Montana Books

The lively text is wonderfully illustrated by the author's nephew, a regionally known watercolorist--Lance Johnson. The drawings really bring the storyline to life. Being a Montanan I found this book and its references to our colorful state history very enlightening and entertaining.

Even though I know all the writers of this book, I'm still NOT biased when I say that Scotts, et al book has changed interpretation dramatically on the Little Bighorn fight. Having worked at the Little Bighorn Battlefield as an interpreter in 1985, I personally know how this interpretation changed, i.e. before the archaeological digs of 1984-85, most of us believed that Custer's men fell mostly to arrows. We now know that the U.S. soldier's were outgunned, thanks to this field work and as reported in the book. Since Scott's final report, headstones on the battlefield marking where "unknown soldier's" fell have been replaced by actual names, e.g. Mitch Bouyer. This reality came to place thanks to the forensic work of Dr. Clyde Snow (his complete report is included in this book). Finally, Scott and his team create a vivid picture of where the Indian warriors moved over the battlefield fighting for their families down the hill and across the river.

Unlike the famous areas of the West, Arkansas has very few great vistas from which to photograph. The views here are smaller, more subtle. Tim Ernst has captured many great images of Arkansas, from the well-known parks and views to the wilderness areas that few have seen. This is a must book for anyone who loves photograpy.

If you want to know about the evolution of the Arthurian legends, from their basis in history to their literary evolution, this is a perfect book for you.

The book traces the history of tales through the most ancient works from Wales and Brittany, through the evolution of the stories by various authors -- Chretien de Troyes, Wolfram von Eschenbach, Thomas Malory, and even considers works from the nineteenth and twentieth century (Tennyson, the marvelous though largely unread works of Charles Williams, T.S. Eliot, T.H. White, and even Monty Python and the Holy Grail)

The book is an indispensable reference for keeping the legends straight in your mind, especially where there are differences of opinion (for instance, was the Grail a platter, a stone, or a chalice for the author).

The book is intended as a reference book, so it is not for someone looking to read a story or two -- it is meant to be a guide to understanding the literary development of the cycle.

As such, it is an indispensable guide to the various works out there.

Spirit World: The Assiniboines believed that the spirits of the dead journeyed toward the east. Jame Larpenteur Long tells the account of his grandfather's journey: "In the lodge where my grandfather lay ill with the disease, two other members of the family were dead and their bodies were left where they died. Many families fled to other parts of the country. Grandfather was so near death that the surrounds did not matter a great deal. He said, `I was very ill, but I noticed that a person looked in and perhaps thought the three of us dead. He secured the doorway, piled objects against it, and closed up the smoke hole.' `Some time after that, I seemed to fall asleep, and the next thing I knew, I was outside, walking toward where the sun rises. I traveled along a narrow path that seemed to be on an upgrade. After going in that direction for some time, I cam to where a man sat with his back to me. When he turned around, I recognized him as a person who had died some time before.' The man said, `Perhaps you want to know where your folks live. I will tell you. There is a large encampment over the hill, and the lodge painted blue belongs to your parents.' When I entered the lodge, I saw my father and mother there. My father was busy with some wood he was shaving. My mother, too, was busy at some task.' With a smile, I said to them: `I had no trouble to find your lodge.' My mother did not seem to hear me, but my father looked up and stared at me without any sign that he recognized me. I became uneasy, and hesitated to take my usual place in their lodge. After a time I went out and looked around from some attempted to talk to them, but each time I was not answered. I finally retraced my steps and knew I was on the right path, because I came back to the place where the man sat. He spoke: `You did not stay long, my friend; perhaps someone has come to take you back.' I do not remember if I made any answer. I hurried back along the trail and arrive at our lodge. The entrance was barred and I said to myself, `How can I go in through the smoke hole, the poles are too close together there.' Then a voice awakened me, it was my sister's. She said: `My brother, you are alive, your eyes are open. She told me how they decided to flee to some other part, as did others, and she had said to them: `For the last time I want to see the body of my brother.' `That was how she found me, and through her I recovered.'

