The Journey of Crazy Horse

By: Joseph M. Marshall III

Narrated by: Joseph M. Marshall III

Length: 10 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's Summary

Most of the world remembers Crazy Horse as a peerless warrior who brought the U.S. Army to its knees at the Battle of Little Bighorn. But to his fellow Lakota Indians, he was a dutiful son and humble fighting man who, with valor, spirit, respect, and unparalleled leadership, fought for his people's land, livelihood, and honor. In this fascinating biography, Joseph Marshall, himself a Lakota Indian, creates a vibrant portrait of the man, his times, and his legacy.

Drawing on firsthand research and his culture's rich oral tradition (rarely shared outside the Native American community), Marshall reveals many aspects of Crazy Horse's life, including details of the powerful vision that convinced him of his duty to help preserve the Lakota homeland, a vision that changed the course of Crazy Horse's life and spurred him confidently into battle time and time again.

The Journey of Crazy Horse is the true story of how one man's fight for his people's survival roused his true genius as a strategist, commander, and trusted leader. And it is an unforgettable portrayal of a revered human being and a profound celebration of a culture, a community, and an enduring way of life.

©2004 Joseph M. Marshall III (P)2004 HighBridge Company

Critic Reviews

"A vivid, haunting biography that acknowledges the author's boyhood hero worship but avoids hagiography....This book adds spirit and life to our understanding of this enigmatic and important man." (Publishers Weekly)
"Marshall does a good job of bringing Crazy Horse to life by examining all his milestones....A highly readable, as-accurate-as-the-record-allows study of the nineteenth-century's best-known Lakota chief." (Booklist)

The Journey of Crazy Horse

This book will give you a perspective on Crazy Horse that you won't find anyplace else.It gives a true picture as to who Crazy Horse was and the things that compelled him to greatness. You don't get this side of the story in American history class. I found it to be very compelling and informative. I recommend this book to anybody who is interested in knowing the whole story of western history and how we got to where we are today.

20 of 20 people found this review helpful

excellent

I have only one thing to add to "ibakidd41's" review. Most authors don't have the voice nessecary to be good readers of audio books, however Mr. Marshall gives an excellent reading. I was compelled by his voice to feel and see what he had written. Don't miss this experience.

16 of 16 people found this review helpful

great

All I want to add to what the other reviewers had to say is that this is the best narration of any book I have listened to and I have listened to a great many. His voice and pacing fit perfectly for this book. It would not be nearly so interesting or compelling without him. Its a fascinating book but the narration raises it to another level and brings home as no regular narrator could the true meaning of his words

13 of 13 people found this review helpful

Fantastic story and narration

This is a great audio book. It challenged my ideas of leadership and history. There will never be another Crazy Horse, but we can all learn something from his story. I find the narration greatly enhanced the listening experience. I listened to the start of this on a 6 hour drive and when I reached my destination I sat in the parking lot for another hour because I just couldn't stop listening. I'll read (or hopefully) listen to anything else Mr. Marshall shares with us!

12 of 12 people found this review helpful

Powerful book; made for audio format.

I read the reviews of a book to see if there is anything that I can add to what has already been written. Some liked the narration some did not. I loved it and cannot think of anyone who could have made the book more meaningful than the author himself. The voice and the book it narrates not only did not put me to sleep, they have not allowed me to sleep soundly for days.

11 of 11 people found this review helpful

Boise Idaho

This story is so apropos in light of recent world events. It gives an idea of how power corrupts those that lust after it and how people are capable of changing loyalties in the blink of an eye. The author did an excellent job of illustrating the idealism of Crazy Horse and his committment to what was best for "The People". Even though it was a committment he did not wish or strive for. I have read many books about Crazy Horse but this one went into detail that brought Crazy Horse to life. As others have said, I will listen to it more than once or twice.

9 of 9 people found this review helpful

Easy Listening

Pleasant to listen to, and infomative. It appears as firsthand knowledge.
I'll listen to it more than once.

8 of 8 people found this review helpful

I strongly recommend this book

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I thought that it brought some balanced to the many other treatments of Crazy Horse. Marshall made real for me the lives, intrinsic humanity and basic good values of this nation of Mothers, Fathers, children, and extended families in a culture that for centuries was based on hunting, gathering and defending their homes for survival. Marshal dealt with elegance and sensitivity the incredibly difficult issues facing the Lakota during this period. The tragic nature of many of these issues was evidenced by the lack of effective solutions available to the Lakota nation, and the obviousness to the people at the time that their way of life was irreparably changing for the worse. I've read some reviews here reflecting the view that the author should not have read the book. I most strongly disagree with this view. In my view, no one could have conveyed the rich oral history, family and cultural values of the Lakota people, as well as the poignancy of their plight better than one borne into that culture and steeped from birth in its history and values. I particularly appreciated Marshall's view and focus on what it takes to be a truly great leader in any society. After the book I have a new appreciation of how Crazy Horse became the inspiring leader he was to the Lakota people, not by words and oration, but by example and leading! I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding this period of time in our history from the point of view of the Lakota.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Moving

I felt moved by this book. Don't know how much is historically correct and I don't think that it matters. I felt as if I was there. It is not a fun book. It is about a great man who in his time had the strength and purpose to continually fight against overwhelming odds. If I was Euro American I would have a sense of shame.

