"In Interrupted Odyssey: Ulysses S. Grant and the American Indians , historian Mary Stockwell offers one of the finest studies of President Grant's Indian policy and its consequences for the country to date."-- Nick Sacco, H-Net Reviews "This book provides an engaging narrative of the post-Civil War era of America's relationship with its native population."-- Steven C. Haack , The Journal of America's Military Past "This gripping narrative shines a much-needed bright light on President Ulysses S. Grant's hopes for the American Indians and all that went wrong with his policy. Meticulously researched, this brilliant book leaves us in the hands of a trustworthy guide. Mary Stockwell invites us into a complex, often misunderstood story filled with tragedy, irony, and courage.
"-- Ronald C. White , author, American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant "Stockwell effectively grounds her account of President Ulysses S. Grant's Indian policy in the long sweep of American history. Grant's efforts at reform that relied on the army and reservation system ran up against cultural assumptions, political realities, and intractable problems. Stockwell's deeply thoughtful and fair-minded account offers a powerful example of the tensions between aspiration and administration. Interrupted Odyssey presents an important story that is well told."-- George C.
Rable , author, Damn Yankees! Demonization and Defiance in the Confederate South "Taking a cue from Homer's ancient epic, Stockwell's Interrupted Odyssey takes us on a heart-wrenching journey through hope, despair, and finally faith in a better future for all American citizens, including the tribes of the Far West."-- William D. Pederson , coeditor, James Madison: Philosopher, Founder, Statesman "Stockwell's vivid account of Grant's attempts to use the army, despite the protests of his general friends, to rescue the Indians from certain destruction is a forgotten piece of the Grant story and our nation's history."-- Frank J. Williams , president of the Ulysses S. Grant Association and founding chair of the Lincoln Forum "Because no one has so thoroughly addressed Grant's Indian policy, Stockwell's work is vital for a complete picture of Grant. She covers a complex topic with a narrative that flows well and clarifies the story of postbellum Indian policy."-- Scott L.
Stabler , The Annals of Iowa " Interrupted Odyssey is a good read and includes many fascinating details."-- Boyd Cothran , The Historian "Stockwell, a retired professor of history at Lourdes University and the author of several books, provides a rich account of the crafting, evolution, and eventual disintegration of Grant's Indian policy--mislabeled, she explains, as a 'peace' or 'Quaker' policy--over the course of his two-term administration."-- Elizabeth D. Samet , The Journal of American History.