REVIEWS OF "BACK TO THE RED ROAD : THE HUNT FOR CRAZY HORSE'S WOMEN"
March 13, 2024 5.0 out of 5 stars
In his second book, Chandra Lahiri skillfully intertwines the threads of mystery, love, war, tragedy, suspense, and history, creating a captivating tapestry that resonates with the readers. As a history enthusiast, I found myself immersed in the authenticity of every meticulously researched detail, a testament of the author's dedication and hard work. The narrative, a compelling exploration of the life of the unsung hero of Native Americans, lingered in my mind long after I turned the final page. Mr. Lahiri's narrative not only sheds light on a forgotten chapter of history but also makes it an essential read for anyone seeking a profound and engaging true historical story. ‘Back to the Red Road’ unveils the remarkable tale of a hero and the loves of his life, his inspiration, who would otherwise been buried in the sands of time. A must-read for those who appreciate a blend of storytelling prowess coupled with a tale of historical significance.
Sunita Furtado
Sultanate of Oman
9th March 2024 5.0 out of 5 stars
Chandra Lahiri’s passion and compassion for the Native American is clear throughout the book and the research puts in.
The book is a quick read which left me with a sense of sadness and indignation at the way certain cultures have gotten away with what can only be seen as genocide.
Urmila Seymour
Sultanate of Oman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2024
I have bought your book and I have to say it is indeed a great book. Well researched. I gave you five star on Amazon.
Theodore Cober
United States of America
Back to the Red Road: The Hunt for Crazy Horse's Women I had read the earlier book by the author Chandra Lahiri “ Red Road Across the Great Plains” a few years ago. I was impressed by the originality and the factual portrayal of the Native Indians in that book. When I came across this book I was instantly captivated by the title and was looking forward to reading a mystery saga about the women in Crazy Hoese’s life. This is not a fictional novel but has all the substance of a detective thriller, based on original research and factual records. I recommend the book to all those interested in a little known aspect of the American history.
Sridhar Ganesan
Reviewed on Dorrance Bookstore
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2024
They say, “Behind every man is an even better woman”. In Crazy Horse’s case, there’s two strong women who were by his side. The story vividly illuminates the partnership between man and woman, because without each other there would be no purpose. Thank you for shedding light on the lives of two individuals, whose stories otherwise would be buried in the past. Your passion and devotion to your journey of discovery, comes to life on these very pages. An amazing, heartfelt read!
S.R.
United States of America
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, mind-opening.
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2024
My best friend as a child of eleven or twelve in Spokane was Johnny Hunt, an "Indian." I never thought to ask him about his family history or why he and his mother (no father) lived in a small converted garage on a back alley. Now, after reading Chandra Lahiri's two books I wish I could go back and talk with him and his mother for a few days or weeks.
Tom & Cathy Neal
United States of America
5.0 out of 5 stars This told me things I did not know !
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2024
This book , and its predecessor, opened up wonderful avenues of information to me , even though I have read many books about Crazy Horse over my years . Presented here is the human side of human people, and a clear history not compiled by the victors . I cannot imagine the will it took for this man to travel halfway around the world twice to research a subject of his heart so thoroughly and respectfully. Not an Indian Indian sir, an Indian’s Indian . As a lover of the Lakota culture, history, and people , I am indebted to you. Mitakuye Oyasin.
Debra K
United States of America
5.0 out of 5 stars Native American Heritage
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 3, 2024
Chandra Lahiri’s passion for the history of Native American heritage is patently obvious. His painstaking research ensures the accuracy of his findings.
Without researchers like this author, history would be buried .
He writes “ history is heritage and the loss of any part of our common human heritage affects the whole”
Simply reading some of the names in this book, Chasing Hawk, Spotted Crow, Black Buffalo Woman,Crazy Horse and of course the protagonist, Black Shawl , conjures up a real curiosity about their lives . Perhaps this book will be read by one of her ancestors who will be able to disclose long forgotten details to be included by the author in his next book.
Judith Razek
Sultanate of Oman
5.0 out of 5 stars An highly informative story written with passion
Reviewed in Germany on February 14, 2024
Having, as a fan of native American history, immensely enjoyed Chandra Lahiri's first book about his journey through the American West, I was certainly intigued about his new book. It is captivating and informative read, written with a highly personal touch. A real labor of love, with an immense amount of research from an amateur historian, revealing hitherto many unknown facets about Crazy Horse, his wives and his broader family.
Whilst some of the genealogical details can be hard to follow, mainly due to the lack or incompleteness of past records, the essence is in the story and the wonderfully written first and closing chapters.
Raman Berent
Portugal
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2024
BACK TO THE RED ROAD – THE HUNT FOR CRAZY HORSE’S WOMEN becomes at once ‘break-through’ research brought forth in Chandra Lahiri’s newest book. This text is a ‘Game-Changer’! Long have Western-History authors pondered how to make mention of Black Buffalo Woman and Black Shawl – Crazy Horse’s women – in their writings. Now, they will be able to, given Chandra Lahiri’s painstaking research.
Three years combing through Lakota Reservation Rolls of the National Archives & Records Administration in Kansas City, Missouri, Lahiri conscientiously paid attention to the minutest of details. This author’s innate ability to reassemble a lost jigsaw puzzle – i.e., name matches, both weak and fabricated, seemingly unseen, brings relationships into new focus. There is a bright new light shining here for those of us intrigued with the near-mythic legend of Crazy Horse.
Objectively without emotion, an obfuscating “red herring” pops onto the record, but with equanimity and logical discernment, a different ‘Black Shawl’ in the same locale and geography is brilliantly differentiated from the real-true wife of Crazy Horse.
All in all, this is a fascinating ‘read’ as one comes to dwell on these Oglala-Lakota women living out their lives after their loss of Crazy Horse in September 1877. These women come alive and breathe, identified in their places and times in the after-math of the high plains drama that were the Indian Wars of the late 18th Century. I highly recommend this investigative work and its behind-the-scenes storyline ringing true in a faithful honoring of these two remarkable women.
Tim Long
Author of "Owl Man" and "Lakota Headhunters"
United States of America
REVIEWS OF "RED ROAD ACROSS THE GREAT PLAINS"
R
"Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your book….perhaps enjoyed is not the right word … it was an eye opener. Though I knew a lot of the history your insightful touch brought much of the horrors inflicted on the native Americans home to me. I used your book as my contribution to the Book Club here . There was a lot of interest , especially from two American members !
Yes, sometimenhumanity to man seems to know no bounds. Your gentle humour added a lot to the book. Interesting too , that your agnosticism was challenged by the spirituality you experienced. A wonderful achievement!"
Judith Razek
Sultanate of Oman
"I read your book late last year and am only now getting around to emailing you. I loved the book! I thought it was so well written - part travelogue, part history, all of it entertaining. Your trip sounded incredible and your descriptions of the places you saw made me feel I was along for the ride with you. I could feel the sorrow at Wounded Knee and Fort Robinson. I hope to see some of these sights myself someday. I also loved seeing things from your point of view as a foreign traveler and chuckled as I could relate to some of your problems with the rental car and GPS! As I read I felt that I had discovered a kindred spirit. I share your love of Native culture and history. In addition to how well it is written, the book itself is beautiful. It appears that you thought of everything : full color photos, Native American glossary, suggested reading list... Kudos on a well done job!"
Jim Huddleston
Alabama
5.0 out of 5 stars A journey worth taking.
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2021
Verified Purchase
"Using his gift for clear, witty prose, Lahiri invites us into the passenger seat of his rental car to join him on his 3,000-mile journey through the Great Plains. Along the way, we meet Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, George Custer, Wild Bill Hickok, and a dozen other spirits of that tragic age. We visit battlefields, cemeteries, and monuments—the poignant reminders of a dark chapter in the history of a nation that was “conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Over gargantuan, well-gravied American dinners, we ponder the complexity of human nature and wrestle uneasily with our capacity for evil. And yet, while the breeze at Wounded Knee will forever whisper, “Homo homini lupus,” Lahiri shows us that greed and violence are hardly the totality of our being, and that everywhere there is much goodness and nobility. We see this in the ordinary people he meets along the road, and in extraordinary folks like Cindy and Peter Catches and Stella Iron Cloud. Indeed, although the historical backdrop of this book is sobering, Lahiri leavens his tale with strong evidence for hope. He describes how throughout Native communities, dynamic tribal chiefs and spiritual leaders are preserving their cultures, educating the younger generations, and continuing the struggle for justice. So open the door and get in. Lahiri’s insightfulness, deep humanity, and humor ensure that The Red Road Across the Great Plains is a journey worth taking."
Robert Jackson
International Educator
4.0 out of 5 stars A personal pilgrimage reveals a poignant perspective on an oft-forgotton saga of American History
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2020
Verified Purchase
The Native American's surrender of the lands they loved to the relentless and deceitful onslaught of the expanding United States is an important story to tell. Lahiri's unusual self-identification as an "Indian from India", helps add to the significance of his perspective. He is passionate and well-researched in recounting the history behind the locations he visited and has a fresh outlook on the often unobserved less-known spots. But he doesn't just dwell on the past but explores current economic issues and offers a glimpse of hope for the downtrodden.
It's a good read and has a few humorous tidbits such as (1) how easy it is to speed in the wide open prairies; (2) the hugeness of American meals; and (3) how strange the tourist town of Dodge City was. Personal encounters with a variety of Native Americans and well-documented detailed history result in a poignant narrative. I'd recommend this book to anyone curious about American Indian history in the Prairie lands and what a solo pilgrimage feels like.
Amazon Verified Customer
“The Review
Part history, part travel, author Chandra Lahiri’s novel does an amazing job of creating a narrative that showcases the authors real life journey to these iconic, historic and sometimes tragic locations in the West and Mid-Western United States. The evenly paced read delved deeply into the violent, heartbreaking and blood-soaked history of the Native American tribes and the impact on both their culture and the white settlers as they expanded their territory further and further westward.