Reading is one tone but I thought effective. Some special effects of thunder were great.

A great book.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Fascinating Book

I thought this was a great book. The only down side is the flute music that would drown out some of the storyline. I was intrigued by this story, such a great warrior.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Incredible story and narrator

This audiobook blew me away. Would recommend to anyone. The author's narration is perfect - almost an extension of the old oral tradition. I can't imagine reading this as a text. This is profound, moving and troubling. As a UK reader/listener, the legend of Crazy Horse is perhaps not so familiar, but this deserves to make it so. I will try some of the authors other audiobooks too, on the strength of this.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

One of the greatest books I have heard

Feels just like your there in a spirt sweat room hearing the stories from your native american grandfather. Amazing from start to finish...recommended fully

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

The Journey of Crazy Horse

Listening to Joseph Marshall telling this storey is like being round the camp fire while an elder recounts the history of his people. He is the perfect narrator for his excellent book, and has the ability to involve the listener in this tragic and moving storey. The listener not only learns more about these amazing people, but can feel part of it. This audio book is an experience, and I can recommend it.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Beautiful

Loved the book and what I loved most is it showed the human side of crazy horse. It also had some wonderful life lessons in the book for me to, will read again from this author.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Long Hair to Crazy Horse

This book tells us more of the man than the warrior of legend and as such is
a wonderful insight into the real story of Crazy Horse as told by an
ancestor of the Lakota tribe itself. Unlike history or biographical books
written by other authors, this work is put together based on the oral
traditions passed down through the generations. So, this book is an
unashamedly Lakota centric telling of the story of perhaps their greatest
leader. Thus, we gain a better and perhaps more honest appreciation of the
man himself rather than the Crazy Horse of myth or legend.

The book is read by the author which is fitting as his distinctive Native
American voice gives real substance to this work. However, as the author is not a professional narrator I did notice that he did not quite deliver a fluid reading of his book at times and there were a few words that I was confused over but realized had misheard due to his pronunciation. For example, I eventually figured out that what I thought was the word "goal" was actually "gold". That minor issue aside, his voice was perfect for the subject matter.

The book starts us off with a basic understanding of the various sub groupings of the Lakota tribe as well as the way in which the Lakota calendar works. This is a valuable primer but I did find that referring to the months of the year for the most part using the old Lakota names did become confusing for the non Lakota reader. It is a nice touch to make use of the old terms when recounting the various times of the year and I do understand why the author did this but it might have been useful to annotate each mention of the Lakota term with the equivalent Julian term.

The book covers the entire span of Crazy Horse's life and all the key events therein and so achieves what the author set out to do. However, one difficulty I had with the structure of the book was the seemingly confusing chronology of events at times. For clarity, it would have been helpful to mention the year more often to give the reader a better sense of the timeline unfolding. In addition, I noticed that a degree of repetition was present with two key battles being talked about twice and the second telling being done so as if the first had not. The battle of the "Hundred in the Hands" as the Lakota called it or the Fetterman Massacre was discussed twice and with differing amounts of details which made the chronology of the book appear a little haphazard. I was also a somewhat confused at the apparent back and forth describing the approach to Fort Robinson. One paragraph it seemed they had arrived and the next they were on their way. There were one or two other more minor repetitions too which all in all led me to think that perhaps the author got a bit lost himself in the layout of the book.

Having said the above, the book still gave the reader what we needed to learn more about this Lakota leader. It also serves to illustrate just who were really the "savages" in the way the Indian peoples were treated by the white invader. It seems that despite all the societal and technological advances of the white man that sheer greed, ignorance and the belief that all others than themselves were inferior and therefore worthless, it was the American tribes that were the people who showed great wisdom and thoughtfulness which is still a profound lesson for us all today.

For those perhaps new to this subject matter, I would recommend that you first read the excellent "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West" by Dee Brown and available here on Audible as a great primer to the wider events of the time.

A worthwhile read if a little meandering at times.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Best Audio book I have listened to yet

I listened intently start to finish, absolutely captivating listening. Narrator is mesmerizing and soothing.
Story is heartbreaking and insight in to Lakota life is thought provoking, inspiring me to read more about these people who lived in complete harmony with nature and infuriatingly called savages.
Genocide is what it was.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Outstanding Historical Record of Native Americans

Great historic record, well read and well worth the money, highly recommended to anyone interested in native American history