Libbie

Real Women of the American West #1

by Judy Alter

Her name is Elizabeth Bacon Custer, but her friends call her Libbie. The newly-wedded wife of General George Armstrong Custer, Libbie is small and delicate, accustom to the "finer things in life," seemingly unfit for the rigors of army life. But she refuses to be separated from the man she loves. Here is her story, a first-person narrative based on three books written by the real-life Libbie and surviving correspondence. Experience her sacrifices and hair-raising adventures, the hijinx Autie (the nickname Libbie gave to her husband) played on her, regretted flirtations, and a rare and remarkable love that would not be tamed. "A wondrous, intimate story of an unsung heroine of the West." ~Romantic Times REAL WOMEN OF THE AMERICAN WEST, in series order Libbie Sundance, Butch and Me Cherokee Rose Jessie ABOUT JUDY Judy Alter is an award-winning author who enjoys writing about women of the American West. Winner of the Western Writers of America Spur Award and the Owen Wister Award for Lifetime Achievement, Judy also enjoys writing mysteries. A single mother of four and the grandmother of seven, Judy and her two dogs call Fort Worth, Texas home.

Genres: Historical Fiction

404 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 1994

About the author

After an established career writing historical fiction for adults and young adults about women of the nineteenth-century American West, Texas author Judy Alter turned her attention to contemporary cozy mysteries and wrote three series: Kelly O’Connell Mysteries, Blue Plate Café Mysteries, and Oak Grove Mysteries. She has most recently published two titles in her Irene in Chicago Culinary Mysteries--Saving Irene and Irene in Danger.
Her most recent historical books are The Most Land, the Best Cattle: The Waggoners of Texas and The Second Battle of the Alamo, a study in both Texas and women’s history. Judy’s western fiction has been recognized with awards from the Western Writers of America, the Texas Institute of Letters, and the National Cowboy Museum and Hall of Fame. She has been honored with the Owen Wister Award for Lifetime Achievement by WWA and inducted into the Texas Literary Hall of Fame at the Fort Worth Public Library. She was named One of 100 Women, Living and Dead, Who Have Left Their Mark on Texas by the Dallas Morning News, and named an Outstanding Woman of Fort Worth in the Arts, 1988, by the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women
Judy is a member Sisters in Crime and Guppies, Women Writing the West, Story Circle Network, a past president of Western Writers of America, and an active member of the Texas Institute of Letters.
Retired after almost thirty years with TCU Press, twenty of them as director, Judy lives in a small cottage—just right for one and a dog—in Fort Worth, Texas with her Bordoodle Sophie. She is the mother of four and the grandmother of seven. Her hobby is cooking, and she’s learning how to cook in a postage-stamp kitchen without a stove. In fact, she wrote a cookbook about it: Gourmet on a Hot Plate.

Reviews

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

My absolute favorite book as a young girl. I loved how detailed and human Libbie appears in the book. Libbie narrates the story and shines light on her marriage with Gen. Custer and her passion and love for him. It also creates an intimate portrait of Gen. Custer and indulges in his ruthlessness as person. A definite great read that has stayed with me.

[Peggie Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book started off as a very promising biography of Elizabeth Bacon Custer, albeit written in autobiography format. Once her marriage takes place however, it becomes quite redundant episodes of the sex life of this famous couple. What could have been an informative history sadly stumbles along until the battle of Little Big Horn and then abruptly stops. LIbbie lived many decades after General Custer and yet there was no coverage of her life after his death. She was a remarkable woman and author in her own right despite her continuous and more famous stumping for her husband. I learned far more about her in another much shorter biography I read several years ago and came to admire what she did. Read the first third or so of this book and then toss it away... the rest is just a couple of hundred pages of filler.

[Judy Alter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The life of Elizabeth Bacon Custer, wife of George Armstrong Custer, from her first sighting of Custer when she was a young girl until his death at Little Big Horn. Based on historical fact, including the books left by Libbie.

[Mary E Trimble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libbie: A Novel by Judy Alter, is an insightful, fascinating re-creation of the life of Elizabeth Bacon Custer, wife of legendary George Armstrong Custer. The author brings life to the page with vivid descriptions of the story’s characters and their surroundings. Although a work of fiction, it closely follows documented history, letters and other writings.

Libbie, an only child, came from a family of wealth. Her father, a judge, took a dim view of “that Custer boy.” George came from a large, boisterous farming family. The two of them couldn’t have had more different backgrounds, yet they were drawn to one another. As a boy, George declared that one day Libbie would be a general’s wife.

When Custer graduated from West Point, he sought Libbie’s hand in marriage. Even Libbie’s father admitted admiration for Custer’s Civil War military achievement. At age 23, Custer was the youngest brigadier general in the U. S. Army. And Custer was right—Libbie did marry a general. The “ boy general” was astute in military matters, but vain and impulsive in his personal life. Nevertheless, when together their life was passionate, their love unwavering.

Libbie became a camp follower. Although she was the General’s wife, she endured hardships with inclement weather, isolation, and difficult traveling conditions. Still, she loved Army life and made her own contribution toward the comfort of others.

