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Post by Diane Merkel on Dec 19, 2009 11:02:26 GMT -6
Koster, John. Custer Survivor: The End of a Myth, the Beginning of a Legend. Midpoint Trade Bks. Jan. 2010. c.220p. illus. maps. index. ISBN 978-1-933909-03-5. pap. $16.95. HIST
Over the years there have been a number of claims of survivors of Custer's battalion at the Little Bighorn in 1876, but none has held up under close scrutiny—until now. Journalist Koster (The Road to Wounded Knee) carefully reconstructs the life of Frank Finkel, second sergeant of C Company. He marshals all of the available documentary, historical, archaeological, and forensic evidence to show that the Frank Finckel born in Ohio in 1854 was the George August Finckle who enlisted in the Seventh Cavalry in 1872, the Frank Finkel who died in Dayton, WA, in 1930, and the "long sword" whom Rain-in-the-Face reported being told escaped the battle on a runaway horse and whom he saw in Chicago in 1893. Koster also tells how Finkel's desire to enhance his status and his second wife's efforts to erase all traces of his first wife, supposedly part Cherokee, misled researchers for decades but also kept Finkel's story alive. VERDICT This well-written and carefully reasoned argument is essential reading for scholars and students of the West and will be of great interest to anyone with even a passing interest in Custer and the Little Bighorn. Highly recommended.—Stephen H. Peters, Northern Michigan Univ. Lib., Marquette Source: www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6704056.html?More: www.prweb.com/releases/2009/12/prweb3331904.htm |
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Post by Dark Cloud on Dec 19, 2009 12:02:57 GMT -6
So, let's use this as an illustrative example to see if the theory that Custer related books can be reviewed with an 80% accuracy level or better without bothering to read them.
1. Finkel's body was identified by Kanipe, a fellow sergeant in Company C, the troop under Tom Custer whose members provide the most suspicion for desertion and fabrication. Tom Custer died with his brother and may not have been serving with C that day, leaving Harrington in charge. But: if anyone would know, it's Kanipe, although Kanipe himself is dubious. Still, a positive ID.
2. There is a John Koster who wrote about the Bermuda Triangle. If same author, that concludes my review. If not, we continue.
3. The title itself makes no sense. What, specifically, is the myth that ended? What legend supplanted it? Rats, he might actually explain in the book, requiring reading, although my guess is its the pretentiousness that title attracted him to it. I haven't felt national tension building over The Legend of August Finkle, Tuesdays at 8 ET on Fox!
4. It's a vanity press publication. It's reviewed by a librarian. Donovan is a librarian. Even Utley can't be had to call it the most important Custer book of the last ________ years, which he also seems to do in his dotage.
5. Koster is referenced as a 'journalist.' For who? Damn, that might be actually be on the jacket. Still, nothing by Google impresses, and that's if ANY of them are the same guy. The Road to Wounded Knee is a book Ward Churchill would like, as I recall.
6. It is incredibly likely that a guy named Finkle in Washington strove to inflate his life towards the end by this claim.
7. Key sentence in review is this one. "He marshals all of the available documentary, historical, archaeological, and forensic evidence to show that the Frank Finckel born in Ohio in 1854 was the George August Finckle who enlisted in the Seventh Cavalry in 1872, the Frank Finkel who died in Dayton, WA, in 1930, and the "long sword" whom Rain-in-the-Face reported being told escaped the battle on a runaway horse and whom he saw in Chicago in 1893."
That's the sort of sentence some Custerland types might write, compounding words that they think sound substantive and impressive. What, for example, is "historical" evidence? How is it distinguished from prosaic, mere evidence? And 'archaeological' evidence to prove the identity? How is it distinguished from 'historical?' And 'forensic.' There was a crime or legal action requiring forensics? One thing for sure is the reviewer is unlikely to have read the book either or know much about Custerland, given the boilerplate phrases that are void of content.
For example: Rain-in-the-Face was TOLD a 'long sword' escaped, and despite not actually having seen the guy (and of all soldiers, would this one be committed to descriptive memory and then recounted flawlessly to Rain?), he ID'd him in Chicago seventeen years later? Was long sword an actual term used by Indians, or was it a dramatic term beloved by 'journalists' of the time? Were there 'short swords?' Since there were no swords at the LBH except one in the train, why would that description spring to mind anyway above all others?
I don't doubt that "Finkel's desire to enhance his status and his second wife's efforts to erase all traces of his first wife, supposedly part Cherokee" is true. Not unreasonable. But there were people who knew Finkle still alive who could have proven his ID simply. Of course, that would mean Finkle would risk being shot for desertion with the implication of cowardice, and that arguably would not enhance his status.
Handwriting analysis is dubious, and like all court professional witnesses, one equally competent may well disagree. That 'five' were found, and none famous enough to include in the review, speaks to the issue.
So, when you all shell out for this for Christmas, post your review and we'll see how I did. VERDICT: I'm always right.
Second tenors, a little more enthusiasm, okay? Everyone! "He's Mr. Wooooooooooooonderful..........."
