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Post by Tricia on Aug 22, 2005 8:03:17 GMT -6
I'll be honest. I love this book! It is beautifully written and compelling--despite its rather negative look at the Custer legend. It is, from what I read in the forward, the first "psychological" study of the Boy General as well, which makes it for me "an important turning point in Custeriana."
If offended by this book, what most bothers you? If inspired by this title, what about it particularly resounded with you?
No correct answers here. Just opinions!
Regards,
Leyton McLean
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Post by Scout7 on Aug 22, 2005 8:28:57 GMT -6
No, I have not read it...the 'first psychological study of the General'. Does the author have a PhD in psychology? Another great book which does an in depth psychological profile of Custer is BILLY HEATH by Vincent Genovese....one of the WORST books, if not THE WORST book, ever written on Custer and the very bogus Billy Heath. Mistakes galore in regard to many things about the seventh and a book based on 'wishful thinking.' Genovese is a marriage counselor. Now there is someone qualified to write in depth profile of the General! I was dumb enough to order this book, and have been mad at 'me' for sometime for doing it!
Scout
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Post by Jim on Aug 22, 2005 8:53:08 GMT -6
Scout7, I would have to AGREE with you 110% about the Billy Heath book. Ever since I ordered the book, I've been walking bowl-legged since. A HORRIBLE investment!!! I didn't want to soil my collection of Indian Wars books, so I just tossed it into the circular file!!! and hopefully it will get re-cycled into something worthwhile to read!......BUT I will look into buying "Glory Hunter: A Life Of General Custer."
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Post by Tricia on Aug 22, 2005 9:12:40 GMT -6
No, I have not read it...the 'first psychological study of the General'. Does the author have a PhD in psychology? Another great book which does an in depth psychological profile of Custer is BILLY HEATH by Vincent Genovese....one of the WORST books, if not THE WORST book, ever written on Custer and the very bogus Billy Heath. Mistakes galore in regard to many things about the seventh and a book based on 'wishful thinking.' Genovese is a marriage counselor. Now there is someone qualified to write in depth profile of the General! I was dumb enough to order this book, and have been mad at 'me' for sometime for doing it! Scout No degree, I believe--but the copyright on the book is, I believe, 1933, so the teachings of Freud were still quite new. I didn't sense any underlying sexual issues with Custer in Van de Water's text, but rather more a discussion of the "ego" complex ... Regards, LMC |
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Post by Leyton McLean CSA on Aug 23, 2005 16:16:45 GMT -6
Scout7, I would have to AGREE with you 110% about the Billy Heath book. Ever since I ordered the book, I've been walking bowl-legged since. A HORRIBLE investment!!! I didn't want to soil my collection of Indian Wars books, so I just tossed it into the circular file!!! and hopefully it will get re-cycled into something worthwhile to read!......BUT I will look into buying "Glory Hunter: A Life Of General Custer." I think "Glory Hunter" is a must for any Custer library. It does not offer a sparkling portrait of GAC, but its importance to the Custer historiography cannot be underestimated. And Van de Water is a magnificent writer, a writer's writer. Besides, you can get it on Amazon for a song. I think mine cost 2.99 (USD). Regards, LMC |
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Post by sigmund on Aug 23, 2005 21:08:05 GMT -6
Actually Custer seems to have suffered from panic /anxiety attacks, perhaps associated with separation anxiety from Libby. This explains his rush to return to her, which resulted in his courtmartial. It also explains why he could not sit still for more than 5 minutes. (The fight or flight response), and perhaps his push to find the village (travelling through the night), prior to the battle.
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Post by michigander on Aug 24, 2005 6:46:10 GMT -6
Seemed maybe but he don't. His push to find the village through the night was to recreate the scenario of Washita or at least to move and approach without to be noticed. As done with Washita. Also, Custer has always been iperactive, so that was seen sleeping under a tree with a cop of coffe in the hands, at the civil war years for 5 minuts and then standing up like nothing was happened.
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Post by Guest on Aug 24, 2005 12:06:28 GMT -6
[quote author=Leyton McLean CSA board=lbhbooks thread=1124719397 post=1124835405 I think mine cost 2.99 (USD).
Regards,
LMC[/quote]
I think you paid too much.
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Post by Leyton McLean CSA on Aug 24, 2005 16:11:40 GMT -6
Well, as the saying goes, one man's trash is another man's treasure ... !
