Buckskin Brigades

I think the thing that grabbed me was the realism. You definitely get the feeling that the author had been there, understood Indians and their culture. I have compared it to anthropological BLACK ELK SPEAKS and the classic historical novel THE DELIGHT MAKERS and it's feel for authenticity is on par. Add to that the sheer story-teller talent of the author and it is well worth reading. That it was written long before our "civilization" was aware of the Amerindian culture and its depth is quite amazing.

I consider this western to be among the best I have ever read. It not only is a great tale, but it is told with incredible accuracy. One really gets the feeling you are really there! This magnificent novel by L.Ron Hubbard portrays the West as you always knew it was like, not like some colorful Saturday morning cliche' western. This novel captures your heart with its sincere 'realness' and wraps you up in the struggle and plight of a forgotten people. I wanted to grab my rifle and join them on the plains. I loved it! What a great story! Hubbard really nails this one!

I am not usually a fan of "westerns," but this book is definitely an exception. It opens with an incident which actually happened to Lewis & Carrol, written from the explorers' viewpoint then it relates the same incident from the viewpoint of the Blackfeet Indians. The effect is startling: suddenly the roles of "civilized" white men and "savage" indians are completely reversed and the book continues from there. The story itself is a page turner but the added realism of what the lives and cultures of the European settlers and the Native Americans were really like is fascinating. I highly recommend it

This book was possibly the first ever written which showed the true way the indians on this continent were treated by "the white man". It made me laugh, it made me cry. Read it to find out who the real "savages" were and to get a better understanding of the Indian lifestyle and their mores. Incredible read for the first novel by this author