Edward Caudill and Paul Ashdown are professors of journalism and electronic media at the University of Tennessee. They are co-authors of Sherman’s March in Myth and Memory (2008) The Myth of Nathan Bedford Forrest (2005) and The Mosby Myth: A Confederate Hero in Life and Legend (2002).

In the fourth book of a series exploring the myths and reality of famous Civil War leaders, University of Tennessee professors Caudill and Ashdown demonstrate how George Armstrong Custer’s Civil War experience is critical to understanding his personality, and describe the multiple interpretations of Custer’s life and his influence on American history, society, and culture. The first half of this well-researched book highlights differing interpretations of Custer’s significant Civil War experiences and successes. The second half of the book sketches his frontier experience and includes a short overview of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, with the bulk of the text devoted to a detailed survey of media interpretations of his exploits. For those familiar with Custer’s history, these are the most interesting sections of the book, as the authors analyze historical interpretations of Custer and his role in varied works of fiction and nonfiction. Finally, Caudill and Ashdown look at the influence of the Custer myth on popular perceptions of Native Americans and on other elements of popular culture. Well written and informative, this accessible volume is a valuable addition to serious Custer scholarship.

• Chapter One. IntroductionChapter Two. Custer Before the Civil WarChapter Three. Custer During the Civil WarChapter Four. Custer in the West and the Last StandChapter Five. Custer in the NewsChapter Six. The Frontier and the FittestChapter Seven. Custer Among the HistoriansChapter Eight. Custer in Literature and Popular CultureChapter Nine. Custer in Myth and MemoryChapter Ten. Conclusions/Custer in the Future

Edward Caudill and Paul Ashdown are professors of journalism and electronic media at the University of Tennessee. They are co-authors of Sherman’s March in Myth and Memory (2008) The Myth of Nathan Bedford Forrest (2005) and The Mosby Myth: A Confederate Hero in Life and Legend (2002).

In the fourth book of a series exploring the myths and reality of famous Civil War leaders, University of Tennessee professors Caudill and Ashdown demonstrate how George Armstrong Custer’s Civil War experience is critical to understanding his personality, and describe the multiple interpretations of Custer’s life and his influence on American history, society, and culture. The first half of this well-researched book highlights differing interpretations of Custer’s significant Civil War experiences and successes. The second half of the book sketches his frontier experience and includes a short overview of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, with the bulk of the text devoted to a detailed survey of media interpretations of his exploits. For those familiar with Custer’s history, these are the most interesting sections of the book, as the authors analyze historical interpretations of Custer and his role in varied works of fiction and nonfiction. Finally, Caudill and Ashdown look at the influence of the Custer myth on popular perceptions of Native Americans and on other elements of popular culture. Well written and informative, this accessible volume is a valuable addition to serious Custer scholarship.

• Chapter One. IntroductionChapter Two. Custer Before the Civil WarChapter Three. Custer During the Civil WarChapter Four. Custer in the West and the Last StandChapter Five. Custer in the NewsChapter Six. The Frontier and the FittestChapter Seven. Custer Among the HistoriansChapter Eight. Custer in Literature and Popular CultureChapter Nine. Custer in Myth and MemoryChapter Ten. Conclusions/Custer in the Future

Edward Caudill and Paul Ashdown are professors of journalism and electronic media at the University of Tennessee. They are co-authors of Sherman’s March in Myth and Memory (2008) The Myth of Nathan Bedford Forrest (2005) and The Mosby Myth: A Confederate Hero in Life and Legend (2002).

In the fourth book of a series exploring the myths and reality of famous Civil War leaders, University of Tennessee professors Caudill and Ashdown demonstrate how George Armstrong Custer’s Civil War experience is critical to understanding his personality, and describe the multiple interpretations of Custer’s life and his influence on American history, society, and culture. The first half of this well-researched book highlights differing interpretations of Custer’s significant Civil War experiences and successes. The second half of the book sketches his frontier experience and includes a short overview of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, with the bulk of the text devoted to a detailed survey of media interpretations of his exploits. For those familiar with Custer’s history, these are the most interesting sections of the book, as the authors analyze historical interpretations of Custer and his role in varied works of fiction and nonfiction. Finally, Caudill and Ashdown look at the influence of the Custer myth on popular perceptions of Native Americans and on other elements of popular culture. Well written and informative, this accessible volume is a valuable addition to serious Custer scholarship.

• Chapter One. IntroductionChapter Two. Custer Before the Civil WarChapter Three. Custer During the Civil WarChapter Four. Custer in the West and the Last StandChapter Five. Custer in the NewsChapter Six. The Frontier and the FittestChapter Seven. Custer Among the HistoriansChapter Eight. Custer in Literature and Popular CultureChapter Nine. Custer in Myth and MemoryChapter Ten. Conclusions/Custer in the Future