Buffalo Wagons

by Elmer Kelton

For Gage Jameson, the summer of 1873 has been a poor hunt. A year ago he felled sixty-two buffalo in one stand, but now the great Arkansas River herd is gone, like the Republican herd before it.

In Dodge City, old hide hunters speak is awe of a last great heard to the south--but no hunter who values his scalp dares ride south of the Cimarron and into Comanche territory. None but Gage Jameson....



At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Historical Fiction

223 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

Elmer Kelton (1926-2009) was award-winning author of more than forty novels, including The Time It Never Rained, Other Men’s Horses, Texas Standoff and Hard Trail to Follow. He grew up on a ranch near Crane, Texas, and earned a journalism degree from the University of Texas. His first novel, Hot Iron, was published in 1956. Among his awards have been seven Spurs from Western Writers of America and four Western Heritage awards from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. His novel The Good Old Boys was made into a television film starring Tommy Lee Jones. In addition to his novels, Kelton worked as an agricultural journalist for 42 years. He served in the infantry in World War II. He died in 2009.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/elmerk...

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elmer Kelton became one of the finest writers of western fiction that the world has yet to know. While many of his characters are simply paper cutouts from many a western novel\movie-- his stories manage to stir in true western flavor and a historical veracity that would be hard to challenge.

The hero in Buffalo Wagons isn't really the star of the show. The star of the show is the hide industry itself. Late in the 1870's, the Buffalo are becoming scarce and the hero decides to sneak a group into Texas to find herds there. Meanwhile, the poorest are still wandering the Kansas prarie, harvesting bones to be used for bone meal, bone china (is that really where bone china comes from-- real bones?) which became a bit of an industry all its own. I guess that would be the old west version of recycling,eh?

The idea that there will be trouble is introduced early on, as a character who has plenty of foreshadowing of his less than honest ways will eventually do exactly what Kelton telegraphed to the reader he was going to do. Of course, I've seen enough westerns and read enough that that was the next logical part of the story. However, Kelton really signals the reader some of the things that will happen later in the story, especially by creating a sidekick to his "partner" in the story who is a hulking mean, violent, monster of a man. It doesn't take much to see that there will be conflict once the hide wagons are filled.

Kelton strays from the heart of the story to bring a love interest. Our hero tracks a small party of Indians back to the village where he sees a woman being held hostage and contrives a plan to rescue her. Sadly, Kelton doesn't deal well with the mindset of a woman who has been held captive by Indians. Rather than being shy, withdrawn, in shock, she is happy, and jumps in to help the camp cook, and slowly falls in love with our hero-- but Kelton has to explain how this woman is still a virgin-- how the Indians didn't "get to her" by saying that the chief wanted her to marry him and she was nearly ready to give in to save herself from another warrior who simply wanted her blonde scalp to hang on his lodgepole. (Did Comanche warriors take scalps from women?) So-- somehow she is spare the rape that generally occured as part of the brainwashing process of an Indian captive. Also, there is discussion of the cruelty of the warriors, but the Indian Women generally took over such captives and put them in places of servitude, beating them into submission.

Still, Buffalo Wagons is a decent western novel and worth the reading for the stuff Kelton gets right.. usually the dialogue and flavor of a period.

Through all of Kelton's writings, readers will keep seeing the strong Puritan work ethic philosophy echoed, suggesting that any man could make it in the West if he was willing to work hard, be creative, and be willing to take on dirty jobs.

[Brent Ecenbarger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first Elmore Kelton book, but with my goal being to read all the Spur Award winning novels, I should end up reading more of his books than any other Western writer. Kelton’s won the award eight times (five times for best novel), way more than any other author (next most are three for Fred Grove and Richard Wheeler). My takeaways for my first Kelton novel are he did a nice job with setting in this book, but his character work wasn’t exactly the best I’ve read.

If you’re going to read this book, make sure that slaughtering animals isn’t a deal breaker for you. The premise of the book is that buffalo hunters are looking for buffalo in Texas, aware that Comanche are in the area and not to take kindly to it. The main reason they don’t take kindly? Because the hunters are hunting the buffalo to extinction, killings thousands of the animal at a time, taking the fur hides and leaving the rest of the animal to rot. The hunters are in Texas because they can’t find any more buffalo to kill in Kansas. There’s also a part where the buffalo hunters shoot a bunch of horses for… reasons.

