Sam Chance

by Benjamin Capps

In the cattle country of northeast Texas in the late nineteenth century, a man had to be smart and tough.
Sam Chance was both.
He is the pioneer, just out of the Rebel army, who sets out West to seek his fortune in 1865—not an adventurer, but a man determined to make good. He does, and sees himself become a legend.
This rich, often moving novel probes realistically into the nature and methods of Sam Chance, pioneer. It finds a man who ravished the land and also built it, who was at once a materialist and a dreamer, who gained love and loyalty from those near him but hatred from those who saw him from a distance. He makes his fortune through trading, freighting, pelt gathering, ranching, buffalo hunting, land speculating; and he pays the price that the frontier demands for such success.
The drama of this powerful and influential cattle baron is played out on a richly furnished stage; it is full of sights and sounds, country and animals—a superb portrayal of life as people really knew it in that rowdy but essentially lonely time of our country's history.
With the publication of Sam Chance, Mr. Capps fulfills the exciting promise of his first work, and proclaims, unquestionably, the emergence of a major new writing talent.

Genres: Westerns

261 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Benjamin Capps was an award-winning novelist and chronicler of western life. Among his works are The Trail to Ogallala, The White Man's Road, The Warren Wagontrain Raid, Sam Chance, and The Indians and The Great Chiefs (Time-Life Old West Series).

Capps was also the author of numerous published short stories, articles, essays, and book reviews. In 1991 he won the Western Writers of America Spur Award for one of his short stories, "Cimarron, The Killer." He wrote on many subjects and did not consider himself only a western writer, even though his greatest successes were western novels.

However, he was primarily interested in the past and its influence on us today. Much of his writing's appeal lies in his knowledge of the Old West's folklore. According to Capps, his writing's aim was to be authentic and "to probe the human nature and human motives" involved in his stories. His works were painstakingly researched for historical accuracy and generally explored lesser known facets of the American frontier. The Western Literature Association honored Capps with the Distinguished Achievement Award in October 1986.

Reviews

[Rodney Haydon · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy the works of Elmer Kelton I think you will find this book an enjoyable read as well. In fact, I found out about this book through Elmer Kelton, who referenced it in his introduction to the paperback edition of "Stand Proud". Not finding it at my local library was a disappointment, but I am so glad I went out of my way and purchased this book blind. This novel deservedly won the Western Writers of America Spur Award for Best Western Novel in 1966.
This is the story of Sam Chance, an ex-soldier from the Confederate Army who moves west and makes his mark on the land, the people, and the future of Northeastern Texas.
Benjamin Capps is an author who deserves to be re-discovered. I highly recommend this and I know that I will be searching for Capps' other works.

[Tyler Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the conclusion of the Civil War, entrepreneur Tom Chance goes back to his home state of Texas and builds a successful business in uncharted territory in west Texas. A compelling, well written story that spans some sixty years of hardship, adventure and success.

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel. Sam Chance was an incredible character and the writing completely pulled me into the story. Although “Yellowstone” is supposedly based on a different person who pioneered ranching and became a cattleman in Texas in either right before or right after the Civil War, I felt that some much of what Sam Chance did and said in a novel published in 1965 came right out of “John Dutton”.