This book is strong in
character, story, language and setting.
Summary:
In a nursing home a writer encounters 111 year-old Jack Crabb, who
claims to be the only white survivor at Little Big Horn, and persuades him to
tell the story of his life. In his own words Jack recounts amazing experiences
from the time he is taken as a ten-year-old to live with a band of Cheyenne
until he fights against them at Custer's side. His adventures take him back and
forth between the Indian and white worlds in a variety of roles and for many
reasons. At one time or another he is a Cheyenne warrior known as Little Big
Man, an adopted son of a preacher, a buffalo hunter, a gambler, a con man and
whatever else the situation and his own unconventional code of ethics requires.
He manages to survive numerous threats to life and limb by using a combination
of his own ingenuity, timely intervention by an eclectic set of friends, and a
lot of dumb luck. Somehow he also manages to be present for all of the major
historical movements and events of the time and to meet some of the era's most interesting characters.
I would recommend this book!
Why?
This is not your typical western. It is an outrageously funny book written
in first person using Mark Twain style language. Imagine Seinfeld in the old
west!
Other interesting information about this book:
Little Big Man is also available on videocassette, starring Dustin Hoffman as Jack Crabb.
Other suggested reading:
The sequel to this
book is
Return of Little Big Man.
If you prefer a more serious treatment of
Little Big Horn, try Marching to Valhalla by Michael Blake, who also wrote Dances
with Wolves.
Employee Initials: AJ
Review Date: November 2002
Read other reviews by this staff member.
