America al voto: General Custer's Myth in US History

Ahead of the US midterm elections on November 8, 2026, the Italian cultural magazine doppiozero has launched a series of articles exploring books—both fiction and essays—that illuminate the complexities of contemporary America. The series aims to provide insight into a nation that, despite its unpredictability, continues to shape global affairs. One featured work is a biography of General Custer by Larry McMurtry, which examines the mythologization of Custer's death and the 264 soldiers under his command at the Battle of Little Bighorn. The biography disentangles the historical event from the vast array of images, books, and stories that have surrounded it, offering a critical perspective on how this episode became a cornerstone of American mythology. The article, written by Enrico Palandri and Anita Romanello, was published on August 28, 2026, and is part of a broader editorial effort to use literature as a lens for understanding the American political and cultural landscape during a period of intense national introspection.