A Daughter of the Sioux

This was a very good read. For the most part the story flowed well and was difficult to put down. The military life was portrayed vividly, and the book would be interesting for that alone...but there was so much more to lend interest to it. Missing money, mysterious secret night rides, and a beautiful young woman who gives every sign of innocence, yet somehow is near the scene each time...this definitely falls into the category of adventure.

One thing I really liked was the portrayal of the officers' wives, and how great a part they played in the story. It showed a beautiful picture of several couples well paired, gallant men and brave women. The women's opinions were respected and acted on, even though they were not enlisted in the military themselves–even to the point of being present at numerous councils and asked to give advice.

The setting was so vivid that it was evident the author had personal experience both in the West and as a soldier of the day. His account of the Indian troubles was very interesting, especially as he credited the Indian braves with often-superior strategy and generalship, and deplored that Congress often mishandled Indian policy greatly. He writes often with the respect of a soldier for a worthy foe, even when he is speaking of the battle scene.

One thing readers might like to be aware of beforehand is that paragraphs often run several pages in length. If you are used to reading Hemingway and Stephen King, such longwindedness might be difficult to understand; but to anyone who is used to the classics, this is a good and enjoyable read.