Almost immediately after the battle, white authors were struck by the personalities, mystery, and drama of the incident. Ever since, the story has been retold in short stories, novels, juvenile fiction, and even comic books. Here are a few of the fictional accounts of the battle and the surrounding events.
Consider the following:
1. What do the authors emphasize in their accounts? What do they de-emphasize?
2. What themes change over time?
3. How does the juvenile fiction compare to the more adult?
Consider the following:
1. What do the authors emphasize in their accounts? What do they de-emphasize?
2. What themes change over time?
3. How does the juvenile fiction compare to the more adult?
Dime Novels Dime novels were inexpensive paper bound books popular in the 19th and early 20th century. The term dime novel has been used as a catchall term for several different but related forms, referring to story papers, five- and ten-cent weeklies, "thick book" reprints, and sometimes early pulp magazines. The term was used as a title as late as 1940, in the short-lived pulp magazine Western Dime Novels. There were several written about the battle. Here is one popular example: Custer's Last Shot (1883) The Threat of Sitting Bull, a story of the time of Custer (1920) |
Juvenile Literature Custer was a favorite for children, particularly young boys. Many books, some almost passing for non-fiction, were created. Here are a few samples of children's literature. The Boy Prairie Courier or Custer's Youngest Aide Heroes of the Plains (1891) Start on Page 373 Custer's Last Fight (1950 Comic Book) The PDF file below needs to be downloaded. It is large, so be patient.
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