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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 6, 2017
It has been some time since I read this book, but I have read it half a dozen times. It one of the books I go to when I do not know what I want to read next. The protagonist, Jeff is a young runaway riding the rails out west when railroad detectives investigate the death of a detective. He is befriended by the teenage daughter of the dominant cattleman of the area. He is further befriended by Dempsey who helps him get on as a cattle drover delivering cattle to the major cattleman where he and Dempsey are signed on as winter line riders. Jeff has no guiding principle, no star, and is tossed one way and another by circumstance, until he develops a goal. Jeff’s contact with the cattleman’s daughter recurs from time to time and provides the romantic interest.
The book is described as: "A stirring novel of a young man's coming of age in the rough and ruthless life of Wyoming in the 1880's."
Another description: "This was the Wyoming territory in the Eighties. The land was held by the armed might of feudal cattle barons. Then came the settlers, the shirt-tail ranchers, fighting their ancient enemies, wind, weather - and the hired guns of the cattlemen. Jeff: He rode and fought as hard as he loved. Women loved him - but men learned to hate him. Abby: She was beautiful and all that a man could want. But she was Garrett's daughter - too high for a man like Jeff. Garrett: He owned the Governor, the delegate to congress, the marshals and the sheriffs. He had Wyoming sewed up in a sack. Demps: The maverick cowpuncher. 'Ain't many men that know him will ask a fight with Demps. He's a he-horse with the hair side out.' Here is an authentic novel of America's growth and of her lusty men and women - earthy, vigorous, passionately alive."
Three movies were made based on the book, but the 1955 version bears only superficial resemblance. Linford had a day job had short stories published but this is his only book length fiction. Unfortunately for book enthusiasts he died at the age of 56 about the time he might have retired from his day job and written full time. Linford was born in 1915 in Afton, WY and likely had great second hand knowledge of life in the 1880’s which was likely reflected in his narrative. He was a WYU alumni.
The book is described as: "A stirring novel of a young man's coming of age in the rough and ruthless life of Wyoming in the 1880's."
Another description: "This was the Wyoming territory in the Eighties. The land was held by the armed might of feudal cattle barons. Then came the settlers, the shirt-tail ranchers, fighting their ancient enemies, wind, weather - and the hired guns of the cattlemen. Jeff: He rode and fought as hard as he loved. Women loved him - but men learned to hate him. Abby: She was beautiful and all that a man could want. But she was Garrett's daughter - too high for a man like Jeff. Garrett: He owned the Governor, the delegate to congress, the marshals and the sheriffs. He had Wyoming sewed up in a sack. Demps: The maverick cowpuncher. 'Ain't many men that know him will ask a fight with Demps. He's a he-horse with the hair side out.' Here is an authentic novel of America's growth and of her lusty men and women - earthy, vigorous, passionately alive."
Three movies were made based on the book, but the 1955 version bears only superficial resemblance. Linford had a day job had short stories published but this is his only book length fiction. Unfortunately for book enthusiasts he died at the age of 56 about the time he might have retired from his day job and written full time. Linford was born in 1915 in Afton, WY and likely had great second hand knowledge of life in the 1880’s which was likely reflected in his narrative. He was a WYU alumni.
August 16, 2016
Good example of the genre, but a little tedious in spots.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews