An Unofficial 'The Rest Is History' Reading List

450. Custer's Last Stand: Death in the Black Hills (Part 5)

May 15, 2024

Description

In the wake of the barbaric Washita River massacre, George Custer found himself drifting; addicted to gambling, at odds with his wife, and failing in his efforts to take advantage of the American...
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Books Referenced

My Life on the Plains

Author: George Armstrong Custer

Context:

Explicitly mentioned as the source of a Custer quote about Native Americans. Also nicknamed 'My Lies on the Plains' by Major Benton. Published in The Galaxy magazine in 1872.

Custer's Trials

Author: T.J. Stiles

Context:

Referenced as a biography of Custer when discussing how Custer chose politically disadvantageous options, indicating he genuinely believed in his positions.

Son of the Morning Star

Author: Evan Connell

Context:

Referenced for Evan Connell's 'brilliant description of Crook' comparing him to Lucas Cranach's portrait of Augustus, Grand Duke of Saxony.

Great Plains

Author: Ian Frazier

Context:

Referenced as containing a quote about Custer that was discussed in an earlier episode, explaining why superiors indulged Custer's behavior.

Master and Commander

Author: Patrick O'Brian

Context:

Referenced as a comparison - Custer's enthusiasm for collecting fossils and scientific specimens is compared to the character Maturin in O'Brian's naval novels.

King Solomon's Mines

Author: H. Rider Haggard

Context:

Referenced in discussion of European romanticization of frontier life and 'big game hunters' - the hosts recall discussing Haggard's portrayal of 'a man of the plains' in a previous episode.