Crazy Horse: A Life

I just returned from South Dakota, where at long last I was able to see the incredible Crazy Horse monument. When finished, if ever finished, it will be the largest mountain statue in the world. I reread “Crazy Horse: A Life” when I returned, and have renewed respect for this amazing man and increased curiosity about those tragic times. This book is a gem: packed with information, straightforward, it gives the best portrait of a man who had no portrait.It’s ironic that this will be the largest monument when no one knows what Crazy Horse even looked like. He never posed for a photo, never wrote anything down. He didn’t live long and avoided meetings and most people, choosing to spend much time alone. Yet his reputation for bravery has become legend. It’s a testament to the power of living according to one’s beliefs. Crazy Horse was loved and valued by his people as much for his charity as for his courage. This short look at his life contains the essence of what we know: his courage, his devotion to his people, his quest and vision that guided his life, his confrontation with Custer.As the author writes, he came to be a symbol of “Sioux freedom, Sioux courage, and Sioux dignity.” Crazy Horse resisted the whites longer than anyone during his lifetime, and tried to keep his people safe through his charity and leadership.This powerful little book details the coming of the whites, the treaties, the massacres, and how they all affected Crazy Horse. His vision is what appeals to me most, and how it lead him to become a “man of charity, doing his best to feed poor and helpless members of tribe.” The book describes life on the Plains, and how it was changed by the greed of the white man.McMurtry says that one of best books written about the west is Evan S. Connell Jr.’ s "Son of Morning Star." I’m reading that right now. But I find this small book just as good: dense with information, short and to the point, colorful in describing the character of Crazy Horse, sad in its conclusion. The Battle of Little Bighorn is one of the most famous in history, and Crazy Horse played an important role in it. He was killed by his own people, in tandem with the white army officers, just a little over a year later. The described scene reminded me of Christ, or Gandhi. The monument, ironically in Custer, South Dakota, will be a tribute to all that was lost on the Plains in the late 1800s, and to all the warriors who died to protect their people.

I think mystery is under-rated. I've read many reviews of this book berating it's lack of detailed research and the fact that Mr McMurtry, an acclaimed writer surely capable of writing a definative book about this man, hasn't satisfied those people's need for CSI-style detail and factual overkill.The plain fact is that Colonel Custer's historic screw-up, caused by a concatenation of avoidable factors, was and is a bitter pill for America to swallow, especially coming when it did; The 4th of July, 1876 was the Nation's Centennial, and the Centennial Expo had Americans and Foreign Dignitaries marveling at the splendid display of America's wealth and cleverness, the phenomenon of the newly invented telephone, and the magnificent Exposition campus. Everybody heard of the Custer disaster. The "Powers-That-Be" likely were not amused.Then came the start of the "Explanations." Many had careers to serve(or save); many saw opportunity. The Black Hills Gold Rush was only beginning. America's 'coming to grips' with it's shameful treatment of the natives didn't really start in popular culture until long past WWII.The writing in the book is intentionally non-specific; it's not vague or disrespectful at all. The players on the US Army side were not close, and also famously not at their best. The "Indian" crowd was a convention of different tribes, many thousands of warriors all very much concerned with how brave and fierce they would come off to their competitors. It was bad luck indeed for Custer and his men to blunder into them just after breakfast when they were discussing how pissed-off they were at the White Man's blatant treaty violation of the Black Hills.Most clearly of all, McMurtry makes exactly the point that so many miss - that we screwed up big time and are still getting it wrong.

A careful and objective investigation and depiction of an independent, fiercely brave, intelligent, loyal, charitable and practically indestructible Sioux leader. All who have taken the necessary time to be able to develop a reason-based, historically guided opinion of C.H., the family man, the friend, the strategic Sioux fighter and leader, have discerned the importance of C.H.’s life and his many accomplishments, and how he poignantly and firmly stands tall and proud as a most venerable and honorable Sioux Indian forefather, and who should always be remembered in a positive manner by those who care. Written by one of my all-time favorites, Larry McMurtry, author of Lonesome Dove, and many more.

I think this is a good read, and it is realistic in its assertions. It draws heavily on the conclusions of other authors, who may have presented a more energetic biography of Crazy Horse, but it appears to cut through some of the unverified BS and grounds it in reality. You come away in agreement that Crazy Horse was one of the most written about Western figures, except maybe Custer and Wyatt Earp, but it gives a bit of a reality check on some of the other enthusiastic authors. All told, a very good book on an extremely interesting man, who was an unintentional leader, a man who just wanted to go his own way, and help his people int he process. I do not regret reading it, and thank McMurtry for another good read.

I bought this book to learn more about Crazy Horse, an Indian I remember reading about in high school. I've always wanted to learn more about him and about the struggle of Indians. This book satisfied that informational curiousity.This book reads clinically. It takes his life and tries to disspell rumors and exaggerations and find the truth. It's very sad how the life of Crazy Horse ended and you can't help feel for the plight of the Indians. I enjoyed reading this as a cultural study but not for a fun, enjoyable read. If you are looking for a typical novel, then don't buy this book. If you are looking information and want to learn about the plight of Indians, then this is the book for you.

Amazing book. Love it