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Great Classic Westerns
A collection of timeless westerns from some of the most well known authors of the genre, this recording includes the following stories: "The Little Gold Miners" by Joaquin Miller, "Bulger's Reputation" by Bret Harte, "The Leaf of Red Rose" by W.H.H. Murray, "The Secret of Macarger's Gulch" by Ambrose Bierce, "The Californian's Tale" by Mark Twain, "Twelve O'Clock" by Stephen Crane, "The Vengeance of Padre Arroyo" by Gertrude Atherton, "A Deal in Wheat" by Frank Norris, "The Caballero's Way" by O. Henry, "On the Divide" by Willa Cather, "Timberline" by Owen Wister, "The Passing of Black Eagle" by O. Henry, "Ananias Green" by B. M. Bower, "Lightning" by Zane Grey, "The Pardon of Becky Day" by John Fox, and "The Laughter of Slim Malone" by Max Brand.
Audio CD
First published August 1, 2012
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About the author
Joaquin Miller
325 books13 followersJoaquin Miller (Cincinnatus Heine, or Hiner, Miller) was the pen name of the colorful American poet, essayist and fabulist Cincinnatus Heiner Miller.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 30, 2016
I left my book at home and had to choose something else to read instead. I settled on this audio. This was just okay for me. I'm not a fan of short stories. I think I liked the narrators more than the actual stories. I like westerns as a genre...it is one of my favorite eras to spend time in when reading historical fiction.
April 29, 2014
I am not a huge reader of westerns, in fact, it may be one of my least read genres. But for some reason I was in the mood for a short western today, and this collection of short stories fit the bill.
This collection contains quite a variety of stories. Some read more as poems, some were western love stories, some were stories of death and gunfights. There were a handful of stories that I liked, including The Little Goldminers by Joaquin Miller, Twelve O'clock by Stephen Crane, The Vengeance of Padre Arroyo by Gertrude Atherton, The Caballero's Way by O. Henry, and On the Divide by Willa Cather.
The problem was, I think, that some of the narrators didn't sit well with me. Some read in such a subdued voice I felt like they were trying to put me to sleep. Another narrator seemed to be trying to channel the speaking patterns of John Wayne, and John Wayne's style of speaking drives me crazy. He distracted me from the stories that he narrated, and that's never good.
I think this is a fine collection for people who truly enjoy westerns. There is good variety here, and lots of big name classic authors are represented. For me, though, this collection was a way to make time move more quickly, but I can't say that it particularly warmed me up to the genre.
This collection contains quite a variety of stories. Some read more as poems, some were western love stories, some were stories of death and gunfights. There were a handful of stories that I liked, including The Little Goldminers by Joaquin Miller, Twelve O'clock by Stephen Crane, The Vengeance of Padre Arroyo by Gertrude Atherton, The Caballero's Way by O. Henry, and On the Divide by Willa Cather.
The problem was, I think, that some of the narrators didn't sit well with me. Some read in such a subdued voice I felt like they were trying to put me to sleep. Another narrator seemed to be trying to channel the speaking patterns of John Wayne, and John Wayne's style of speaking drives me crazy. He distracted me from the stories that he narrated, and that's never good.
I think this is a fine collection for people who truly enjoy westerns. There is good variety here, and lots of big name classic authors are represented. For me, though, this collection was a way to make time move more quickly, but I can't say that it particularly warmed me up to the genre.
February 4, 2013
I had high hopes for this book--great authors, and I love both short stories and the Old West. But this book came up short. No pun intended.
January 11, 2021
The Mark Twain story was bomb ❤🤙
March 25, 2025
Like most collections of a genre, this is highly subjective to what the editors consider "Great".
Most of the authors here are tied either through their writing or their backgrounds to the western genre. Which is usually set between the 1849 and 1889/1890 when the lands to the west of the Mississippi were being settled. For most folks this is cowboys, saloons, shoot outs, and natives raiding settlers. That is what is to be expected when one reads or views what could fall into a "western".
These stories, all of which are short stories, all could fall into that if only because they words paint things like the desolation of the Dakotas winter or the pain that is trying to ranch in the high desert of the Arizona territories. But some of these stories could be set anywhere and I think are only tangential to the genre, but are included because the author is well known for writing about western stories. For example there is a ghost story in here after a man stumbles upon a long abandoned cabin in a draw near Salt Lake. Short of the vivid description of the canyon and being away from civilization, the ghost story really didn't amount to a western style story. The author though was well known for his writings of ranchers and trappers and settlers so this was probably the best one selected.
In another story it's all about a nun visiting a feuding pair of ladies and one is getting ready to die from what maybe a gun shot. Short of the town being described as recently popping up near a rail line, but nothing else to give a description of when; somehow this dying love triangle and push for forgiveness should be a western.
Still this is an interesting collection of short stories and a decent collection to maybe start to get into the genre. But it's an argument over drinks about if they are all "great".
Most of the authors here are tied either through their writing or their backgrounds to the western genre. Which is usually set between the 1849 and 1889/1890 when the lands to the west of the Mississippi were being settled. For most folks this is cowboys, saloons, shoot outs, and natives raiding settlers. That is what is to be expected when one reads or views what could fall into a "western".
These stories, all of which are short stories, all could fall into that if only because they words paint things like the desolation of the Dakotas winter or the pain that is trying to ranch in the high desert of the Arizona territories. But some of these stories could be set anywhere and I think are only tangential to the genre, but are included because the author is well known for writing about western stories. For example there is a ghost story in here after a man stumbles upon a long abandoned cabin in a draw near Salt Lake. Short of the vivid description of the canyon and being away from civilization, the ghost story really didn't amount to a western style story. The author though was well known for his writings of ranchers and trappers and settlers so this was probably the best one selected.
In another story it's all about a nun visiting a feuding pair of ladies and one is getting ready to die from what maybe a gun shot. Short of the town being described as recently popping up near a rail line, but nothing else to give a description of when; somehow this dying love triangle and push for forgiveness should be a western.
Still this is an interesting collection of short stories and a decent collection to maybe start to get into the genre. But it's an argument over drinks about if they are all "great".
October 18, 2022
Poetry and stories from early America, read by several performers. Loved the thought that Americans had such love, grace, and courage, often in the face of severe opposition .. especially liked the humor, which often defines it’s Nation.
July 5, 2023
The old masters have a lot to teach us about writing. I really enjoyed this collection of short stories, especially On the Divide by Willa Cather and Ambrose Bierce's The Secret of Macarger's Gulch.
May 9, 2024
Strong selection of stories, good from start to finish, introduced me to a bunch of authors I want to read more of. Solid narration on the audiobook.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews