Winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for HistoryIn this magisterial biography; T. J. Stiles paints a portrait of Custer both deeply personal and sweeping in scope; proving how much of Custer’s legacy has been ignored. He demolishes Custer’s historical caricature; revealing a capable yet insecure man; intelligent yet bigoted; passionate yet self-destructive; a romantic individualist at odds with the institution of the military (court-martialed twice in six years) and the new corporate economy; a wartime emancipator who rejected racial equality. Stiles argues that; although Custer was justly noted for his exploits on the western frontier; he also played a central role as both a wide-ranging participant and polarizing public figure in his extraordinary; transformational time—a time of civil war; emancipation; brutality toward Native Americans; and; finally; the Industrial Revolution—even as he became one of its casualties. Intimate; dramatic; and provocative; this biography captures the larger story of the changing nation. It casts surprising new light on one of the best-known figures of American history; a subject of seemingly endless fascination.
#947542 in Books 2010-05-04 2010-05-04Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .90 x 5.10l; .94 #File Name: 0307389626464 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great Book! I uasally wouldn't buy a book with ...By HoneyGreat Book! I uasally wouldn't buy a book with 400 plus pages; I;am glad I did. Best book to know the background of the beginning of World War II; with Stalin; Roosevelt and Churchhill. I'm only 160 pages into it and I see how England and the United States saved Russia's ass. Full of little known facts and written intriguingly well3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Very good history bookBy Yelena P. FrancisThis book contains well-documented material not to be found in other publication; and especially not in officially sanctions historical accounts. The literature about the leaders in WWII is massive; and especially Stalin is treated with a wide range of opinions. Rees was able to augment and correct; the description of that monster; all based on archival facts. Rees brings out the condemnable gullible or outright deceptive attitude of the Western Media and elite towards the Soviets and Stalin. The book contains a range of tragic personal experiences of ordinary people; their accounts; including the horrible deed of the Soviets at Katyn.The book is a must read for anyone; especially for those who have read other works; but want to know or confirm the truth - thus broaden their understanding.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Required reading for anyone who wants to understand WW2By victor madejaAdds footnotes to the excellent BBC and PBS six-hour series. Answers "Who lost central Europe?". In the summer of 1944; while the western Allies were reaching for "a bridge too far" (in the wrong direction) and distracted by the needless "champagne campaign" in South France; Stalin was taking over nine central European countries.
