Crazy Horse and Custer

The Parallel Lives of Two American Warriors

By: Stephen E. Ambrose

Narrated by: Richard Ferrone

The full story of what led Crazy Horse and Custer to that fateful day at the Little Bighorn, from bestselling historian Stephen E. Ambrose.

On the sparkling morning of June 25, 1876, 611 U.S. Army soldiers rode toward the banks of the Little Bighorn in the Montana Territory, where 3,000 Indians stood waiting for battle. The lives of two great warriors would soon be forever linked throughout history: Crazy Horse, leader of the Oglala Sioux, and General George Armstrong Custer of the Seventh Cavalry. Both were men of aggression and supreme courage. Both had become leaders in their societies at very early ages; both had been stripped of power, and in disgrace had worked to earn back the respect of their people. And to both of them, the unspoiled grandeur of the Great Plains of North America was an irresistible challenge. Their parallel lives would pave the way, in a manner unknown to either, for an inevitable clash between two nations fighting for possession of the open prairie.

Critic reviews

"Movingly told and well written . . . a fine contribution, one that will be read with pleasure and admiration by general reader, student and scholar alike. Ambrose has breathed new life into the familiar facts."--Library Journal

"An epic and accurate retelling of one of our country's most tragic periods."--Baltimore Sun

Another great one by Ambrose

Ambrose always puts together a historical event as a story and interjects details that make it entertain and inform.

Great historic comparison.

Ambrose lays out the lives of two men who’s paths crossed in one of the more famous incidents in western history. They can be studied separately but this study is truly a better way to learn about these important figures in history.

Fascinating pre-wokeism account

Crazy Horse & Custer

Stephen Ambrose

Published in 1975, this account of the lives of the two leaders involved in the Battle of the Little Bighorn is valuable as a pre-wokeism narrative.

Ambrose, as usual, doesn’t hold back. You learn about the successes and failings of both men, and the people around them. You learn about internal politics of not just the US Army, but the tribes.

Ambrose does judge actions and people (so and so was a boot licker, etc) but he is able to back his judgments up with facts.

I really enjoyed this book. The author was able to treat both men with respect, telling of their lives before the battle, without ignoring their faults.

That is why this book is fascinating; the battle itself is only one brief chapter near the end. It is the lives they led before 1876 which are intriguing.

pretty darn good

I enjoyed it 3 times. informative and fair. one of the better ones I have read

Read before going to Little Big Horn monument

Illuminates the nature of the parties to the battle and clarifies what actually happened to the the 7th Calvary and the tribes that day.