Rating: 
Summary: One Fine Read
Review: We all have books like this in our personal arsenal of "will read and reread again" books. ("Catch 22," "Cat's Cradle," books like that.)I've torn into "Son of the Morning Star" six times now. This book is responsible for my spending a total of some 13 days at the Montana battlefield just trying to find out what George Armstrong Custer was up to on his final horrible day on earth. Connell weaves a spell over you, dear reader, and you just hate to finish this book. (You have books like that in your arsenal, too, right?) The book was a Christmas gift from #1 son. Prior to reading "Son," I just thought of Custer as that Civil War stereotype we study about in high school -- brave, vain and, ultimately, dumb. Of course the book reveals a much more accurate and layered portrayal of this long-haired Hotspur. Connell has researched his subject to a fare-thee-well and yet the writing never gets pedantic. This book is a time machine and you're going to be whisked back to a hot June day, 1876. Be prepared. And you'll get both sides of the complicated US Army/American Indian debate, too. (Can't beat that with a stick!) What was GAC trying accomplish that morning and afternoon? Why, in the face of a large amount of Indian braves, did he split his command into three battalions? Why did he send an important "come quick" note to an officer he sent off away from the pack train? Why did Custer ignore Reno's plight in the valley and continue a foolhardy attempt to smash the "enemy" at his flank? Did Custer get his first bullet (left side) at Medicine Tail Coulee? Would that explain the slapdash rush away from the Little Big Horn river and up the hill to the now-famous "Last Stand Hill?" This book makes you think. This book is contagious!
Rating: 
Summary: The Book that Helped Custer Get a Post Vietnam Look
Review: When this book first came out it seemed to resurrect Custer from the post 1960's & 70's perception that Custer was simply an ego maniac and eradicator of Native Americans. The book is a bit rambling and disjointed but it provide good biographies of the main characters and the descriptions of the campaign are generally good. The problems among the command, particularly the wing commanders Benteen and Reno, are well brought out. This is a great book to wet your appetite for more as it provides a great source of information yet you realize there is more out there so it spring boards you to read more detailed books on the LBH. A great start for Custer novices who want to start somewhere and get propelled into studying the mysteries of the LBH.
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