UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday, October 25, 1996
5A
Dances author to visit campus
New book focuses on Custer's history
By Erin Rooney Kansan staff writer
Oscar-winning screenwriter Michael Blake wrote a novel set in Kansas without visiting the state. But that will change tonight when he comes to Lawrence to speak about his latest novel, *Marching to Valhalla*.
Blake, author of Dances with Wolves, will speak at 7:30 tonight at the Cora Downs Auditorium in Dyche Hall. He will perform a 15-minute monologue dressed as U.S. Army Gen. George Armstrong Custer to begin the presentation.
*Marching to Vallalla* is a first-person narrative that explores Custer's last days before the fatal battle at Little Bighorn. Written as a fictional journal, Blake's novel goes against popular trend and depicts Custer as a passionate individual.
"I expect to get heat for portraying Custer as a thinking, living human being," Blake said. "In Dances with Wolves, my goal was simply for people to discover the humanity in Native Americans. And through this book, I'm hopeful for people to also understand the humanity in people like Custer."
However, he said that he hoped readers would keep their minds open to a man that, like it or not, was a part of U.S. history.
"The thing Custer-haters, both Indian and white, fail to acknowledge, in my view, is that he was
were destroyed by several thousand Native-American warriors, many of whom had lived through 30 years of arrogant encroachment and government policy.
"I think the battle at Little Bighorn was not a military problem for Custer but a spiritual problem," he said. "I don't think any army could have beaten them on that day. If the Indian people could unify like that today, then I think they would be a force to be reckoned with."
The novel is published by Villard Books and was released on Monday.
Ruth Lichtwardt, assistant buyer of books for the Oread Bookstore in the Kansas and Burge unions, said that Blake was interested in speaking in Lawrence because a majority of the book takes place in Kansas.
Lichtward said that any resistance to Blake's presentation would be unjustified because the book did not idolize Custer.
"You can see all of his faults and why it is that his fall has captured the American imagination so much," she said.
New Line Cinema has purchased the movie rights to *Marching to Valhalla* for $3 million, and Brad Pitt has requested to play Custer.
"Brad picked me," Blake said. "He received an advanced copy of the manuscript and said I want to do this,' and immediately my book became a hot property in Hollywood."
Blake said he was looking forward to creating scenes that will excite everyone involved in the project but that writing screenplays was not his favorite activity.
The essence of Tibetan culture maintained by its community in exhile...
The University of Kansas School of Fine Arts Lied Center Series
presents
TIBETAN INSTITUTE OF PERFORMING ARTS
Saturday November 2,1996 8:00 PM
A New Directions Series Event The Lied Center of Kansas
Tickets on sale at the Led Center Box Office 864-ARTS)
Murphy Hall Box Office 864-3982; SUA Box Office 864-3477
or call Ticketmaster at [313] 234-4545.
All tickets half-off for students.
All tickets half-price for students.
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT
FOR THE
ARTS
Event
綜合座談
敬邀 中央密大 胡玉林教授
Kansas City 知名 李祥麟律师
Oct. 26, Saturday, 4-6 pm Free Admission, Drink & Cookie Burge Union, Daisy Hill Rm.(2nd Floor) STUDENT SENATE
ELECTIONS COMMISSIONER Position Vacancy
*Duties:
Applications Due:
$6.50/hour-November 1996-April 1997 Anticipated start date is November 4, 1996. Applications available in 133 Strong Hall and the OAC office.
Administer, interpret, and enforces all election rules and policies set forth by the Student Senate Elections Commission. (A complete job description is available in 133 Strong Hall or OAC, 400 Kansas Union.)
-Eligibility:
Must be a regularly enrolled student at the University of Kansas, Lawrence campus. Officers, officials, and employees of Student Senate, BOCO, and other student government organizations are not eligible.
- Salary:
Monday, Oct. 28, at 5:00 pm to 133 Strong Hall
The Mt. Oread Bookshop Presents Michael Blake Author of Dances With Wolves
In a One-Man Performance Based on his Latest Book
Marching to Valhalla
A Novel of Custer's Last Days
Villard Books $23.00
Friday, October 25th 7:30 p.m.
Dyche Hall Auditorium
Mt. Oread Bookshop Kansas Union, Level 2 864-4431