A Life Within a Life: The Story and Adventures of Libbie Custer, Wife of General George A. Custer

Elizabeth Bacon Custer, or Libbie, as she was known to her friends and family, lived a colorful, challenging life as the wife of one of the most controversial Indian fighters of the middle 1800's, George Armstrong Custer, also the youngest General ever appointed during the Civil War. He lived and died a brave but pretentious leader, with as many critics as loyal devoted followers. His wife was by far his biggest fan. She never publicly criticized anything he did and, by outliving him for over fifty years, used her strong personality to prevent any other criticism during her lifetime.

Libbie also used her husband's fame to advance her own lucrative career as a writer and lecturer on the West. During a time in history when proper ladies were not supposed to support themselves, she managed to write three books-one of them a bestseller-and the travel the lecture circuit throughout the US and Europe. After all, she had followed her husband from camp to camp and fort to fort, throughout the settling of the West, so her experiences were entertaining and unique. Furthermore, she had a gift for spinning a good yarn.