Review Summaries

• Readers praise the meticulous research and the layered handling of competing perspectives. Many value the historical depth and political nuance, while some find the book's length and density demanding.

Reviews

• Brilliant

  What a sad and sorry tale this is. Brilliantly researched and written, but the story of the sufferings that Native Americans experienced at the hands of 'civilised' government is still shocking. I guess it shouldn't be, as US land-grabs continue to this day as mining companies demand access to the reservations. But this is a review of 'The Killing of Cazy Horse': an excellent book, recounting the days of one of the Indian's most charismatic and enigmatic war-leaders. Quite possibly the only book you'll need to read on the topic.

• Crazy Horse: Native American Martyr and Hero

  There is an annoying bitter, one-star review below that critiques the cover, and accuses everyone giving five stars to be friends of the author. I am not. Never read anything about him or by him. Predicts in 2011, no one will read this book. And doesn’t really say why it is bad, except it is too long. Well, I just read it (prediction wrong!) and give it a raving 5 stars. I know there are critiques of the book; it is very long, could have used another round of editing. The writing style is often in the passive voice, which makes for more tedious reading. He contradicts himself at least once: “Much of what is known about Crazy Horse comes from Garnett” in the beginning, and then, “Much of what is known about life of Crazy Horse comes from He Dog” at the end. If you are coming here to read in-depth about the Battle of Little Bighorn, you should read Philbrick’s or Ambrose’s book. This book very deftly, and thoroughly, weaves the background reasons why Crazy Horse was killed (remember, that’s the title of the book everyone!). This has to involve some politics, and the way to get to that is mapping the conflicts through the main characters: Sheridan and Crook, Red Cloud and Crazy Horse, and everything in between. The scouts versus the nonagency Indians; the friends and the ex-friends. It is very complex, many players, locations, agencies and battles. I love this book. I appreciate the research. I am fascinated by Indian culture, which Powers describes in detail. “The Killing of Crazy Horse” is about the background and events leading up to Crazy Horse’s killing, told through all who paralleled and touched upon Crazy Horse’s life: interpreter Bill Garnett; scout Frank Grouard; best friends He Dog; relative Red Cloud. A big portion of the book sets the stage for the final act by reviewing the history of the infiltration of the whites into Indian territory, the massacres, the broken treaties. Crazy Horse, of course, is one of the few Indians who held out till the bitter end, until his small group was starving to death. He gained a reputation for immense bravery, charity and independence. But in the end, it was his own people who turned on him, due to jealousy, rumors, misinterpretations and failed promises from the US military. Powers details the final act more than any other book I ever read. So much so, that I am determined to go to Fort Robinson in Nebraska to see the very spot where the killing took place. I just visited the Little Bighorn Battlefield Monument last month and was mesmerized and enthralled. I also visited Crazy Horse Monument, and was disappointed that on the bus ride up and back, the guided talk was all about the building of the monument, and almost nothing of the remarkable man for whom is it honors. This books tells you about that man. I’ve read 5 books on the subject so far, and rank this right up there with them as fantastic. Curl up with this book, give it a week, and go back in history to appreciate the native American beliefs and way of life, and to mourn the tragic way they were treated.

• history

  good read

• Wenn ich sterbe, kehre ich zurück als Blitz und Donner!

  Welch ein Buch, welch eine enorme Arbeit! Thomas Powers versucht in diesem Werk zu ergründen, zu erklären, ja, begreiflich zu machen, was damals passiert ist, in jenem September des Jahres 1877, als einer der größten, wenn nicht gar der größte Anführer der Prärieindianer, ums Leben kam. Durch die Hand eines Soldaten der Wache? Oder doch durch den Verrat seiner eigenen Leute? Viele Details sind bisher unklar, Aussagen, oft Jahrzehnte später gemacht, widersprechen sich, wenn es um den genauen Hergang geht. Fest steht jedoch: Der Krieger, der Mensch Crazy Horse, Tashunka Witko, musste sterben, weil er seinen Gegnern, Roten wie Weißen im Wege war...sein Geist, sein Vermächtnis, wird ewig leben! Präzise, gestützt auf unzähliche historische Quellen, arbeitet sich Powers durch das schier unüberschaubare "Umfeld", in welches die Ereignisse jener Septembertage eingebettet sind. Seine Recherchen beginnen mit Ereignissen, die Jahre vor diesem "Zwischenfall" passiert sind, er beginnt, viele Stränge zusammen zu führen, erklärt Zusammenhänge, das Verhältnis verschiedener Persönlichkeiten der damaligen Zeit zueinander, etwa Red Cloud, Sitting Bull, Spotted Tail u.A. Ein großartiges Werk, eine bemerkenswerte Arbeit, lesenswert für alle die, welche sich für die Geschichte der Kriege gegen die Prärieindianer interessieren und besonders für jene, die sich der Faszination, die die Person Crazy Horse noch heute ausübt, nicht entziehen können.Allerdings muss man hierbei vielleicht eine einzige Einschränkung treffen. Man sollte , bevor man sich diesem, doch recht umfangreichen Buch nähert,zumindest über grundlegende Kenntnisse, z.B. über die Schlacht am Little Bighorn, Custer, Sand Creek, die Laramie Verträge verfügen. Das erleichtert die geschichtliche Einordnung der vielen Details enorm. Vielen Dank, Wopila tanka, Mister Powers. Eine großartige Arbeit!

• Pour en finir avec les clichés

  Un ouvrage en anglais passionnant sur Crazy Horse, chef lakota Oglala. Extrêmement précis, le livre développe la vie du chef, les différents protagonistes, les raisons et le déroulement de son assassinat à Fort Robinson. L'auteur ,très scrupuleux, se base sur de nombreux témoignages de lakotas (He Dog...), des quelques rares blancs (Grouard, Bordeau...) qui ont l'approché ou qui ont vécu avec lui. Ici pas de romantisme. Loin du mythe, Crazy Horse, les lakotas, sont présentés, comme les blancs, sans manichéisme, avec leurs qualités et défauts. Conflits d'intérêts, trahisons, meurtres... Une somme de connaissances impressionnante sur l'histoire des lakotas, leurs coutumes, leur religion, issues de recherches très poussées à chaque page mais aussi sur le gouvernement américain, ses intérêts, ses présidents et ses agents . L'ouvrage est facile à lire, le plus complet actuellement , est indispensable pour les lecteurs intéressés par cette période trouble, de la fin de Crazy Horse, de la liberté pour les derniers hostiles lakotas et du début des réserves . Pour en finir avec les clichés.

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