The Coming of Cassidy

Hopalong Cassidy #3

by Clarence Edward Mulford

The trail boss shook his fist after the departing puncher and swore softly. He hated to lose a man at this time and he had been a little reckless in threatening to "fire" him; but in a gun-fighting outfit there was no room for a hothead. "Cimarron" was boss of the outfit that was driving a large herd of cattle to California, a feat that had been accomplished before, but that no man cared to attempt the second time. Had his soul been enriched by the gift of prophecy he would have turned back. As it was he returned to the work ahead of him. "Aw, let him go," he growled. "He 's wuss off 'n I am, an' he 'll find it out quick. I never did see nobody what got crazy mad so quick as him."

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Adventure

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1908

About the author

Clarence Edward Mulford was the author of Hopalong Cassidy, written in 1904. He wrote it in Fryeburg, Maine, United States, and the many stories and 28 novels were followed by radio, feature film, television, and comic book versions. Clarence was born in Streator, Illinois. He died of complications from surgery in Portland, Maine. He set aside much of his money from his book for local charities.

Reviews

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in several short stories, this is the origin of Hopalong Cassidy. This is of course a hilarious and rip snorting Western adventure, heavy on action and light on romance, and scorning realism! It is interesting as a social study as well. It comes from a time when the Irish were the scorned and discriminated race, and it is very interesting how the protagonists react to it. Instead of whining about how they should be treated better, they man up and force people to respect them. Pretty much awesome. They didn't need government assistance and discrimination laws to make their way in life. They worked and fought their way to respect and equality. Erin go braugh!

[Dirk Grobbelaar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one mostly deals with the likes of Sammy Porter, but it does detail how one Bill Cassidy joins the Bar 20 and it does detail the events that gave him the famous nickname of Hopalong. As such, it is a notable entry.

Lots of Cowboy vernacular and banter, as usual.

3.5 stars

[Jimmie Lee Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some chapters were better than others, but the beginning of Bill Cassiday's working for the Bar 29 ranch in west Texas ia riveting as well as his transformation into Hopalong.

[Michael P.]

I forced myself to read four of these stories before boredom moved me on little doggy.

[H Jesseman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable stories, but I did at times find it difficult to keep up with what the author was trying to convey.

[Carl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hoping he could make a go of it, Buck Peters put everything he owned into the Bar-20. It looked pretty good too, until that gang of renegade buffalo hunters showed up, and all began to go wrong. You guessed it; they were after his spread, his cattle, his life. And nothing would stand in their way - nothing. And then riding over the hill and into the arroyo rides a stranger, a red-haired cowhand, who will change much of the literature of the old west: the coming of Cassidy. This book establishes Cassidy, the Bar-20, and many of the Hoppy series main characters.

Most people, as well as myself, know Hopalong Cassidy from the movies of the 1930's and especially the television shows of the 50's starring William Boyd. But the "original" Hoppy was a much different character, the subject of several dozen seemingly historically accurate novels. Hopalong Cassidy was created in 1904 by Clarence E. Mulford as a rowdy, hot-blooded, "red-haired" cowboy, unsurpassed in handgun usage. In 1935 and into the 50's, actor William Boyd changed the character to a white-haired gentleman, still however unsurpassed in handgun usage.

As with many books of this turn-of-the-century time period, the book often contains references and stereotypes that may possibly offend some readers; however, it is true to the time period in which it was written. Adding to the realism is the diction of the time period and the west; the dialogue is extremely ungrammatical, but it is the general style is of the Victorian era of a hundred years ago. The characters are written realistically, and they are not developed into some kind of "super-hero," but rather men who brave the elements and have their own vices and weaknesses.

[Daniel Wadley]

It was a good book, even if it was kind of broken up into short stories. Being written in early 1900's, had to look up a few words I'd not heard before lol. I much prefer Mulford's Hopalong to L'Amour's, although I am a huge fan of Louis L'Amour, and have read many of his books. The story goes that L'Amour was forced to write his Hopalong books in the style of the embarrassing movies starring Will Boyd. (my opinion) and L'Amour's too, apparently, since he denied writing them till the day he died. I have also read Bar 20; Hopalong Cassidy; and am about to read The Man From Bar 20. I've always been a cowboy at heart, although I'm allergic to horses lol.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't approach this book thinking you will be reading a true novel. It is a collection of 14 short stories about the men of the Bar-20 ranch. The writing is dated, but enjoyable when Mulford puts his talents to humor rather than gunfights. I think I would have given up on this one if it hadn't been for the fact that I wanted to say I had actually read the original Hopalong Cassidy novel. It's an interesting look at the old west with lots of gun play and a smidgen of romance. Interestingly, Mulford never gave Hopalong a love interest.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading about how all the Bar 20 punchers came together!