Freshen this.....
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Post by Diane Merkel on Dec 19, 2009 15:32:41 GMT -6
4. It's a vanity press publication. It's reviewed by a librarian. Donovan is a librarian. Even Utley can't be had to call it the most important Custer book of the last ________ years, which he also seems to do in his dotage. Donovan who or who Donovan? Here's your fresh drink, sir. I hope you like the little Santa-shaped ice cubes. I'm still waiting for the armadillo to come out of the oven. |
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Post by Dark Cloud on Dec 19, 2009 16:14:34 GMT -6
Donovan the Librarian is whom. With Kellogg still writing things on the Rosebud of the 24th that were sent some days in the past, the one who didn't notice his mutually exclusive descriptions of Custer's mortal wounds, the guy whose mother read him of Casabian's demise as his entrance to history. He wrote that book which I alone here read all the way through. Markland, who defended it, hadn't read it. Anyone read it?
ICE? You freeze the GLASS to the point where asbestos gloves are mandated. Shaken, not stirred.
DEEP FRY, we don't need no oven! (Wait, did I say that? No. Can you hear me? See me? Thank God, people might find that offensive. At Christmas....) Whoever heard of Baked Road Kill Armadillo? Oh, never mind, you'll never get it right and the Spanish moss is past its peak and is now Spanish mold.
Floridians.
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Post by markland on Dec 20, 2009 9:34:37 GMT -6
Donovan the Librarian is whom. With Kellogg still writing things on the Rosebud of the 24th that were sent some days in the past, the one who didn't notice his mutually exclusive descriptions of Custer's mortal wounds, the guy whose mother read him of Casabian's demise as his entrance to history. He wrote that book which I alone here read all the way through. Markland, who defended it, hadn't read it. Anyone read it? ICE? You freeze the GLASS to the point where asbestos gloves are mandated. Shaken, not stirred. DEEP FRY, we don't need no oven! (Wait, did I say that? No. Can you hear me? See me? Thank God, people might find that offensive. At Christmas....) Whoever heard of Baked Road Kill Armadillo? Oh, never mind, you'll never get it right and the Spanish moss is past its peak and is now Spanish mold. Floridians. Sorry, still haven't read it. I'm currently reading Cozzen's Shenandoah 1862 & McChristian's Fort Laramie as well as watching the Dynamic Duo battle against AZ (they've gone to a gun fight armed with knives). And the project from hell is up to 11,826 names as of five minutes ago. Merry Christmas and enjoy the road kill. Billy |
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Post by Diane Merkel on Dec 21, 2009 15:34:21 GMT -6
I was afraid that was who you meant. Donovan used primary sources whenever possible, which is more than can be said for most, so he is not a Librarian. I enjoyed it immensely and not just because he acknowledged me in it.  I was broiling the armadillo but, as usual, it became charcoal. If you want one deep fried, you'll have to wait until I get back from my cruise. Pedro is going to be serving me little umbrella drinks in a few days. I've got lots of Spanish moss for the garnish. |
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Post by Dark Cloud on Dec 21, 2009 16:43:50 GMT -6
No, he isn't a librarian. My error. I thought I'd read that was his degree. Apologies.
Much worse, he's a literary agent. Gee. Would those glowing reviews on the backcover be from authors he's handled? Shouldn't stuff like that be admitted, if true? Log-rolling is alive and well in Custerland, I fear.
Considering the undeniable errors in the book that have been caught caught unique to him alone, and at this quite late date, I sincerely hope this isn't "the new benchmark of literary scholarship on the Little Bighorn...." an event which Hampton Sides (author of - oh, dear God - "Blood and Thunder") continues to say is "at the core of our national identity" and, what the hell, our "classic, Western Iliad." The phrase 'literary scholarship', rather than scholarship, perplexes.
There's nothing new. Worse, he's an utterly pedestrian writer. I asked long before what sentence or phrase rang anyone's bell, and was greeted with silence. To which we now return.
Wait. Stop looking at my armadillo when you're mad. When they're delicately aged and flattened, they need careful convection, not nuclear flash burn.
Now stop moping, go upstairs and clean your room and if you know what's good for you, you'll have a great holiday and return in the new year enlightened, happy, peaceful, and brimming with affection for your fellows. Which is to say: drunk. But have a good one, regardless, Ms. Merkel.
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Post by cefil on Dec 21, 2009 18:20:48 GMT -6
Donovan used primary sources whenever possible...so he is not a Librarian. Hold on thar...those two aren't mutually exclusive, are they? This thread has taken a decidedly dark [cloud] turn..."librarian" as epithet-of-the-day? I protest! I know a lot -- some -- a few -- well, OK, one librarian who is a stand up guy. Let us not besmirch them all with the broad stroke of a venom-dipped pen/keyboard. Librarians have feelings, too, you know... cefil |
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Post by Melani on Dec 22, 2009 7:53:59 GMT -6
It is not true that you are the only one who has read Jim Donovan's book all the way through. Many people have, myself included, as I have said repeatedly. Why do you keep saying nobody has read it?
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