From the genocide that was the Trail of Tears to the Civil War and more, the author lays out the history behind the Native American people and highlights the struggles they endured. However this history is broken up naturally by the travel aspect of the author’s journey, showcasing the modern day experiences the author had while seeing first hand the locations and the history of the United States as it settled westward.
The novel is expertly written, with a voice and tone that speaks of personal experiences the author had on this trip with historic facts that are both known and tragically some that are overlooked or forgotten, for as the author points out in the book, history is written by the victors, but often history is only half true or inaccurate if only written by the victors.
The Verdict
This was a brutally honest, emotional and well written historical/travel novel. An even mix of historical research, graphs and statistics that really put the history of the Native American people and culture into perspective, with the natural observations and personal stories brought to life while on a life-changing trip like the one the author experienced, this novel has something for everyone, and is not to be missed. So if you are a fan of travel stories or are just a major history buff like myself and want to experience the emotional journey of the Native American tribes of the United States, then be sure to grab your copy of author Chandra Lahiri’s “Red Road Across The Great Plains” today!
Rating: 10/10”
Anthony Avina
Author of the “Nightmare Academy” series
"I am reading the most wonderful kindle book about Native Americans!...I am a magnet to this story and that surprises me. As historically significant as the information is to me, I'm just as captivated by the language and style...It is truly magnificent!"
Cathleen Neal
Senior International Educationist
"As lovers of books we always look for that one story that will stay with us forever. The story of the American Indians is one such, captured in Chandra Lahiri’s book with compelling authenticity and reason, touching in the sheer intensity of tragic history. A highly recommended read."
Chandralekha Maitra
Professional Editor
"Too well written!!!!! This needs to be a movie! (Not kidding) Hearing it makes it fresh, it is a hoot! A passionate look and deep contextual historical essay on why the places you saw have a historical or current meaning to Native Americans."
Mark St. Pierre
Author & Film-maker, Pine Ridge Reservation
"The author avers that the book is a record of his solo pilgrimage to the heartlands of the Native Americans. From the title, when I picked the book, I reckoned that I would get to read a travelogue and a narrative of the crimson trail painted by the invaders with the blood of the trusting, nomadic natives. A “Red Road” in the Native speak is a peace road; contrary to the intuitive cognition of a “blood road” by a western accultured person like me. A total alien to the Natives and the invaders, as I read along, I learnt about the history, culture, beliefs, struggles and contemporary socio- economic issues of the Native Americans as well as about powerful and colorful personalities past and present. While being passionate with sympathies for the Native Americans, the author has been mostly fair and thoroughly sincere in interpreting past events. Through an easy and engaging style, the book takes you on an enjoyable and enlightening journey often peppered with funny interludes and tongue-in-cheek advertence. I strongly recommend the book to anyone interested in learning and experiencing some thing different about an important aspect of America."
Sridhar Ganesan
Senior Banker & Corporate Board Member
"Lahiri's love and respect for Native American culture is obvious from the first page. His personal journal tracing the footsteps of many Plains tribes resounds with authenticity and connection. He unflinchingly recounts the painful history of these proud peoples once white Europeans showed up and offers a hopeful look at the future. Highly recommended."
Carol Rizzardi
High School AP English Teacher
5 out of 5 stars New Perspectives and Deep Insight
Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2020
Lahiri's "Red Road Across the Great Plains" provides interesting interpretation, context and perspective to a significant era in American history. His ability to dissect the key issues and drivers of that time period allow the reader to understand both the top level and more esoteric aspects facing the Native Americans of that region. His story telling is reminiscent of Ken Burns, and his matter of fact voice leaves little room for subjective interpretation of this difficult time period for the Native Americans of the Great American Plains tribe.
SR
Verified Amazon.com customer
5 out of 5 stars Enjoyable and Informative
A candid, personal and easy to read book. Definitely recommended for anyone interested in Native American history or American history in general. The author reflects on a number of serious subjects while keeping a light tone and not getting bogged down in details. Lots of good and current information about historical locations.
Raman Berent
Reviewed in Germany
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Amazon Purchase
4.0 out of 5 stars A personal pilgrimage reveals a poignant perspective on an oft-forgotton saga of American History
The Native America's surrender of the lands they loved to the relentless and deceitful onslaught of the expanding United States is an important story to tell. Lahiri's unusual self-identification as an "Indian from India", helps add to the significance of his perspective. He is passionate and well-researched in recounting the history behind the locations he visited and has a fresh outlook on the often unobserved less-known spots. But he doesn't just dwell on the past but explores current economic issues and offers a glimpse of hope for the downtrodden.
Its a good read and has a few humorous tidbits such as (1) how easy it is to speed in the wide open prairies; (2) the hugeness of American meals; and (3) how strange the tourist town of Dodge City was. Personal encounters with a variety of Native Americans and well-documented detailed history result in a poignant narrative. I'd recommend this book to anyone curious about American Indian history in the Prairie lands and what a solo pilgrimage feels like.
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2020
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase