Posted on 09/01/2018 5:56:55 AM PDT by Kaslin
If kids aren’t reading books, maybe it’s because they don’t have exciting books to read.
According to the American Psychological Association, a third of all teens have not a read a book for pleasure in a year. The report cites the usual culprits, especially the prevalence of spending time on social media, which is even more popular than television, the traditional bête noire of the bookish.
At the same time, kids are desperately in need of reading material that teaches them something positive about American history. The history books that schools foist on them are riddled with anti-American narratives and explicitly unpatriotic themes that leave them questioning the value of being an American at all.
I've just read a book that could change that. Dubbed "A Dangerous Book for Dads (and Their Sons)," Armstrong, by best-selling author H.W. Crocker III, is a hilariously funny alternative-history adventure story set in the Old West. The premise has Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer surviving the Battle of the Little Big Horn to become a heroic knight-errant, in the tradition of Shane or Paladin.
Custer – taken unconscious from the battlefield and enslaved by the white wife of a Sioux warrior he killed – adopts the persona of Armstrong, and sets off on his adventures. He is soon joined by a colorful cast of characters including a troupe of Chinese acrobats (of course!), a Crow Indian scout, a former Rebel solider and others they encounter along the way. They soon become embroiled in righting wrongs in the aptly named town of Bloody Gulch, Montana, with plenty of adventures and twists of fate to keep the pages turning.
Custer’s multicultural band of vagabonds is the only politically-correct aspect of this book, which revels in period tropes but always in a positive and humorous spirit. Harry Crocker’s bold prose will definitely not please your average humorless progressive social justice warrior, but then again what would? Crocker treats his subjects with respect while not descending into the fawning preachiness that characterizes much contemporary period fiction.
Armstrong, which is the first in a series, is written from a historically-informed point of view that is reminiscent of George MacDonald Fraser’s Flashman novels. There is also an element of mystery that evokes the TV series “The Fugitive,” as Custer maintains his anonymity in order to hunt down the man who betrayed the Seventh Cavalry and led them to destruction at Little Big Horn.
I know the real Custer; I even wrote the book. Custer’s true-life story reads like fiction, so it is an easy transition into the “What-if” scenario in which he continues his adventures. This is the kind of book young people should want to read, which will challenge them and widen their horizons. It is part history, part humor, part drama, and all-around entertainment. If anything will get them to switch off corrosive social media and enjoy reading just for the fun of it, Armstrong has a shot. It may be against heavy odds, but when did George Armstrong Custer ever back down from a challenge?
Sitting Bull: “Custer, you magnificent bastard. I read your book!”
It was Custer who rode up to Longstreet and ORDERED him to have his General Lee report to a particular house to sign the terms of final surrender.
As he rode away Longstreet wondered who was this punk.
They make them read maudlin crap in schools. No wonder they hate reading.
Actually, he was called Armstrong throughout his life although his nickname was “Autie.”
I’m sure the usual Custer-haters will show up soon to denounce this.
That’s pretty. Perfect brulee on the top.
Wonderful World of Disney used to do many series on Americana - Davy Crockett, the Swamp Fox, Elfego Baca, Texas John Slaughter. The ‘50s and early ‘60s were filled with similar shows - Death Valley Days, Daniel Boone, Adventures of Jim Bowie. Youngsters have nothing like this stuff, just mind-bending video games and the commie crap dished out in schools.
Get them excited bout American History.
Last I saw, they are no longer teaching any American History much further back than when the Beatles landed in the USA.
Oh well. I still love custard.
Custer was born in Monroe, MI., arguably the walleye fishing capital of the world. I wonder if he fished?
Custer was a lot like John McCain....both graduated at the bottom of their classes at Military academies, both had good friends on the enemy’s side in their war, both were womanizer, and both got good men killed with their recklessness and incompetence.
Both crashed and burned.
Bump
George had better hair.
Fraser's (genuinely) autobiographical book about WWII in the Pacific ("Quartered Safe Out Here") is a good read in itself.
In my experience, those who love learning will enjoy their History classes... but that's only about 1/3 of all public school students. What I have discovered over the years is that this who did NOT love learning in their youth will enjoy History lessons and discussion in their early-to-mid 20s... sadly, that group usually isn't in college, and if they are, they typically aren't taking History electives. However, it is nice to see that "spark" light up in those who even had a disdain education for most of their teens, when I simply blather on about some of my favorite cool stories from history.
Both of them are dead.
I like some alternate history novels. I’m not sure that I will like this one.
Texas John Slaughter? Couldn’t do that theme song now. “Texas John Slaughter made them do what they oughter, cause if they didn’t they died”
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