Custer

ByLarry McMurtry

Release Date: 2012-11-06
Genre: Biographies & Memoirs

Score: 3

From 73 Ratings

Description

This lavishly illustrated volume reassesses and celebrates the life and legacy of the West’s most legendary figure, George Armstrong Custer, from “one of America’s great storytellers” (The Wall Street Journal).

On June 25, 1876, General George Armstrong Custer and his 7th Cavalry attacked a large Lakota Cheyenne village on the Little Bighorn River in Montana Territory. He lost not only the battle but his life—and the lives of his entire cavalry. “Custer’s Last Stand” was a spectacular defeat that shocked the country and grew quickly into a legend that has reverberated in our national consciousness to this day.

In this lavishly illustrated volume, Larry McMurtry, the greatest chronicler of the American West, tackles for the first time the “Boy General” and his rightful place in history. Custer is an expansive, agile, and clear-eyed reassessment of the iconic general’s life and legacy—how the legend was born, the ways in which it evolved, what it has meant—told against the broad sweep of the American narrative. It is a magisterial portrait of a complicated, misunderstood man that not only irrevocably changes our long-standing conversation about Custer, but once again redefines our understanding of the American West.

Reviews

Custer
3
By bird1947
This was an attempt at history. It was very factual, but jumped around as the author's mind came up with a fact he needed to share at that moment. This took away from the book. Normally this author is a story teller and when I purchased the book I was expecting one of his yarns which would have brought the reader through history of Custer and at the same time entertained the reader. Leave the history to professional and do what you do best, by writing an historical novel that is full of characters and plots.
Custer by Larry McMurtry
2
By BernieYohan
Unless you are already well read on the subject of Custer and his last stand you will find this book very hard to understand. Having read many of the books the author recommends I still found it to be a story without a story. I have read almost every book McMurtry has written. He is one of my favorite authors of all time. I was disappointed in this work waiting for his real story to kick in. Best explained this way is he chose not to rewrite the story and not clear up any of the confusion that modern forensic science could shine more light on the subject. Instead we get a confusing term paper on how a dunderhead of an officer became a hero and doomed the Native Americans all the quicker. I am more upset that I bought the book on IBook as if I had gotten it from the library I would have not shelled out 14 dollars for a book I read in about 4 hours. I kept waiting for the prologue to end and Larry to kick it in when I reached the END? However from Lonesome Dove to Duane's Depressed and all the books in between I believe he is a national treasure.
Custer
1
By Onereallybadbook
Difficult read... Never established a flow.
What a waste of time and money
1
By Bd789
My favorite part was being done with this poorly written book. Larry McMurtry should stick to fiction. Done waste your money on this book.
Custer
1
By wonderwasp
Would not recommend this book.
Didn't do much for me.
1
By Iowansmalltownboy
I wasn't a fan of this book. I don't think I got my money's worth.
Custer
1
By Bull3343
L McMurtry is a prolific novelist. As a biographer he is lacking. This book is disorganized, wandering and pointless. The best I can say about it was that it was short (mainly due to scores of illustrations.
Was not worth the money. I feel ripped off.