Shadow Mountain

by Dane Coolidge

Dane Coolidge's 'Shadow Mountain' is an evocative exploration of the bygone era of Western gold mining towns. Set against the desolate backdrop of the once-thriving city of Keno, the novel captures the essence of a forgotten world, where the ghosts of a more prosperous past haunt the present. Coolidge's prose is marked by vivid imagery and a keen attention to detail, bringing to life the dust-laden streets and abandoned edifices. This literary piece draws upon the traditional elements of Western genre fiction, yet distinguishes itself through its poignant depiction of place and the passage of time. The narrative itself, while rooted in history, transcends simple chronicle by echoing the universal themes of change and decay.Dane Coolidge, with his unique combination of personal experience and historical acumen, has crafted a tale that resonates with authenticity. His own background, steeped in the natural sciences and direct encounters with the American frontier, informs his writing with an air of verisimilitude. 'Shadow Mountain' is likely a manifestation of Coolidge's intimate understanding of the Western landscape, and his fascination with the ebbs and flows of frontier livelihoods. The author's dedication to exploring the interplay between humanity and the rugged environment is channeled into a narrative that is as much about the setting as it is about the characters who navigate it.Readers seeking a window into the soul of the American West will find 'Shadow Mountain' a compelling read. It is a book that will particularly appeal to those who appreciate historical fiction with a strong sense of place. Coolidge's work invites contemplation on the impermanence of human endeavors and the enduring power of nature over man's ephemeral creations. In the hands of enthusiasts of the genre and scholars alike, 'Shadow Mountain' promises to be a poignant reminder of a chapter in history that continues to shape the American cultural landscape.

116 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 20, 2022

About the author

Dane Coolidge was born in Natick, Massachusetts, on March 24, 1873. He was brought up in Riverside, California, and received his higher education at Stanford and Harvard Universities. From 1895 to 1900 he was a field collector of mammals, birds and reptiles in Nevada, Arizona and Southern California for a number of institutions, including Stanford University, the British Museum, U. S. National Zoological Park, and the U. S. National Museum in Italy and France. On July 30, 1906, he married Nary Roberts, and the couple eventually made their home in Berkeley, California. In 1910, his first novel, Hidden Water, was published, and this was followed by a long succession of novels and some non-fiction, with California and Southwest locales. He and his wife collaborated on two books, The Navajo Indians (1930) and The Last of the Seris (1939). In addition, Coolidge contributed short stories and illustrated articles to several magazines, including Youth's Companion, Sunset, Redbook, Harper's and Country Life in America. Mr. Coolidge died in 1940; Mrs. Coolidge, in 1945.

Reviews

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was looking forward to this book. I really enjoyed Coolidge's The Desert Trail, and when it came time to pick an author for my March Literary Birthday Challenge, I decided Shadow Mountain would be a nice choice, mainly because years ago when I lived in El Paso, Texas, I worked at a store on Shadow Mountain Drive. Well, that is as good a reason as any, right?

But whether it was Carnaval, or the latest in-law visit, or April the giraffe (when is she going to have that baby?!) or the book itself, I could never get interested in the story. I struggled along to the halfway point, but at yet another chapter full of maths I gave up. I simply never had that 'ooh, gotta go see what is happening' feeling that usually keeps me turning pages.

The story revolves around a mine near Death Valley. The hero Wiley arrives in Keno, which used to be a booming mining town, but now is nearly a ghost town, with only a few people still hanging on. There is the requisite widow in dire straits, and her beautiful daughter Virginia, neither of whom trust our man Wiley, mainly because of the bad feelings his father left behind. There is a lot of information (a whole lot, way too much, over and over and over) about mining claims, shares, stocks, quit-claims, this thing and that other thing and percentages and so on and so forth. Crap, I hate trying to read math stuff. My brain just says Nope, don't wanna, ain't gonna.

The most intriguing character was Death Valley Charley, who knew something about Virginia's father, hinting that he was not really dead. But Death Valley Charley also was a bit touched in the head, insisting that he could see and feel the electricity in the earth, and that he heard the Germans coming. (The story was set during WWI, and Wiley was hoping to find materials in the mine to help the war effort.) One reason I kept on for as long as I did was that I wanted to see if DVC ever took control of the story but if he did, it was after the halfway point.

There are other Coolidge titles at Gutenberg, and I will try another one sometime later this month. Maybe I will have less distractions (are you listening, April?!) and maybe whichever story I pick will be as exciting as The Desert Trail was.