Sitting Bull - by Robert M Utley (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Named a New York Times Notable Book
Winner of the Spur Award

The definitive biography of the legendary chief and his dramatic role in the history of westward expansion

Reviled by the United States government as a troublemaker and a coward, revered by his people as a great warrior chief, Sitting Bull has long been one of the most fascinating and misunderstood figures in American history. Distinguished historian Robert M. Utley has forged a compelling portrait of Sitting Bull, presenting the Lakota perspective for the first time and rendering the most unbiased, historically accurate, and vivid portrait of the man to date.

The Sitting Bull who emerges in this fast-paced narrative is a complex, towering figure: a great warrior whose skill and bravery in battle were unparalleled; the spiritual leader of his people; a dignified but ultimately tragically stubborn defender of the traditional ways against the steadfast and unwelcome encroachment of the white man.

Review Quotes

Praise for The Lance and the Shield

"Compelling reading."
--The Washington Post Book World

"A remarkable work of scholarship. . . . Utley depicts Sitting Bull in wide, bold and colorful strokes."
--The Wall Street Journal

"His narrative is gripping. . . . Utley transforms Sitting Bull, the abstract, romanticized icon and symbol, into a flesh-and-blood person with a down-to-earth story. . . . The Lance and the Shield clears the screen of the exaggerations and fantasies long directed at the name of Sitting Bull."
--The New York Times Book Review

"The need for a solid narrative life of Sitting Bull has long been evident, and Robert Utley is eminently qualified for the task . . . Thanks to this engrossing biography, Sitting Bull's voice can at last proclaim his authentic message."
--The Boston Globe

About the Author

Robert M. Utley, a former chief historian of the National Park Service, specializes in the history of the American West and is the author of many distinguished works of history and biography. He lives in Georgetown, Texas.