In June of 1876, on a desolate hill above a winding river called "the Little Bighorn," George Armstrong Custer and all 210 men under his direct com...
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Apr 22, 2009
Ted
rated it: 
A Terrible Glory Custer and the Little Bighorn: The Last Great Battle of the American West by James Donovan. Captures the battle and its aftermath better than any other I've read with over 150 pages of Bibliography. Of particular interest to me are the descriptions of the Reno and Benteen battle which rages on Reno Hill only a few miles from Custer's last stand. In addition Donovan clearly details the convergence of Gen Crook and Gibbons as their troops move through the area during the seige.
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Feb 22, 2010
Matt
rated it: 
In "Little Big Man," the 1974 film based on Thomas Berger's novel, an unhinged George Armstrong Custer, facing death at the hands of Lakota and Cheyenne Indians at the Little Big Horn, rants about Ulysses Grant's drunkeness until being felled by an arrow. "Little Big Man" was a revisionist western, attempting to make up for years of stereotypical Indian portrayals by...stereotyping the other side. This film was all part and parcel of the rollercoaster ride that was and is Geo
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Aug 05, 2011
Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer remains one of the most controversial figures in American history. It seems that for every act of nobility there was an equal act of juvenility. His deep love and devotion to his wife Elizabeth was countered with his boastfulness and arrogance regarding his military ability. He graduated last in his class from West Point, yet led the Third Division during the Civil War, which played vital parts in securing Union lines and, the day before Lee's surrender, seized t
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Nov 08, 2011
Patricia
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Bought this used at Brookline Booksmith and read it straight thru on a long flight. The calamitous story of Custer at Little Bighorn is one I've read before, but it's such a convergence of fate and folly it holds up to reading again. Donovan's version is straight-ahead, military history. We follow Custer's career as the boy-general rides in the thick of things throughout the Civil War. In fact, "a single Confederate officer rode up to Custer waving a white towel" signalling the surrend
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Aug 01, 2011
I recommend this book. The author presents an overview of the battles with the Plains Indian tribes from the Sioux uprising in Minnesota and the Sand Creek Massacre in Colorado during the Civil War to Wounded Knee. He presents the perspective of the Indians, including the Crow and Arikara Indians who were mortal enemies of the Sioux and served as army scouts.
The author also describes life in the cavalry during the Indian wars. The soldiers were largely poorly trained, poorly equipped and often p More...
The author also describes life in the cavalry during the Indian wars. The soldiers were largely poorly trained, poorly equipped and often p More...
Jul 21, 2011
Alex
rated it:
A detailed account of the events surrounding the celebrated "Last Stand" on the Little Big Horn River, Montana Territory, 25th June, 1876, when five troops of the famed 7th Cavalry under their charismatic commander, George Amstrong Custer,were killed to a man by a confederation of Sioux & Cheyenne warriors and the remaining seven troops so severely mauled they barely escaped with their lives.
Occurring barely a week before the Centenary celebrations of the Declaration of Independe More...
Occurring barely a week before the Centenary celebrations of the Declaration of Independe More...
Jun 17, 2009
John-Michael
rated it: 
Oof. This book rates somewhere between the low twos to the mid fours depending on what chapter your in. I suppose it's my hatred of media frenzies in general that made the whole book difficult to read. After all, the actual important history of Custer's Last Stand was it's effect on America and its culture. The fact that Custer dies and Sitting Bull lives is really only important to the speculative fiction crowd.
I know it isn't fair to blame the author for a history that More...
I know it isn't fair to blame the author for a history that More...
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Jul 19, 2011
Keith
rated it:
This is the third book I've read on the Little Bighorn incident. It was well written and informative. This book follows a straight chronological sequence.
I actually read this book after reading the Philbrick book on this battle, even though this one was written first. I'd say they are broadly similar, covering the same basic ground, with good maps and fairly easy to follow. Critics who say that Philbrick did not substantially add to Donovan's book, therefore, have a valid point. More...
I actually read this book after reading the Philbrick book on this battle, even though this one was written first. I'd say they are broadly similar, covering the same basic ground, with good maps and fairly easy to follow. Critics who say that Philbrick did not substantially add to Donovan's book, therefore, have a valid point. More...
Sep 12, 2010
Krista
rated it:
I picked this up because I wanted to know the whole story, the true story, the real story. Of course I should have realized that one can never know the whole, true, real story of anything because all history is clouded by perception and current trends.
