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Wilderness Trek
American cowboy, Stirling Haselton, taking the blame for a shooting committed by a friend, is exiled to Australia and with one loyal follower, joins a party of ranchers and drovers making the long wilderness journey to the Elaberleys. Along the way come dust storms, drought and numerous other adventures.
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1944
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About the author
Zane Grey
2,112 books592 followersPearl Zane Grey was an American author best known for his popular adventure novels and stories that presented an idealized image of the rugged Old West. As of June 2007, the Internet Movie Database credits Grey with 110 films, one TV episode, and a series, Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater based loosely on his novels and short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 23, 2021
Two cowboys leave the States and go to Australia to begin again. They are hired to drive cattle for a long trip across continent. Racial tensions abound in the book and remember this was originally written 100 years ago. (The "N" word appears occasionally.) Grey does a great job of describing the land, the plants, birds and other wildlife. Trek of course means journey and it extends almost 2 years. There is action especially when someone steals part of the herd.
March 5, 2012
I discovered Zane Grey in 1979. I was a freshman in college, and I decided to enter a contest for the "best first western novel." Although I'd watched a lot of Bonanza and the Big Valley, I'd never read a western. I got my hands on some Zane Grey to read before I started to write.
I discovered that I love Zane Grey. His book are full of romance, passion, friendship, and adventure. They sweep you into the era of the cowboy and the American west. Grey had a great love of nature, and his desriptions of the natural world around his characters capture nature in all its starkness and beauty.
Wilderness Trek is one of the best examples of his work. I first read it in 1979 and recently picked it up to read again. Two American cowboys flee the US when one confesses to a crime he did not commit so the woman he loves can be with the man she loves. The cowboys arrive in Australia and join a great cattle drive across the Australian Outback that will take two years. Along the way there is adventure, friendship, cattle stampedes, fierce weather, tedium, treachory, rustling, murder, and love. Wilderness Trek is a great read.
(Oh, and I did finish that first western. It's pretty terrible, but I set out to write a western and I did it!)
I discovered that I love Zane Grey. His book are full of romance, passion, friendship, and adventure. They sweep you into the era of the cowboy and the American west. Grey had a great love of nature, and his desriptions of the natural world around his characters capture nature in all its starkness and beauty.
Wilderness Trek is one of the best examples of his work. I first read it in 1979 and recently picked it up to read again. Two American cowboys flee the US when one confesses to a crime he did not commit so the woman he loves can be with the man she loves. The cowboys arrive in Australia and join a great cattle drive across the Australian Outback that will take two years. Along the way there is adventure, friendship, cattle stampedes, fierce weather, tedium, treachory, rustling, murder, and love. Wilderness Trek is a great read.
(Oh, and I did finish that first western. It's pretty terrible, but I set out to write a western and I did it!)
February 5, 2020
I enjoyed this book as much as I have ever enjoyed a Zane Grey book. And I've been reading Zane Grey all the way back to when I'd sneak them off the bookmobile into grade school. The nuns didn't allow us to read them because they had "hell" and "damn" in them.
May 11, 2022
Absolutely appalling racism and sexism. Do not read it.
I read this "because it was there", but I probably should have stopped when near the beginning the American protagonists describe Australian First Nations people as "looking almost human". With that attitude it is perhaps not surprising that later in the book they participate in a massacre of Aboriginal people with no compunction.
I read this "because it was there", but I probably should have stopped when near the beginning the American protagonists describe Australian First Nations people as "looking almost human". With that attitude it is perhaps not surprising that later in the book they participate in a massacre of Aboriginal people with no compunction.
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December 5, 2024At Last! Hard to find this
I have read this many times. It had disintegrated, from use. I really enjoy the trek across Australia. ZG's style in a different landscape. I was glad to finally find it on Kindle. ☺️
I have read this many times. It had disintegrated, from use. I really enjoy the trek across Australia. ZG's style in a different landscape. I was glad to finally find it on Kindle. ☺️
February 11, 2026
just an ok
July 28, 2018
When I first began reading Zane Grey many years ago, I was impatient with his pages of description. This story would not be the same without it. He evidently did extensive traveling in Australia or very intensive research before writing. This trek across the wilderness of Australia took 2-1/2 years and without all the description of their hardships due to the land, itself, just would not be the same. The hint of romance is the same as most of his books ... until the surprise ending. Zane Grey at his awesome best.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews