Prophets said they would come. Now Northwest Indians are facing miners and play-soldiers, raping, killing and robbing natives who only want to be left alone. Set in the Northwest before the Civil War, this true story captures the spirit of natives who displayed Courage Beyond Expectations in their futile efforts to retain their traditional way of life. In researching the history of his people, a contemporary Indian writer, finds the long-lost journal of a Bavarian artillery corporal. Hans Schüler had recorded his part in this tragic campaign. In turning his discovery into a book, Clyde Mullan is startled to uncover a link to his ancestry. The Indian side of the conflict is seen through the eyes of a young Spokan brave. Jeremiah finds himself torn between his Christian faith and the traditional beliefs of his people as they are challenged by ruthless invaders. This monumental work is rich in scope, delving beyond our official, whitewashed history. Like a fine mist of truth, it shows deep sympathy for human suffering as it weaves together the dilemma of a people desperately trying to avoid losing everything they hold sacred. ___________ What Readers Have to Say About Courage Beyond Expectations There is a ton of historical information on each page. I am very impressed with his presentation of the state of the Indian before the black robes and those with upside down faces appeared. -Jon Shaw, Colville, Washington Reading about the various battles made me really eager to check out locations near where the battles took place. -Merrilyn Cramblet, McCall, Idaho Courage Beyond Expectations is a book that also goes beyond expectations. History as mass produced for the educational market tends to gloss over the inconvenient details and aggrandize the forefathers of the survivors. This history of the interactions and conflicts between White immigrants and Native peoples of the Inland Northwest re-creates the personalities of the era, both those who can be named and others who can only be generalized from literature and newspapers of the 1800's. Budinger adds an unexpected layer of detail by including a fictional Native author and his White wife as characters. This allows commentary on the present day implications of the history being described as well as interesting facts related to the story without the tedium of footnotes. Courage Beyond Expectations opens a window into a whole era of history in the West often over-shadowed by the mountain of literature about the civil war. -Joe Barreca, Rice, Washington
About the Author: F. C. (Bud) Budinger PE, founder of a leading Spokane engineering firm, is semi-retired, living on a small ranch in northeast Washington State with his author wife, Jo Ann Bender.