The Custer/Little Bighorn story is one of those that has had a remarkably fluid back-and-forth of revisionist touches. When I went to the Little Bighorn National Monument in 1996, I came out of there thinking Custer would have been fi More...
The Custer/Little Bighorn story is one of those that has had a remarkably fluid back-and-forth of revisionist touches. When I went to the Little Bighorn National Monument in 1996, I came out of there thinking Custer would have been fi More...
Dec 12, 2008
Craig
rated it:
If you like history I highly recommend this book. It takes a very detailed look at the battle known as "Custer's Last Stand". The author takes advantage of a lot of recent scholarship, including archeological work done at the battle site, to paint a very clear picture of what went wrong.
The book changed how I've always looked at this event. I've always thought that Custer was a loose cannon and glory-hound and that this led to his demise. The author makes a very compell More...
The book changed how I've always looked at this event. I've always thought that Custer was a loose cannon and glory-hound and that this led to his demise. The author makes a very compell More...
Jul 07, 2010
Hotavio
rated it:
A Terrible Glory tells of the Battle of Little Bighorn from the perspectives of the US Cavalry and the conglomeration of natives gathered at Little Bighorn, while expressing sympathy for the leaders on both sides. The battle, largely misunderstood, is detailed in the book and mostly blames cowardice on the part of certain officers and white man's pride for the disaster that made this battle infamous.
Very intense was Donovan's writing of the battle itself, often flipping back and More...
Very intense was Donovan's writing of the battle itself, often flipping back and More...
Jan 21, 2011
Ml
rated it:
Jim Donovan has, by my count, dedicated 5000 published pages of his life to Custer and his "last stand." Why do I keep coming back to books about Little Big Horn (I think this is my fourth)? I truly have no idea. Nevertheless, Donovan rehashes some of the ground he's covered before with some interesting evidence of the massacre. He spends far too much time discussing Army politics (large and small) but pulls off a terrific narrative timeline of that infamous (or famous) day. Recom
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Aug 10, 2008
George
rated it:
Certainly a well written book, but I would take his conclusions with at least a grain of salt. These are arguments that have wandered back and forth for over 130 years now and will never be entirely resolved since Custer and the men who rode with him all died. He does a very good job of explaining why Custer acted in the way he did, so you won't find Custer the madman of the movie Little Big Man in this book, but something a little closer to the Custer of They Died with their Boots on, but drawn
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Jun 24, 2008
Tom
rated it:
Four stars for shedding new light on an American icon in a readable, enjoyable and fascinating account.
First off, everything I ever learned about "General" Custer turns out to be wrong. No surprise, really, as I learned that stuff in high school. But it's safe to say that history has been unkind to Custer.
A Terrible Glory details the events that led up to Little Bighorn both from the perspective of Custer and his soldiers and the Sioux who they attacked. It's More...
First off, everything I ever learned about "General" Custer turns out to be wrong. No surprise, really, as I learned that stuff in high school. But it's safe to say that history has been unkind to Custer.
A Terrible Glory details the events that led up to Little Bighorn both from the perspective of Custer and his soldiers and the Sioux who they attacked. It's More...
Jun 30, 2010
Measi
rated it:
Just about finished (will finish on the anniversary of the battle by sheer chance), and have enjoyed this book tremendously - both for its historical value, and also for the local education, as I grew up in Billings, not far away from the battlefield. While the specific details of what was really going on in Custer's head can never be conclusive, this book reaches the conclusions that make sense, illuminating both the negatives and positives of the campaign. Highly recommended for anyone who l
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Jul 20, 2011
Kate
rated it:
This was the second book I read to prepare for a visit to the Little Bighorn Battlefield. Donovan includes additional material that Last Stand by Nathaniel Philbrick did not, such as more detail on Custer's early life, and after the battle, an account of the court of inquiry into Maj. Reno's conduct on the field. Still I think I prefer Philbrick's account for its more numerous maps and photos, somewhat shorter length, and the smoothness of the narrative.
Sep 06, 2010
David
rated it:
It was a good book...not great but good.
It does contextualize what led up to and followed the defeat at the Little Bighorn but not very well. The book confuses analytical and narrative history to the detriment of both.
But for the casual reader it is a fairly good introduction that attempts to place the debacle within historical context and does not attempt to demonize anyone. So I gave it 3 stars and a mild recommendation.
It does contextualize what led up to and followed the defeat at the Little Bighorn but not very well. The book confuses analytical and narrative history to the detriment of both.
