about the goats ~

i really don't understand why "reading" isn't considered a full-time occupation with salary and benefits.

i'd even be willing to put in lots and lots of overtime!

: D

another for the 50bookchallenge that i forgot to record:

no. 28 ~ Last in Their Class: Custer, Pickett and the Goats of West Point by James S. Robbins. i mentioned this book a while back when i ordered it from innerliberry loan (which even now is working diligantly to get me Mr. Hanty's private letterbook from the pennsylvania historical archives ~ cross your fingers!).

anyway, robbins' book is brilliant. couldn't put it down. contains hilarious anecdotes of goat shenanigans and is just overall a wonderful, detailed history of west point. it contains a half dozen nicely constructed biographies of west point's most famous goats (and others), and is told with good humor as well as solid attention to the research. the stuff about custer goes a little long toward the end, but the whole thing about libby custer lobbying to have her husband's statue removed from the grounds is fascinating (she was certainly the yoko ono of her era).

anyway, a brilliant book. definitely a must-read for fans of military history.

major-general henry heth graduated bottom of his class in 1847
after four years of practical jokes, cutting up in class,
getting into fights, and generally disrespecting the educational system
(this was typical of southern boys, apparently).
a virginian, heth fought for the Confederacy through to appomattox. lee adored him, though he was sorta reckless and messy as an officer. he's prolly most famous for "accidentally" starting that little fight in pennsylvania at gettysburg.

a signed carte-de-visite of his recently sold on eBay for over $1,000.