Distinctly Montana Magazine

w w w . d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m 43 take inspiration from George Bird Grinnell. He lived through the near total destruction of the American buffalo herd, but never quit fighting to save them. As a direct result of his per- severance, Yellowstone was protected and the wild buffalo herd in the park is alive today. DM: WHAT ARE YOU READING NOW? MP: Related to the Old West, I'm currently reading A Terrible Glory, a nonfiction book about the Battle of the Little Bighorn by James Donovan. Related to the New West, I'm reading Brothers on Three by Abe Streep, a book about the Arlee War- riors basketball team in Arlee, Montana. DM: IN RIDGELINE, YOUR LATEST NOVEL, YOU PORTRAY EVENTS THAT LED TO THE FETTERMAN MASSACRE. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PARTICULAR EVENT RATHER THAN MORE FAMOUS INCIDENTS LIKE THE BATTLE OF LITTLE BIGHORN OR THE MASSACRES AT MARIAS RIVER, OR WOUNDED KNEE? MP: In some ways, I love the fact that fewer people know about the Fetterman Massacre. There's an element of discov- ery such a story and it's fun to bring a less-known historical event to life. I liked that about the Hugh Glass story with The Revenant. I like it when people read my books and kind of go, "Wow, how did I not know about this before." DM: YOU CHARACTERIZE CAPTAIN WILLIAM FETTERMAN AS A CAPABLE AND LEVEL-HEADED OFFICER WHEN SO MANY OTHER WRITERS HAVE MADE HIM LOOK FOOLISH OR INEPT. DO YOU FEEL THIS IS MORE ACCURATE TO THE HISTORICAL RECORD? MP: I did a lot of research on the Fetterman battle, and in my view, the best historical evidence pointed to the explanation that I dramatized in Ridgeline. At the end of the book, I point readers to the nonfiction books that I found most persuasive so they can decide for themselves. DM: BOTH THE REVENANT AND RIDGELINE FEATURE JIM BRIDGER, ALBEIT AT VERY DIFFERENT STAGES OF LIFE. DO YOU CONSIDER THE TWO NOVELS TO BE COMPANION PIECES? MP: The Revenant and Ridgeline are free-standing stories. You don't need to read The Revenant to enjoy or to under- stand Ridgeline, but the fact that Jim Bridger shows up as part of the true history of both stories was, to me, one of those really amazing things that you can't make up (and don't have to!). I have a photo of Jim Bridger on the wall in my study— and he's always been a hero to me. JORDAN CHRISTIAN

• Cover