But for the casual reader it is a fairly good introduction that attempts to place the debacle within historical context and does not attempt to demonize anyone. So I gave it 3 stars and a mild recommendation.
Jul 12, 2010
David
rated it:
It is a clearly written and well researched look at Custer's career and the aftermath of the Little Big Horn fight. He cites mostly reliable sources, and when they are not reliable, he mentions the possible biases. Highly recommended for its treatment of the aftermath of the fight for both White and Indian participants. The best book on the subject since Evan S. Connell's book back in 1985
Apr 27, 2009
tomlinton
rated it:
This is one of the best
history come sociology
come enthnography texts
I have ever read
and as such it deserves
a permanent place on my Kindle
to be re-researched
Meticulously footnoted
with go to's and returns
It's a page turner too
even though you know
what is going to happen
and about as eminently
fair to all sides
and all points of view
as it is possible to be
history come sociology
come enthnography texts
I have ever read
and as such it deserves
a permanent place on my Kindle
to be re-researched
Meticulously footnoted
with go to's and returns
It's a page turner too
even though you know
what is going to happen
and about as eminently
fair to all sides
and all points of view
as it is possible to be
Oct 01, 2009
Jeff
rated it:
An excellent overview of a famous event that challenges most of the misconceptions surrounding Custer's ego and glorious pride. Yeah, he was a flawed man, but he wasn't nearly as rash, imprudent, or wild as popular history teaches. I only knew about Custer what I had heard from others and seen on occasional, brief documentary clips or other media portrayals. This book added a very appreciated layer of humanity to Custer and those who served with him. It's first two chapters set up the charac
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May 23, 2010
John
rated it:
In " A Terrible Glory," James Donovan has produced a fascinating and well-written history of the battle of the Little Bighorn, the events that led up to it, and the aftermath. Most interesting is Donovan's view that Custer was somewhat less rash and a better military leader than his current reputation would indicate, that he was more sympathetic to the plight of the Indians than Generals Sherman and Sheridan, the latter having uttered the infamous quote, "The only good Indian is
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Nov 04, 2011
Michael
rated it:
Probably the most thorough analysis of this iconic event possible. Drawing on accounts of participants from both sides and the archaeological evidence, and attempting to refrain from judgement, it succeeds in providing a deeper understanding of the events at the Little Bighorn by setting them firmly in the context of the time. An excellent book.
Aug 11, 2011
Jeff
rated it:
Saw it on the shelves in Borders and wanted to know more about an event in American History that has taken on some mythical form in popular culture. Ok book, but wish the author had included a list of the "dramatis personae". Not especially well-written, although it represents a huge amount of research.
Aug 17, 2009
Steve
rated it:
The Custer Battle is like the Kennedy Assassination or the Gunfight at the OK Corral. No one knows all the facts. This is about the best, and easiest to read, account I have seen. Custer was indeed an interesting character. I plan to read "Lakota Noon" next. It tells the Indian side of the story.
Feb 25, 2009
Steven
rated it:
A wonderfully detailed view of the arc leading George Amstrong Custer to his catastrophic defeat at the Little Bighorn. Much detail. We learn a lot about the context in which the campaign began and a great deal about key characters in the drama. A good book if you are interested in the subject.
Sep 19, 2009
Dave
rated it:
Awesome awesome awesome book. SO good. Really fascinating. As with every history book - a LOT of names and dates to remember, but the story is fascinating and ultimately sad, not only with Custer's fate, but more importantly the Native Americans.
Great read, or should i say, Good read (tm).
Great read, or should i say, Good read (tm).
Jun 22, 2010
A very well-written history of the Little Bighorn Campaign by an amateur historian. There is a seemingly endless body of arcana surrounding Custer's Last Stand, which made the endnotes for this book almost as interesting as the main body of the text.
Aug 03, 2011
Bruce
rated it:
A very good history of General George Armstrong Custer, the Seventh Calvary, and the Battle at the Little Bighorn. I found it very comprehensive, unbiased history that was fun to read. Would recommend it to any one interested in this era or event.
Apr 14, 2011
Mike
rated it:
Well written and informative account of the often written about battle at the Little Bighorn. Like a lot of history I read, I thought it needed a few more maps. But other than that small complaint, I thought it was excellent.
Oct 18, 2011
Chris
rated it:
Many, many details....which takes away from the flow of the narrative. The storyline jumps back and forth in time making it somewhat difficult to follow. Well researched.
