The Curse of Destiny : The Betrayal of General George Armstrong Custer

Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: As an amature historian and Western buff I found the new historical novel on General Custer to not only be a page turner and a very good read but that it also offers the finest insight that I have encountered of the Sioux War of 1876 and Custers involvement in it. It has been the politically correct fashion in these last many yearts to portray the doings and actions of the U.S./Indian fighting as those of a bunch of sporting, blood thirsty racists beating up a "Lo, the poor Indian". And Custer has been made out to be an inept glory hunter who ordered the murder of Indians while bedding down with one of his captive Cheyenne maidens. Romain Wilhelmsen's book, "The Curse of Destiny", parts the lie to these myths. Although a novel , there is more authentic Western history in his book than in most of the non-fiction books I've read on the subject. His research is meticulous. THe fact is brough out that Custer admired the warriors of the Plains. He wrote in one of his books that if he were an Indian he would do exactly as the Indians were doing - resisting the white mans take over of their hunting grounds and means of exsistence. The book tells the story of President Grant's antipathy to the general. Custer had done much to expose the corrupt U.S. Indian Agency system of which Grant was a part. In mean spiritual rancor Grant took away from one of his ablest field commanders the honor of leading his army west to confront the gathering Indian tribes. THe generalship of that campaign was given to General Alfred Terry who was much more lawyer than soldier. THe whole thing was mismanaged, and in the end General Custer was sent off with but some of 600 of his Seventh Cavalry to oppose perhaps 3,000 very angry and blood thirsty highly skilled Indian warriors. This book tells it all. Not only from the army's view-point but also from the Indians. It is obvious that the author liked many of the original Americans. He treats them fairly, and when the final encounter takes place in the Valley of Little Big Horn all the principals come together in as fine a description of that battle as we are likely to get. THe use of a few fictional characters helps to bring together motive and color to what often comes out as statistical history. THe role of Kitty Kildeen, the beatiful but flawed lover of Captain Myles Keough adds a dash of romance to this book and she could become one of Western fictions finest heorines.The same can be said of The Cheyenne woman, Buffalo Calf Woman who gives us an insight into the life among the hostiles. Abraham Lincoln once said of General Custer "....He's my brigadier. He's a fighter, and we can all afford to hold our fighters back..." This story shows just how held backt his man of Destiny was - by his president and by the two officers of his command who could have turned his defeat into a victory but turned away from him when the guns began to go off. If you like a good story that tells it like it is, read "The Curse of Destiny".

Rating:
Summary: A Great Work of Historical Fiction
Review: I consider this to be the best historical novel about 'Custer's Last Stand' ever written. The historical facts are for the most part quite accurate, and the story is extremely interesting. The author has the unique ability to bring lesser known historical characters to life in a most engaging and believable manner. His interpretation of the Last Stand is also quite unique and dramatic. I think this book would perfect for the basis of a TV mini-series that would capture the imagination of the general public. Only I would change the title to "The Betrayal of George Armstrong Custer".