When the Civil War ended, Custer continued his military career as an Indian fighter, again winning honors. They traveled to various military forts, but it was in 1867 at Fort Lincoln, Dakota Territory, that Libbie waited for her beloved husband of twelve years while he fought the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

[Yvonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time deciding how many stars to give since most sites 3 is ok I will give it a 3 instead of a 2. I love reading books and this book was very hard for me to finish. I hate not finding out in books what happens because I always hope things will get better. Even though I knew the absolute ending I did read the book to find out what happened. The book did make me want to go research General Custer and his life as I had only known what was taught in History class about his battles. The book was very descriptive I had no troubles imaging the pictures of what was going on. I just could not stand how General Custer treated Libby and the double standard. It was probably a product of the times but still it irritated me. Libbie was up and down in the book at times very strong at times weak. But she did always stand beside her husband no matter what he did.
While the book turned out really hard for me to read maybe it will be someone else's joy to read it.
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review. The opinions in this review are 100% my own

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

If one is looking for a wonderful love story and high adventure, then this book will probably be a disappointment as the novel is based on fact and not a fictitious account. However, if you enjoy reading a historical account of an era then this book definitely ticked all the blocks. This biographical narrative in the words of Libbie Custer speaks of a woman who takes what she can get in her relationship with her warrior husband. She doesn't filter her thoughts about her egotistical man and one comes to realise that he was a soldier first and as much as he needed Libbie in his life, he was hardly a nurturing husband. Libbie, on the other hand, stirred my heart, and my admiration and respect for her went up as I saw just how much she set her upbringing aside to stand by her husband. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.

[Toby Michaels · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the closest I've come to reading a western, though it's categorized as a historical romance, and I surprisingly enjoyed it. The character of the protagonist was well-drawn. Libbie shines as the leading lady. The reason I give it four instead of five stars is because EVERY time Custer gives the slightest reference to his destiny to die in battle, coldness shoots up Libbie's spine. The foreshadowing is so grossly over-done, and when Custer does get killed, it's treated as so much of an afterthought to Libbie, like, meh, okay, time for dinner. It completely flies against the romance and foreshadowed fears of the rest of the book, so when news comes of Custer's death, it's not the least bit emotional. How could that happen?

[Chris Blackton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting but I read it hoping to learn more about George Armstrong and Elizabeth Custer instead it felt almost like I was reading Fifty Shades of Grey. It's nice that they had a satisfying sex life which was uncommon for women of a certain class at that time but I didn't want/need to read about it so much.

The book did provoke my interest enough that I intend to read more factual information about the Custers as opposed to this account which was loosely based on historical facts.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have actually been reading this book for almost 3 weeks. Interesting take on what Custer would have been like and Libbie as well. I'm sure those days of hunting for the Indians were hard times. In the end, it is sad how the government took away the Indians way of life and made them live on reservations. But two different to live together.

[Bamboozlepig · Rating 2 out of 5]

It wasn't bad, but at the halfway mark I started losing interest. It was too romance-y for me, plus the writing was rather simple. It felt like a YA novel instead of an adult novel. And she didn't even get into the really interesting part where Custer died at Little Bighorn. That's just briefly touched on at the end and that's it.

[Jessica Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for historical fiction, particularly set in American history (I am most familiar with American history) and something with a little romance. Romantic historical fiction is my guilty pleasure!

With that being said, I enjoyed Alter's re-creation of a very dynamic woman: Libbie Custer, wife of George Armstrong Custer. Now, I'm not a fan of Custer so trying to get into Libbie's mindset towards him was difficult for me, but I thought Alter did a good job of making me really care for her and eventually not mind him as much (but just in the confines of this story).

This is an easy, fun read. I wanted to know more about the real Libbie Custer after I was done with this book, and I think that's the positive testament to the author.

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel gives you some insight into the lives of General Custer & his life with Libbie. Gives some background to how they became a couple. Living close to their hometown, made this one more interesting to me as this story gives some historical placement in the town that I recognized & knew where some of the story actually happened. I am not a fan of General Custer due to his views on the Native Americans but this story didn't focus too much on their lives in the Dakotas, most of it was what lead to them being there, some story of the big battle but not the main focus.

[Rosey Mulbery · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great perspective.

Behind every man who thinks he's great is an even greater woman. Mrs. Custer had to stay in the background to support her man but she came out the wiser, more patient, and stronger person in this marriage. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a woman's point of view to Custer's life.

[Truitti · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting historical fiction. If Elizabeth Custer traveled with the General as much as the book indicates, I am in awe. And extremely grateful that she was married to him and I was not. I liked the information in the book, not too graphic but enough details to give the flavor of the hardships endured by Elizabeth Custer.

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look into the lives of Elizabeth Bacon Custer and her husband, Autie or General Custer with a better understanding of that time in history and the life of a woman married to a soldier.

[Richard Stover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review

I thought this was a very good story of a great civil war general, Indian fighter from the wife's side. I always thought that Custer was a blow hard and bragard. It was good to get the story from the wife's perspective.

[M.J. Fredrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book! It was a neat way to learn about a historical figure. Even though I knew the ending, I couldn't wait to get back to this book every day.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting to hear the story from her point of view. Nice historical references to put the reader in the specific time and place. Not a happy ending exactly.

[Dorothea Collyear]

Though there was many things about this book I did enjoy ..such as the time period . Libbie's mind of her own was something else I admired even when it came to her husband George Custard until it began to change towards the middle of the book ( once the civil war came to an end ) I just had to stop reading it and I'll tell u why .The author kept having Libbie defend her obtuse of a husband over and and I definitely knew where it was going to lead ...at Custards Last Stand..with her defending him murdering
all those helpless Native American women and chilren and elderly...maybe I'm completely wrong ...but I just could not read another page...I guess his GOOD LUCK finally ran out..