Discussions of The Return of Little Big Man should begin with the question of whether readers are familiar with its predecessor, or whether they at least have seen director Arthur Perm's film version of Little Big Man. Readers unfamiliar with either work will nonetheless be able to enjoy and comment on The Return, but in some respects the scope of their discussion will be limited.

Perhaps an even more important factor could be readers' knowledge of Western history and their awareness of the film and literary treatments of the historical figures who appear in The Return of Little Big Man.

This is particulary so with regard to Sitting Bull and other Native Americans. Most readers today are somewhat sympathetic toward Native Americans, and the majority would probably be ready to deplore their treatment by whites. But the more knowledgeable readers of such authors as Evan S...