Product Description

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 command were annihilated by almost 2,000 Sioux and Cheyenne. The news of this devastating loss caused a public uproar, and those in positions of power promptly began to point fingers in order to avoid responsibility. Custer, who was conveniently dead, took the brunt of the blame.

The truth, however, was far more complex. A TERRIBLE GLORY is the first book to relate the entire story of this endlessly fascinating battle, and the first to call upon all the significant research and findings of the past twenty-five years--which have changed significantly how this controversial event is perceived. Furthermore, it is the first book to bring to light the details of the U.S. Army cover-up--and unravel one of the greatest mysteries in U.S. military history.

Scrupulously researched, A TERRIBLE GLORY will stand as ta landmark work. Brimming with authentic detail and an unforgettable cast of characters--from Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse to Ulysses Grant and Custer himself--this is history with the sweep of a great novel.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3926 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 544 pages

From Publishers Weekly
In this labor of love, Donovan collects the multiple threads that led to the 1876 massacre at Little Big Horn. By the 1870s various American Indian tribes ignored the American government's edict to relocate to reservations. Growth in pioneer settlements had produced so many clashes that western commander Philip Sheridan ordered three army columns to converge on an immense Indian encampment in southern Montana Territory. Donovan's eye-opening description of these cavalrymen contradicts the Hollywood image. These troops were untrained, inexperienced in individual combat and poorly equipped. Custer, the first to encounter the enemy encampment, split his forces before attacking. This tactical error ensured that some units would survive the fighting, here described in vivid detail. Custer's last stand became the Indians', too. Though the army was happy to blame the debacle on the dead Custer, the battle's survivors banded together to ensure no reputation went tarnished in public hearings. The author makes a good case for Custer as scapegoat by portraying him as a likable Civil War hero, flamboyant publicity hound and more experienced Indian fighter than most of his men and all of his commanders,. Exhaustive research, lively prose and fresh interpretation make for a valuable addition to literature on this otherwise well-trodden historical event. (Mar. 24)
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Review
James Donovan's relentless research into the circumstances surrounding the now infamous events of June 1876 is meticulously pieced together in this ground-breaking novel, aimed at deciphering what really happened at Little Bighorn. With a cast of characters ranging from Ulysses S. Grant to Crazy Horse, narrator James Boles could easily have gone over-the-top. However, Boles offers a stern and informative reading that captures the incident with honesty and passion and relates Donovan's findings without vocal editorializing. Boles narrates in a gripping voice that offers slight yet distinct variations in tone and accent for many characters, creating a vivid and informative tableau. --AudioFile

About the Author
As a literary agent over the past ten years James Donovan has sold several bestselling nonfiction titles; previous to that he was a bookstore chain buyer and a trade book editor. He has also written several books, the most recent of which was the coffee-table tome Custer and the Little Bighorn (Voyageur Press, 2001), a main selection of the Military Book Club. He lives in Dallas.

Customer Reviews

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.

beyond heart-wrenching
I finished this book last nite. Gads, what did we do? How was this extermination of the Indians allowed by a loving god, let alone by us Christian white people? I wonder we can live with ourselves. I know it's easy to judge the dead, the times and dangers were so different,..still I can't believe our policy, even our glory, was to kill women and children and old men. As a Republican white middle class guy,..after reading this book I just feel tremendously ashamed. Like I committed a murder and never got punished for it. I want to make amends for what we did to the native americans. I want to take my family to Little Big Horn Park, ..I want to show my kids the whole story from both sides. Thank you, author, for an exceptional labor of love in this very moving book.

Poor Account of Little Bighorn Battle
Terrible Glory -- good name for a terrible book. If you are looking for someone pimping for Custer and Benteen this is the book for you. Custer can do almost nothing wrong and Reno can do almost nothing right. According to this book Reno was drunk most of the time during the Little Bighorn battle -- except Reno saved most of his command and Custer lost all of his. Save your money.