Reap the Whirlwind

January 3, 1994
This historical novel takes place in 1876, shortly before the Battle of Little Bighorn. In the Battle of the Rosebud, Brigadier General George C. Crook's Union forces clash with Crazy Horse's Lakota Sioux warriors over control of Wyoming Territory. The story revolves around the adventures of several men, such as Seamus Donegan, a U.S. army scout hired by Crook; John Finerty, a war correspondent for the Chicago Times ; and Crazy Horse. Crook believes himself the sure winner at the start of the conflict, but his confidence wanes as the number of men on both sides increases and he realizes that the shrewdness and tactical ability of his opponent may surpass all his expectations. Although white men tell most of the story, Johnston ( Winter Rain ) does not condescend to his Indian characters; he treats both sides with equal sensitivity. Readers must decide who wins the final battle at Rosebud Creek because, as Johnston explains in an afterword, little documentation exists regarding the battle. Unfortunately, detailed descriptions of battle maneuvers and gratuitous verbiage slow the book down. In general, however, this account of battle on the plains brings the period to life.

December 1, 1993
The Battle of the Rosebud, the subject of best-selling historical novelist Johnston's latest epic, was a critical conflagration in the great Indian wars of 1876, but it was quickly overshadowed by George Custer's flamboyant demise at Little Big Horn. Rosebud was significant because it was the first time Indians used modern military tactics to divide their opponents into smaller, more easily defeated units. Johnston populates his novels with real characters such as General George C. Crook, the commander of the U.S. forces at Rosebud; John Bourke, Crook's aide; "Chicago Times" reporter John Finerty; and Martha Jane Cannary, also known as Calamity Jane. At the book's fictional center is Seamus Donegan and his pregnant wife, Samantha. Seamus is one of Crook's troopers, but his heart is home with Sam. Also playing prominent roles are Indian chiefs Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull. As with all novels of this scope, the individual stories converge and are resolved in the shadow of history--in this case, the final battle. Through more than 15 novels, including "Winter Rain" (1993), Johnston has developed an enormous audience of readers who want their western fiction to be historically accurate and based on real events. On both fronts, Johnston delivers the goods--this is clearly the real Old West, not some mythic stage on which white hats duel black hats. On the other hand, as a fiction writer and an observer of humanity, Johnston never gets much beyond cliche. This is more a dramatic reenactment than it is a novel, but it's sure to be popular in public libraries. ((Reviewed Dec. 1, 1993))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1993, American Library Association.)