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Crazy Horse

Crazy Horse: The Strange Man of the Oglalas, by Mari Sandoz. ISBN 0803292112. (50th Anniversary Edition) Crazy Horse, the legendary military leader of the Oglala Sioux whose personal power and nonconformity set him off as "strange," fought in many famous battles, including the Little Bighorn. He held out tirelessly against the U.S. government’s efforts to confine the Lakotas to reservations. Finally, in the spring of 1877 he surrendered, only to meet a violent death. More than a century later, Crazy Horse continues to hold a special place in the hearts and minds of his people. Mari Sandoz offers a powerful evocation of the long-ago world and enduring spirit of Crazy Horse. Mari Sandoz (1896–1966) is the noted author of Cheyenne Autumn, Old Jules, and The Battle of the Little Bighorn (all available in Bison Books editions). Vine Deloria Jr. is the author of many books, including Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto and Red Earth, White Lies: Native Americans and the Myth of Scientific Fact.

The Journey Of Crazy Horse: A Lakota History, by Joseph M. Marshall. ISBN 0670033553. Most of the world remembers Crazy Horse as a peerless warrior who brought the U.S. Army to its knees at the Battle of Little Bighorn. But to his fellow Lakota Indians, he was a dutiful son and humble fighting man who—with valor, spirit, respect, and unparalleled leadership—fought for his people’s land, livelihood, and honor. In this fascinating biography, Joseph Marshall, himself a Lakota Indian, creates a vibrant portrait of the man, his times, and his legacy. Drawing on firsthand research and his culture’s rich oral tradition (rarely shared outside the Native American community), Marshall reveals many aspects of Crazy Horse’s life, including details of the powerful vision that convinced him of his duty to help preserve the Lakota homeland—a vision that changed the course of Crazy Horse’s life and spurred him confidently into battle time and time again. The Journey of Crazy Horse is the true story of how one man’s fight for his people’s survival roused his true genius as a strategist, commander, and trusted leader. And it is an unforgettable portrayal of a revered human being and a profound celebration of a culture, a community, and an enduring way of life.

Crazy Horse and Custer: The Parallel Lives of Two American Warriors, by Stephen E. Ambrose. ISBN 0385479662. On the sparkling morning of June 25, 1876, 611 men of the United States 7th Cavalry rode toward the banks of the Little Bighorn in the Montana Territory, where 3,000 Indians stood waiting for battle. The lives of two great warriors would soon be forever linked throughout history: Crazy Horse, leader of the Oglala Sioux, and General George Armstrong Custer. Both were men of aggression and supreme courage. Both became leaders in their societies at very early ages; both were stripped of power, in disgrace, and worked to earn back the respect of their people. And to both of them, the unspoiled grandeur of the Great Plains of North America was an irresistible challenge. Their parallel lives would pave the way, in a manner unknown to either, for an inevitable clash between two nations fighting for possession of the open prairie.

The Life and Death of Crazy Horse, by Russell Freedman, Amos Bad Heart Bull. ISBN 0823412199. This biography from a master of the genre draws on first-hand accounts of the life and personality of the great Lakota warrior Crazy Horse, combining them with a succinct but dramatic narration of the bloody conflict that ended only with the forced settlement of the last free Native American nation. Born around 1841 as a member of a freely ranging band, Crazy Horse died in 1877 as a captive of the U.S. Army. Quiet and reserved, "he wore no war paint, took no scalps, and refused to boast about his brave deeds," writes Freedman. But he was a revered leader in battles along the Oregon and Bozeman trails which culminated in the Battle of the Little Bighorn as the Indians of the northern Plains fought an ultimately futile war to keep their independence. Illustrations are taken from the ledger book kept by Crazy Horse's cousin Amos Bad Heart Bull (1869-1913), the historian of the Oglala Sioux. Reproduced from black-and-white photographs made before the ledger book was buried with the artist's sister in 1947, in accordance with Sioux custom, the art is not as crisp and sharp as contemporary kids are used to. But along with the personal accounts the pictures effectively evoke life as Crazy Horse would have known it, wooing a young woman in a "courting blanket," raiding a neighboring tribe for horses, or fighting the U.S. cavalry. No dry history this, but a story certain to sweep readers along its tragic path. Ages 10-up. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Crazy Horse, by Larry McMurtry. ISBN 0670882348. Legends cloud the life of Crazy Horse, a seminal figure of American history but an enigma even to his own people in his own day. Yet his story remains an encapsulation of the Native American tragedy and the death of the untamed West. Crazy Horse strips away the tall tales to reveal the essence of this brilliant, ascetic warrior-hero. Larry McMurtry's vivid, carefully considered, succinct biography will lure not only his own fans but history buffs, Western enthusiasts, students of all things Native American, and anyone concerned with the white man's atonement and restitution to native peoples. In a portrait that only he could render, Larry McMurtry captures the poignant passing of a time and offers a vibrant new understanding of the mythic Crazy Horse and what he stood for.

Crazy Horse's Vision, by Joseph Bruchac and S. D. Nelson. ISBN 1880000946. As he did in Gift Horse, Sioux artist Nelson blends contemporary and traditional elements for the striking illustrations that accompany this story of the legendary Lakota warrior. Bruchac (A Boy Called Slow: The True Story of Sitting Bull) traces Crazy Horse's boyhood, zeroing in on a pivotal event in his life and highlighting an important Native American rite of passage. As a youth, Crazy Horse (then known as Curly) witnesses U.S. Army soldiers brutally and unjustly attack his people. Troubled, he embarks on a vision quest and sees a figure on horseback riding untouched through a storm of lightning, hail and bullets. His father interprets the vision, telling him that "the man on that horse is the one you will become" and that he is destined to defend his people. Bruchac's description of the vision quest is compelling, and his decision to limit his canvas to a few select events demonstrates his understanding of his audience; an afterword describes subsequent events in the warrior's life. Endmatter also illuminates Nelson's approach. The artist explains his approximations of the Plains Indians' traditional ledger-book style (characterized by indistinct facial expressions and flat, two-dimensional figures) and his symbolic use of color (Crazy Horse is painted blue, representative of a connection with the spirit world). His sweeping vistas and somewhat ghostly textured brushwork bolster the book's visionary theme. Ages 6-up. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Crazy Horse: The Life Behind the Legend, by Mike Sajna. ISBN 0471417009. "There has to be someone left to tell the tale." Little did the legendary war chief Crazy Horse know when he spoke these words in battle that it was his tale that people would be telling long after his death. Now, author Mike Sajna brings the renowned warrior back to life in this book about his epic struggle to save his culture and homeland amid the westward movement of white settlers. Sajna follows Crazy Horse from his days as a young boy chasing down wild horses to his later years as "one of the bravest of the brave," and includes new views on his role in the Battle of Little Big Horn and his eventual surrender and murder. Using an extensive collection of historic records, Crazy Horse is one of the most accurate accounts of the great Oglala chief, separating the facts from the many myths that have been passed down by other writers.

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse, by Peter Matthiessen. ISBN 0140144560. On a hot June morning in 1975, a desparate shoot-out between FBI agents and Native Americans at Wounded Knee, South Dakota, left an Indian and two agents dead. Four members of AIM, the American Indian Movement, were indicted on murder charges, and one, Leonard Peltier, was convicted and is now serving consecutive life sentences in a federal penitentiary. Behind this violent chain of events lie issues of great complexity and profound historical resonance, brilliantly explicated by Matthiessen in this controversial book. In a comprehensive history of the desparate Indian efforts to maintain their traditions, Matthiessen reveals the Lakota tribe's long struggle with the U.S. government.

Quiet Thunder: The Wisdom Of Crazy Horse, by Joseph Marshall, III. ISBN 1591792460. Audio CD. Joseph Marshall III, authentic Lakota lineage holder, reveals the authentic teachings and wisdom practices handed down by Crazy Horse. In this complete audio learning course, listeners join Marshall to explore: The "call to adventure" we all share; The four central leadership teachings of Crazy Horse, and how to embody them; "Thunderbeings" and Crazy Horse’s life-changing vision, and more. In his career Joseph Marshall III has been a teacher at the high school and college levels, an educational and health programs administrator for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, a craftsman of primitive Lakota bows and arrows, an historian, and a writer. He has helped to form a non-profit advocacy group for Native American students and parents, develop and implement Native American studies curriculum, spearhead the planning and design phase for the eventual construction of a hospital, as well as serve as a founder and charter board member of Sinte Gleska University. As a writer he is doing that which he enjoys most professionally. Joseph has published six books. In addition, he has been a contributing writer to four other publications. All of his work has won critical acclaim. His fifth book - The Lakota Way: Stories and Lessons for Living - was a finalist in the spiritual category for the prestigious Books for a Better Life Award from the Multiple Sclerosis Society of New York. It was also a finalist in the creative non-fiction category for the PEN CENTER USA award. The Lakota Way received excellent reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and The Library Journal.

Greengrass Pipe Dancers: Crazy Horse's Pipe Bag and a Search for Healing, by Lionel Little Eagle. ISBN 0879612509. A true story of one man's journey through the heartbreak of his wife's struggle with cancer and the fulfillment of a sacred obligation: the return of Crazy Horse's pipe bag to the Lakota people. Lionel Little Eagle has established many lasting friendships among Native people, including those described in this book. He is a devoted seeker of the traditional Indian lifestyle and medicinal ways, and holds Native American workshops on a wide range of topics. He is a pipe bag carrier and a Micmac Indian. Retired from the coast guard, Little Eagle lives in Battle Ground, Washington, with his wife and youngest son, Travis.


Additional Titles

The Killing of Chief Crazy Horse: Three Eyewitness Views by the Indian, Chief He Dog the Indian White, William Garnett the White Doctor, Valentine McGillycuddy, by Robert A. Clark. ISBN 0803263309.

The Death of Crazy Horse: A Tragic Episode in Lakota History, by Richard G. Hardorff

To Kill an Eagle: Indian Views on the Last Days of Crazy Horse, by Edward Kadlecek, Mabell Kadlecek. ISBN 0933472544.

Crazy Horse Hoka Hey! It Is a Good Time to Die!: It Is a Good Time to Die! : The Story of Crazy Horse, Legendary Mystic and Warrior, by Vinson Brown. ISBN 0879611731.

Crazy Horse: A Photographic Biography, by Bill Moeller and Jan Moeller. ISBN 0878424245.

An American Passion: Being an Account of the Killing of Crazy Horse, War Chief of the Oglala Lakota Sioux, by Len Blanchard. ISBN 0759625689.

The Return of Crazy Horse, by William Kotzwinkle and Joe Servello. ISBN 1583940472.

The Murder of Crazy Horse: An American Tragedy, by Raven Walker. ISBN 0595168760.

Turn the Stars Upside Down: The Last Days and Tragic Death of Crazy Horse, by Terry C. Johnston. ISBN 0312982097.

Search for the Lost Trail of Crazy Horse, by Cleve Walstrom. ISBN 1886225508.

We Need to Dream All This Again: An Account of Crazy Horse, Custer and the Battle of the Black Hills, by Bernard Pomerance. ISBN 0140110046.

Great upon the mountain: Crazy Horse of America, by Vinson Brown. ISBN 0911010378.

The Oglala Lakota Crazy Horse: A Preliminary Genealogical Study and an Annotated Listing of Primary Sources, by Richard G. Hardorff. ISBN 0848800192.


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