Dos Gringos: A Norwegian and an Irishman Meet in a Texas Bar...From a True Story Set in the Mexican Revolution

by Frederick R. Andresen

During the Mexican Revolution, a penniless Norwegian and a drifting Irishman meet in an El Paso bar and are hired by a Pittsburg con-man to fix a gold mine in Mexico with parts, which they learn too late, purposely don’t fit.

The Norwegian is focused on fixing the mine and needs the money to propose to his sweetheart in El Paso. The Irishman is focused on the local women, is fresh from Ireland’s bloody Easter Uprising, and needs to redeem a painful guilt and find a new life. They both are at gunpoint to perform or not perform. Their mutual distrust fades in the face of guns from the warring sides and they must work together to survive and escape back to Texas.

Complicating their mission is a mysterious black-suited man selling guns to both sides in the Mexican war, part of Germany’s intrigue to keep America out of World War I—and a German and Brit are there to spy on each other. El Paso is far away.

"Like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid -- with accents."

170 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 26, 2010

Reviews

[Franz McLaren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some historical novels set a story in a particular time and place as a vehicle for teaching history. Frederick Andresen's 'Dos Gringos' tells an exciting and often humorous tale that happens to take place during the Mexican revolution as World War I raged in Europe. This is not to say that the book was not well researched. It is obvious the author had firsthand knowledge of some of the people and events described. The story is of two new Americans, a Norwegian and an Irishman, trying to survive an impossible situation in Mexico and return to Texas to pick up lives they were unwise to leave. Mr. Andresen deftly draws the reader into the tale and leaves them wondering until the last few chapters whether the heroes will survive. 'Dos Gringos' is a short book that races the reader along with the speed of a runaway train. I look forward to reading more from the author.

[Word Muncher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a sweet and simple story but based on such events that outline the lives of people caught in the Mexican Revolution. I wish there were other stories and, collected, we had more insight into this historical event that shaped this beautiful country.