Buffalo Legend: A very large herd of buffaloes crossed the Missouri River at the mouth of the Little Porcupine Creek and were moving north up that creek. The leaders were already so far ahead that they looked about the size of dogs. Across the river the rear ones could not be seen, so many were there in the herd. If the ones in sight had been counted, the number would easily have reached one thousand. The buffaloes had separated into small groups of ten to fourteen, and when I go to them, hunters were already amongst the herd and a chase was on here and there.

A small group of cows and bulls ran out of a coulee and I took after them. Right away I knew the horse was a trained buffalo runner. His ears were continually moving about and watched the group ahead.

In a short time I caught up to them, but I hadn't taken my gun out. I stck the gun under my belt and was carrying it crossways with the stock at my right.

Without warning a bull jump right in front of my horse and the horse being experienced, was out of the way in a flash, but I was pitched of and landed across the hump and behind the horns of the bull. He gave a snort and reared up in the air which threw me, and I landed on my back several steps away. The fall knocked the wind out of me. While I spun about trying to get my breath, a hunter rode up and said, `I saw your misfortune and was afraid the bull would attack you. Here, I have caught your horse.' Sometimes horses were better buffalo hunters than their riders.

Food preparation told by Bad Hawk: `My grandfather told how the men cooked buffalo ribs when they were out on trips. A hole about two feet square and a foot or more in depth was dug. Into that was laid a piece of ribs wrapped in buffalo hide. This was then covered with dirt and fire built over it.

The cooking was timed this way: When the first fire had died down to embers, a fresh pile of fuel was laid on, and when the last fuel was all burned, the meat was considered done. They called this method, `ribs covered and cooked with two fires.'

Lodges: Lodges were made from the tanned hides of mature buffalo cows. Twenty hides made an extra large lodge. Poles are setup and the coverings tied to the pole to be raised. It takes three women to set the covering in place. Men do not help. A tripod establishes the basic structure and additional pines were added. The bottom of the lodge was secured by wood pegs. Assiniboine lodges always face to the South. Ventilation was regulated by tow large flaps on each side of the smoke hole. In the lodge several back rests were kept for special guests. The lodges were decorated with objects made by the women. The edges of the smoke flaps were usually fringed with tassels covered with porcupine quills. Lodges of warriors were painted with pictures that showed the war record of their owners.

W. C. Tuttle is a well-known western author but his autobiography surpasses his fiction. It is still an action-adventure but laced with humor much in the same vein as Mark Twain, a kind of self-deprecating tone that will have you chuckling softly, guffawing, and remembering similar episodes from your own childhood. Very worthwhile trying to find a copy.

Fantastic!!! WOW! What a great treasure for fans of the "Treasure State'
I was hoping that the letter "M" would have more to do with the various "M's" on Montana college campuses, but Myrna Loy is also one of my favorite classic Hollywood stars.
Can't wait to read it to my daughter!

This book is definately one of the best romance novels I have read in a long time. It was among the fist I've read, but no book has toped it. It is written in a way thay captures your heart and makes you live the life of the characters.

Even in the middle of a Montana blizzard, love can warm the heart. With her biological clock ticking loudly enough to wake her from sleep, the midwife heroine realizes it's time to start a family with or without a husband. When her former husband hears she's going to inteview prospective fathers, he adds mayhem to her logical, well thought out plans. Filled with humor as well as romance, this is an excellent read

What did she think? Just because she got a divorce [legal only] that she didn't have spiritual ties to her husband?
Lori Bains wants a baby. She has just turned 30 and her biological clock was really ticking. All the babies she helps birth cause her yearnings for a child of her own.
She left Travis five years ago and she can't even remember why. Now she has been working in Whitehorn for three years with Dr. Kane Hunter on the res and at the hospital and being tormented by Dr. Errol Straker.

Dr. Straker does not like midwives taking business away from him and would you believe that he is having an affair with Mary Jo Kincaid?
He is making it his business to drive Lori away from the hospital.

Winona Cobb shows up again with her pearls of wisdom - Lori is still attracted to Travis and Winona tells Lori that Travis if the man for her - they just married too young.

Dugin Kincaid should be watching his back - what with the plotting of Mary Jo and she may not be what she seems to be. All the men she seems involved with end up dead.

You guessed it - baby on the way - Lori done the deed and now wonders what Travis will say. A little late wouldn't you say? She still wants to be in control - who does she think she is?

DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED - whole set is worth the time to read.