Regards,
LMC
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Post by d o harris on Sept 20, 2005 3:21:22 GMT -6
Glory Hunter is essential to any Custer collection. Van De Water represented consensus opinion in 1933. One of the interests I have in the LBH is how consensus changes from decade to decade. And how GAC appears differently in media, during the same time period. 1933 a villain in books but a hero in movies.
I bought the book about 40 years ago, and keep in nearby. I refer to it whenever I feel a seige of Custerphilia coming on. It's sort of a specific for that condition, similar to a hot toddy and aspirin to ward off a cold.
Van de Water was a professional book reviewer and one of the leading lights when book reviewing was important & the Saturday Review of Books was considered required reading. He did have poor judgment at times. He considered Kenneth Roberts {Arundel, Rabble In Arms, Oliver Wiswell} the equal of Tolstoi. I've never made up my mind if Vandy truly beleieved that or was being over kind to a friend.
One of these days The Great Book of the LBH will be written, and when the thing is finally done it will be a work of fiction. Half century ago Oakley Hall wrote "Warlock," a retelling of Earp in Tombstone. It was a serious novel-Hall was an academic, after all- as opposed to a mere western. The book was unremarkable, but his introduction impressed me. This is paraphrase, but what he said was essentially this: "It is the job of historians to describe the facts the facts. It is the job of novelists to describe the truth."
I think he has something. An honest historian may become overwhelmed by the minutiae of facts and miss the underlying truths of the human experience that is the stock in trade of our best novelists.
When and if The Great Book on LBH is written Marcus Reno will be the lead character. I think him far more interesting, complicated, and human, than GAC or Benteen. Everyman as tragic figure. If only a writer can be found good enough and confident enough not to be dominated by the personality of GAC.
The foregoing was called a springboard review in Vandy's time--you pretend to discuss one subject as a pretense for opinionating, something board contributors do not do. Sorry, I took advantage.
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Post by Tricia on Sept 20, 2005 14:45:36 GMT -6
doharris--
Certainly the historiography of LBH and Custer is a fascinating subject, and "Glory Hunter" was a mighty powerful weapon in the advance of Custerphobism. While a lot of people complain that Van de Water provided nothing less than a work of fiction, I was surprised that some of the insights into GAC's behaviour seemed to come from Libbie's writings (I read backwards from GH to EBC)!
Regards,
Leyton McLean
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Post by crzhrs on Sept 20, 2005 16:41:23 GMT -6
What I find the most enjoyable about the LBH is not so much the tactics, but the people, the characters, personalities, the connections between both sides, and the human strengths & foibles that can led to victory or defeat!
Van de Water wrote my kind of book . . . not so much that I want to see Custer bashed . . . but the reasons why he was!
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Post by Tricia on Sept 21, 2005 13:39:56 GMT -6
You're absolutely right, Crzhrs ... there's no way even the greatest writer in the world could come up with such a crazy cast of characters. That's certainly where my interest lies, and "Glory Hunter," presents a heck of a look at GAC. Granted, it doesn't always sit well with some philes ...
Regards,
Leyton McLean
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Post by alfuso on Sept 22, 2005 8:28:35 GMT -6
Actually, and Rice has talked of doing research on this, Custer was a type A personality and possibly had ADD, which would account for the inability to stay still. His maturing years 1873-1876 would appear to mark a period when perhaps he'd come to grips with his ADD and learned to control it. Although I doubt he knew what it was. alfuso Seemed maybe but he don't. His push to find the village through the night was to recreate the scenario of Washita or at least to move and approach without to be noticed. As done with Washita. Also, Custer has always been iperactive, so that was seen sleeping under a tree with a cop of coffe in the hands, at the civil war years for 5 minuts and then standing up like nothing was happened. |
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Post by alfuso on Sept 22, 2005 8:32:58 GMT -6
I barely tolerate this book because the author's agenda is so obvious -- calling Custer "Glory Hunter" nearly every page. Twisting Custer's CW career into a travesty. How GAC had murdered Mosby's men because Mosby had hurt GAC's pride. The "reckless" charges which we know now that Custer oftemn spent an hour setting up. That GAC onluy knew the full frontal charge when we know now he was a master of terraine and flank attack.
Van DeWater was a "writer" for sure, but he was no historian.
alfuso
PS I own a first edition.
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