Like many of Zane Greys Western novels, The Last of the Plainsmen draws on copious research to present a rollicking tale that celebrates the anything-goes ethos and frontier spirit of the Wild West in its heyday. This account follows the exploits of Charles "Buffalo" Jones, a renowned hunter and free spirit who later emerged as an important advocate for the conservation of buffalo and bison.
When Rancher Ben Ide moves his family to Arizona, it initially seems to be only because of his sick mother. But the need for finding his old riding partner Nevada is too great. Ide buys a beautiful ranch for himself and his family but there is danger luring in their new area. The surrounding territory is known for cattle rustling, and Ide struggles to keep his cattle and horses from the rustlers claws. Who can Ben Ide trust, and who is out to get him? At the same time, Nevada resumes his life as an outlaw and gets involved in the dangerous world of rustling. Nevada once again sacrifices his own reputation, and safety, in order to protect Ben Ide, in this sequel to Forlorn River.With action, violence, honor and cowboys, this is the perfect novel for Western fans. Greys novels and stories were adapted to more than 100 movie and television productions with the most well-known being the movie Riders of the Purple Sage (1996) starring Ed Harris, Amy Madigan and Henry Thomas.
Forlorn River (1927) is filled with cowboys, romance, and ranches. It follows horse-catching Ben Ide, his friend Nevada and their loyal Native American companion Modoc, as Ben attempts to better his reputation and win over his childhood sweetheart, Ina Blaine.As horse catching turns into cattle rustling, Ina Blaine is forced to defend Ben against her father, who has recently come in possession of a large amount of money. It doesnt bode well for Ben Ide. Distrust follows Ben when Mr. Blaine, Inas father, and his companion, Les Setter, head out to steal Bens land. And this is only the beginning of a great streak of trouble. This lesser-known prequel to Nevada is filled with vivid descriptions and memorable characters. It is the perfect introduction to Western fiction.
In this classic Western, good guy Linc Bradway sets out to seek revenge after his partner is killed in a poker game. He ends up in South Pass, Wyoming, where he encounters gamblers and gunslingers, and he finds himself in the heart of the action. On route, he meets the intriguing Kit Brandon, who hustles Maverick cattle from local range riders. He intends to avoid her but when he finds himself on a warpath against other cowboys and hustlers, it only drives him closer and closer to the Maverick Queen. The Maverick Queen was made into a Western movie starring Barbara Stanwyck and Scott Brady in 1956.A story filled with love, hate, adventure, and western landscapes, this action-packed story is a must for fans of Zane Grey.
Excellent introduction by Lee Clark Mitchell, that confirms Zane Grey was never anecdotal: this novel is much more than just a Western. Georges-Claude Guilbert, Universite Francois Rabelais Tours The novel that set the pattern for the modern Western, Riders of the Purple Sage was first published in 1912, immediately selling over a million copies. In the remote border country of southern Utah, a man is about to be whipped by the Mormons in order to pressure Jane Withersteen into marrying against her will. The punishment is halted by the arrival of the hero, Lassiter, a gunman in black leather, who routs the persecutors and then gradually recounts his own history of an endless search for a woman abducted long ago by the Mormons. Secrecy, seduction, captivity, and escape: out of these elements Zane Grey fashioned his magnificent classic of the American West. Lee Clark Mitchell is Professor of English and Chair of the Department of English at Princeton University.