The Drift Fence

by Zane Grey

When the first drift fence is built across a free cattle range, anger overflows. Jim Traft, the tenderfoot in charge of building the fence, finds himself in deep trouble.

It takes all of his wits to stay alive, let alone complete the fence. But with courage and tenacity Traft finishes his work and lives to see it bring new order to the range.

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Classics, Audiobook

342 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1929

About the author

Pearl 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.

Reviews

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leaving Missouri with no knowledge of cattle ranching,Jim Taft of Missouri is put in charge of building one hundred miles of fence on his uncle's western ranch to prevent cattle from drifting. The job puts him in conflict with the local community and he must find a balance.

[Ron · Rating 1 out of 5]

Zane Grey’s writing career was in full stride when this novel was first published in 1929 as a serial in the pages of The American Magazine. That year saw two other serials, in The Country Gentleman and Ladies Home Journal, plus short fiction in Collier’s and McCall’s.

Not much has changed since he found his basic western formula in his first novel, Heritage of the Desert (1910). A tenderfoot arrives in the Southwest, learns the ways of the West, wins the heart of a western girl, does battle with a nasty villain and his gang, and wins the approval of his superiors. . .

Read my review at my blog.

[Joyce Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fine story

Read this when I was in my teens. Now I'm in my early seventies and remembered how much I enjoyed it so bought and read it again.

Zane Grey had a way of writing that makes you feel that you're actually there. Enjoyed rereading this story, thankfully it was available for Kindle!

Story of a tender foot coming out West (Arazona) to run a outfit for his uncle, gaining respect, winning a girl and doing a tough job.

[RJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A historical fiction tale told by an expert. Drift Fence chronicles some of the first barbed-wire fencing put up on the open range in Arizona. The fencing made sense from the owner’s perspective by preventing cattle from drifting into the breaks, where they were soon to disappear by finders-keepers cowhands. In reality, it angered ranchers who had lived under the open range concept. It precipitated a few range wars here and there over the installation of such fences. The story relates an excellent perceptive of the cowhands and what they thought of the fences. There’s romance in the air as well with the young Molly Dunn and Jim Traft, the tenderfoot from Missouri put in charge of installing the fence by his grandfather.

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another of Zane Grey's great stories. I think we like his stories so much because they always have a romantic angle as well as the traditional bad guys vs. good guys theme. A ranch owner's grandson from Missouri is charged with the job of putting up a "drift fence" over a hundred miles long, even tho he really knows nothing about the territory or the people. He does, however, strike up a liking for a 16 year old girl who just happens to be the sister of a known gunslick.

[Jon Neiswanger · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Zane Grey book, very interesting to go through the vocabulary used in the narration and the dialogue. I felt like it added to the mystique. Molly and Jim are great leads, Arch and Hack are strong antagonists - just a strong book with a style I am not use to reading. It isn’t fast paced, it is rich in details though and I appreciated the thorough resolution. Resolving the main characters seems unusual in modern authors. I look forward to reading another by Grey.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful listening

A wonderful will written classic romantic thriller western with interesting will developed characters. The story line is fast moving with lots of fun, action, and violent racing to the conclusion. I would recommend this novel to western and Zane Grey fans. Enjoy reading 🔰2021 🐂🐑🐓

[Mark Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best novel by Zane Grey I have read followed by its sequel the Hash Knife Outfit. A tenderfoot is put in charge of building a drift fence to keep the cattle on the ranch so the rustlers don’t steal more of the cattle then they already have. It’s a great western. This is the book I would recommend to read of all of the Zane Grey books.

[Daniel Hebert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Extremely dated as any Western. A story written in gently different times. A love story and one dealing with the settling of the West. At times tedious and other times romantic. Not my favorite Zane Grey story.

[Kip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Story

A good western dressed up with considerable Zane Gray romance. A very good light read. Recommended for a couple evenings

[raymond a vielfaure · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Entertaining

Love this novel going to be hard to find another story like this one... might try looking into Light of the Western Stars..

[Gary Sites · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most excellent western.

[Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like all Zane Grey westerns. He is the standard all other try to imitate. Could not put this story down

[Eva B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2

[Jennifer Bohnhoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic western literature, told by an expert. Zane Grey did an excellent job of making his characters real, and the plot rolled along well.

[Trevor Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick easy read. A classic of the great western romances. It is simple. Unrealistic. Flat characters. Somewhat disrespectful to the role of women. But oh so entertaining!

[joseph harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

love to read, Zane Grey !

His description and story line are enthralling! I am well on my way to having read all his stories. Whew !

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

wonderful until last chapter of turkey hunting

[Alathea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great characters

[Stefaniab · Rating 3 out of 5]

This particular book I would call middle weight Zane Grey. It was fine in its own way, but pretty inferior to the last two I read, "Light of Western Stars" and "Last of the Duanes." It had a very appealing heroine, Molly Dunn, and an equally appealing bad guy gone good, her brother Slinger Dunn. The hero, Jim Traft, I found a cookie cutter not really tender tenderfoot character, typical of a number of hard boiled types that often crop up in Grey's novels. To his credit, Jim prefers duking it out with hist fists over the gun play that shocked Grey's editors back in the 1920s. I also enjoyed reading about the cowboys' tasks in building the controversial drift fence and the mayhem it engenders. Though "The Drift Fence" is one of Grey's Mogollon Rim novels, he doesn't constantly wax poetic about the scenery. This might make it more appealing to readers who are not fond of descriptive narratives such as you would find in "Riders of the Purple Sage."

[Joanne N. Dorsett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fabulous Western Read!

This Story is a FABULOUS read! Full of action & romance as well! This Story could be called a history lesson, as well as a western way of life during this time of the late 1800's! This Book is worth your time to read & is sure worth the purchase price! Enjoy Yourself Reading This Great Story!

[Gramma R · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best of all the Zane Grey set yet. Mine was hardback with 314 pages.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Top Six of his Top Ten.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, he's a good storyteller. Maybe I'm too liberated.