The buffalo hunters are the heroes in the book, at least a few of them. Right away, it’s an uphill battle to get me to like a lot of these characters, just based on the paragraph above. On the plus side, it felt authentic to the era. It made me think of the fur traders in a different way than I usually did when hearing the word (I think I normally think of a guy setting a snare trap and then selling racoon or beaver hats afterward).

The main character of Buffalo Wagons is Gage Jameson, who’s leading the expedition into Texas. He’s joined by a few men he trusts, and another man who’s a very successful hunter but seems a bit to flashy for his own good. Good luck spotting the villain in this book. Things go well on the mission until the group encounters a Comanche tribe and spot a white woman being held captive by them. From that point forward, there are rescue missions, raiding parties, and double crossings.

Overall I enjoyed the book, and each reading felt quick enough (there were no stretches that really dragged). The setting and historical flair were memorable enough, but the predictability of the story would keep me from recommending this to others. I’m ok with cardboard characters who are obviously good guys, bad guys or damsels in distress in westerns. The last few Spur Award winners though have had more nuance in terms of possibilities where the story could go.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was just the kind of read I was looking for at the time, a straightforward story of right prevailing over wrong. I mean, who can argue with a tall, strong, handsome hero who also happens to be a crack shot? Throw in a couple of gritty, love-to-hate-'em bad guys; a pretty, capable, down-home love interest; a few got-your-back-covered pals; and an indispensable dog. Award-winning author Kelton does a terrific job of bringing the traditional Western formula to life. I will definitely turn to his books again whenever I need an exciting, satisfying, predictable read.

[Joe Stack · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this western by Elmer Kelton. An easy going, quick read. I find that Kelton's writing style places the reader (me) in the story. In this story, the Texas plains before the killing off of the buffalo herds comes alive. Kelton doesn't disappoint in telling a story of buffalo hunters. This story can be read for the basic good vs. bad, and guy gets girl, but I think Kelton gives the story a good background with the characters internal conflict with a profession that to make a living means killing off the buffalo, which means killing off a way of life and transforming the west.

[Jeff Tankersley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Desperate times lead Gage Jameson to attempt a buffalo hunt in Comanche territory in 1873. The herds in safer areas are depleted to levels that leave too many hunters and too few bison and market conditions are forcing folks to sell out for pennies on the dollar and seek other opportunities, while some turn to bullying and outright thievery to close the gap on financial shortcomings.

"Buffalo Wagons" (1957) is riveting. The protagonist Jameson's interactions with his close circle of acquaintances met through years on the range, hunters, skinners, cooks, bosses, and moneymen, send him head-first into a more dangerous venture he feels internally called to pursue but not perfectly prepared for.

Themes of morality, justice, and resilience carry a classic western tale with a smart narrative style.

Verdict: With smart pacing, a riveting plot and easy prose, "Buffalo Wagons" is a quick read, an entertaining adventure, and a great western.

Jeff's Rating: 5 / 5 (Excellent)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG

[Monica Willyard Moen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is set in 1873, and it is about the adventure of a buffalo hunter searching for new hunting grounds. He faces many dangers, including hostile Indians and a flooding creek, all while trying to lead a group of men bound together by the need to search for Buffalo. This is a well written western with vividly described scenery and well drawn characters. It’s definitely worth checking out.

[Milo · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is it about western fictional history that glues us to the page?
Kelton, a 6 time "Spur" award winner keeps the reader glued to the characters with twists and turns in every chapter. Buffalo Wagons is no exception.
How great it is to enjoy a story while learning about the west and its history.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book I’ve read by this author. I love a good western!

Classic western with a storyline that is Americana at its finest. Buffalo Wagons is a good place to start reading Elmer Kelton.

[GiancarloFriday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming from Slaughter, it was a drag to get through the opening of this book as they both talk about the ins and outs of the buffalo business. Barring that the plot moves along fairly well and is your fairly run of the mill western with a good deal of grit to it.

[Keith B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story. I noticed some similarity Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove (One of my favourite books AND movie) in spots. I wonder if Larry drew inspiration from this novel.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining. And I always love any book read by George Guidall, he is fabulous.

[John Bullard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Was Expecting A fun, Entertaining Read. I instead, found two men’s epic, lament to their profession and life as they know it. A dirge to the old west. I want to read every word this man wrote.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending leaves you wondering if they go back for the Buffalo Hides or not

[John · Rating 1 out of 5]

a bore

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

audio George Guidall story gives a more honest view of what happened to the Buffalos

[Kory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun story from Kelton!

[Jeff J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read.

[Faith High School · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read by: Tarin
I enjoyed this book because it always had you on an edge and made you want to read more. It was historical-fiction and something that could have happened in real life which also made me enjoy it. It had a lot more action and was a lot more than I expected after only looking at the cover as well.

[SamT · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the autumn of 1873 the Arkansas River buffalo herd is finished. If hunter Gage Jameson wants to stay in the hide business he must travel south to Texas to make his living.
He purchases wagons and supplies in Dodge City and gathers a crew to head to the Llano Estacado where the buffalo (and also the Comanches) are bound to be.
In Dodge City Gage meets Ransom King (a buffalo hunter of dubious character) who wants to take his wagons to Texas with him. Jameson really doesn't want a partner but after King saves Jameson's life in a robbery how could he say no.
They find not only buffalo and Comanches in Texas but also a white woman who has been captured. Her discovery brings many changes to the hunt and brings out the true character of Ransom King.
The book is classic Kelton. He writes a believable tale with historical accuracy.
He describes the frontier town of Dodge City with its three dance halls and six saloons being as pretty as a new bride to buffalo hunters coming in after three months on the prairie.
Kelton says, "It didn't matter whether the lumber was painted or not, as long as the ladies were."

[Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

The buffalo were pretty much slaughtered indiscriminately in the late 1870s in order to force the Native American tribes onto reservation land. It's not one of our better historical moments, but it works well as a setting for a western novel.

Gage Jameson is a buffalo hunter running out of his livelihood. The buffs have moved south into Texas and Comanche territory. That doesn't stop Gage from going after them--and the Comanche.

This was a fun and typical western with an interesting setting, good guys, bad guys, a little love interest, some historical trivia and lots of action. Elmer Kelton always satisfies.

[Teagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts off slow, but once you get into it you can't put it down. It's an old sort of Western based in Kansas and Texas. Dodge City Kansas is where a bunch of "buffalo hunters" are. They hunt the buffalo for their hides. There's not any buffalo left in Kansas, so one man wants to go South to find Buffalo. The only problem is Indians. They go south and there is a lot of hardship along the way there and the way back.

[Natalie Bright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Step back to 1873 with Kelton! The dialogue, the imagery, the details of the hardships suffered by these adventurous souls will transport you back and the Kelton experience will stay with you for many weeks after you've reached the end. First pub. in 1956, is an amazing historical ride.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insightful and action packed read during the period when Buffalo were becoming more scarce. Hide hunters with their wagons search for fortune, and a last glimpse of the enormous herds that would soon never be seen again, venture south into dangerous Comanche territory in Texas.

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it. It's a story about the hide hunters of the old west. It was not easy to make a living and hide hunting was one of the more perilous trades to be in, especially when you did it in Comanche country.
There is a little romance also; just enough to make it a good story.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice summer read. I dont usually like this genre much but I enjoy Keltons style. If you ever want to read a western this guy is the one to start off with.

[Pabloslist]

Last buffalo hunt in Comanche Territory yields many adventures for small band of gutsy hunters

[Craig Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reading through Kelton's books. His characters come alive for me and I'm drawn into an unfamiliar time and place.

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio book. A great listen for my husband as we drove across the Great Plains.

[Dan Panke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cage Jameson (a classic western name) hunts buffalo for a living. With dwindling herds it's time to take a chance with hunt into Indian territory.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good story but hack writing.