Custer

By: Larry McMurtry

Narrated by: Henry Strozier

Pulitzer Prize winner Larry McMurtry crafts works synonymous with the grandeur and beauty of the American West. Here McMurtry turns his attention to George A. Custer, a complex man who has captivated historians for over a century. From graduating last in his class at West Point to leading the ill-fated 7th Cavalry in the attack at Little Bighorn, Custer forged a legacy - still very much alive today - as one of the West's most enduring historical figures.

©2012 Larry McMurtry (P)2012 Recorded Books

Was just ok

It’s basically another version of what happened! But still a good listen! I would recommend for sure

Good overview of Custer's life

I found McMurty's short history of Custer, like his Crazy Horse biography, meandering yet illuminating. The author subscribes to how slippery memory and history is; therefore anyone expecting an authoritative narrative, wrapped up in a neat package is likely to be disappointed. Rather, McMurtry dances around his subject, with an end result of a vivid and seemingly honest impression of Custer and his time.

Custer

I like Larry McMurcty’s books usually, but this one lacked a good story about Custer and was pretty dry.

Old timey and a bit too “folksy”

Old timey and a bit too “folksy” but a solid, condensed recounting of the major events.

A story that needed to be told!

I learned more about General Custer than I learned by going to the battlefield. It was very worthwhile.

Quick Read

Quick. Easy to listen too! Enjoyed the book. I would recommend the book. Wish it was longer.

Not a novelized review of the battle - for amateur historians

Narrative review of historical books regarded the era and events leading to the battle and the aftermath. Presumes a familiarity of the period (e.g., a discussion of the south pass route notes it was discovered by the Astor land team without any explanation of who the team was.)

Biased and not factual.

I am not a writer, but I have read many Custer Books. While some are pro Custer many are not...the authors bias was plain throughout the book. Innuendo of this and that...no follow up proof. And every book I’ve read mentions the drunk behavior by. Major Reno. He was the first one to flee the valley. He was found not guilty at his hearing. But his poor leadership and alcoholism was prove there.

Not Worth It

Although bits of the book had interesting tidbits of information, it was scattered around like a shotgun blast - jumping around, forward, backwards, sideways, and often repeating itself. Overall difficult to follow to follow. The book; SON OF THE MORNING STAR, a much more informative and entertaining selection.

Possibly the worst “history” on Custer I’ve encountered.

This is chock full of silly myths concerning Custer and the American West.

McMurtry claims that William Clark of the famed William and Clark expedition fathered a son with a Shoshone woman who then fought FOR the Indians at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. The Shoshone were scouts fighting for the U.S. Cavalry troops under Crook, and there is no record I can find of Clark fathering such a child.

McMurtry claims that Tom Horn served in the 1876 campaign…at age 15? Horn served in the campaigns against the Apaches in the 1880’s.

McMurtry states Custer shot a Confederate officer in order to get his thoroughbred horse. He didn’t. He essentially stole it, but didn’t kill to get it. Reference T.J. Stiles’ account for this.

We’re told twice Custer died with 250 men under his direct command. It was 210.

This book was savaged by historians, and for good reason. McMurtry was a fantastic fiction writer, but strayed with this one.

Points off the narrator for mangling the word reconnaissance, which he tried to pronounce “renaissance”, and even did that incorrectly. Of course, ultimately that’s the sound editor’s fault.

McMurtry seems intent on maligning Custer. I for one have no problem with that, given I’ve often said Custer was only slightly more brain dead after the battle than he was before it. That said, he should have used reliable and verifiable historical research in doing this.