the US and the Indians as far back as the days before the Revolutionary War and even as far back as the Spanish dealing with them.
Then Mr. Donovan goes on to tell the tale leading up , the day of and well after the battle not just from Custer's and the US view but from the Indians. From Sitting Bull to Crazy Horse right down to the woman and children. From President Grant to General Sheridan & Sherman to Custer and his men right down to the enlisted men.
Donovan gives an even account on both sides but he makes the times and event much real and doesn't forget even though these people have been dead for well over a hundred years that he doesn't portrait these them as them the mythical people that are sometimes portrait as but has the people that they were. Living,caring,fallible people, who right or wrong fought for what they believed in.
So if your a fan of this time period or this particular battle then this is the best book that you will find. Well researched as well as written.
I was up to 2 AM some nights reading this book.
In addition I will also say this, I think is the most balanced view of Custer. Most books either show him as Hero or some show him as a complete bastard. I think after reading this I would have to say he was little of both. But then you have to be a bastard of sorts when you may be leading men to their deaths. Being nice sometimes just doesn't get the job done.”
Stephen W wrote this review Thursday, October 23 2008.
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