A Terrible Glory: Custer and the Little Bighorn - the Last Great Battle of… (2008)

by James Donovan

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Showing 1-5 of 7 (next | show all)

This is an excellent book in all respects, brilliantly structured and written. Extensively noted, almost exhaustively so, but the notes are definitely worth the reading, some are as fascinating as the main text. The author's decision to include a detailed look at the campaign as well as the battle is a great help to better understanding why things happened as they did. To anyone looking to read up on this battle, whether for casual reading or academic study, this book is the best place to start. (

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jztemple | Apr 12, 2013 |

This excellent book is the latest and most comprehensive treatment of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. It incorporates the newest forensic finds, includes much first hand information from the Native Americans involved in the battle, and traces the fates of not just the major players in the drama, but also every minor character that has even a scrap of information available.

The book is thorough and very readable. I felt I knew these people, smelled the sweat of the riders, heard the crash of battle while I stood on the hillside with Benteen and Reno and did nothing.

The bibliography is extensive, and the chapter notes are most thorough. In fact, I ended up using two bookmarks - one for my place in the text, and one in the Notes section to keep abreast of the citations and additional information the author added.

The book also covers in detail the hearings and the coverup in the aftermath of the battle. In addition, the author details the Wounded Knee Massacre and its connections with the Little Bighorn Battle. Thorough, well-supported, minutely detailed, but readable and exciting. Highly recommended. (

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MerryMary | Feb 18, 2013 |

Thorough, and seemingly unbiased, account of Custer, his background and the battle that ended his career and lif.

wESTERNER | Oct 30, 2009 |

http://bookwormslibrary.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/a-terrible-glory-custer-and-the... (

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kahlee2000 | Jul 14, 2009 |

A thorough and engaging book about the Battle of Little Bighorn, Custer, Sitting Bull and most all the parties involved in the Spring / Summer of 1876. Donovan does a wonderful job of setting up the political environment, the plight of the Native Americans, and the greed of the United States, all of these factors leading up to the Battle, which is covered with equal meticulousness, and finally the aftermath. Donovan's point of view seems to place fault on a lot of factors, not just the traditional Custer's ego; Officers Reno and Benteen's behaviors toward their superior officer, the lack of communications, the sheer numbers involved. Really a terrific read and perhaps the best book about the subject available without necessarily taking sides. (

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noblechicken | Jun 15, 2009 |

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Series (with order)

Canonical title

Original title

Alternative titles

Original publication date

2008

People/Characters

George Armstrong Custer

Important places

Little Bighorn, Montana, USA

Montana, USA

Important events

Battle of the Little Bighorn ( [1876] ∙ [1876])

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Awards and honors

Epigraph

Dedication

To my mother, Alyce Helen Carmen, who nightly from an old black binder read her favorite story poems, hand-copied, to her four children: "The boy stood on the burning deck..."

First words

The night was pitch-black and cool as the small party of scouts reined their horses off the creek and up into the hidden hollow between the hills.

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Disambiguation notice

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Wikipedia in English (9)

Battle of the Little Bighorn

Elizabeth Bacon Custer

Fort Ellis

George Armstrong Custer

Great Sioux War of 1876

Newton–Jenney Party

Trader post scandal (1876)

Ulysses S. Grant presidential administration scandals

William W. Belknap

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Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0316155780, Hardcover)

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.

(retrieved from Amazon Tue, 19 Apr 2011 15:10:53 -0400)

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▾Library descriptions

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 command were annihilated by almost 2,000 Sioux and Cheyenne. The news 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. This is the first book to relate the entire story, and the first to call upon all the research and findings of the past 25 years--which have changed significantly how this controversial event is perceived. It is also 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.--From publisher description.… (more)