War Wagon

by Clair Huffaker

Jack Tawlin was a living legend in a land where gunmen die young. Now he wanted to be peaceable, never to see the inside of a jailhouse again. But Taw was marked for violence-by his fellow men, his brother, and the sheriff. So Taw agreed to go along with a daring holdup scheme, even though he'd been warned by his brother's wife: "You're the man they'll put the blame on!"

Genres: Westerns

125 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

Clair Huffaker was a U.S. author of westerns and other fiction, many of which were turned into films. His screenplays included such films as "Flaming Star" (1960), "The Commancheros" (1961), "Rio Conchos" (1964), and "The War Wagon" (1967). His TV scripts showed up on "The Virginian", "Lawman" and "Bonanza". Clair wrote screenplays for 3 Euro-westerns, "100 Rifles" (1969), "The Deserter" (1971), "Chino" (1973) and was thanked along with Sergio Corbucci in the 1995 film "Jonathan of the Bears" (1995).

He was married to Norma Lee Fink, a legendary attorney. Their daughter is Samantha C. Kirkeby, a prominent script supervisor who has worked on scores of big pictures including the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy and “3000 miles to Graceland”.

Reviews

[Christopher Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, from the perspective of the bad guys. There's an armored, heavily escorted stage running gold from mines to shipping, and the robbers want it. This book is well written (as one would expect from Huffaker) and has memorable, interesting characters, but more importantly it is very historically accurate. The characters aren't all packing colt .45s with stetsons on, smoking cigarettes they rolled while lounging in bluejeans.

They're wearing all sorts of clothes, mostly bowlers and other period-correct clothes. They smoke cigars, and the guns area variety of different types, even an old Volcanic (a pre-colt revolver). The story does not follow boring paths or cliches, and if you've seen the movie, well let's just say this will still be a fresh experience.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say, I found the story in the book much better than the movie version that came much later. I liked the character of Jack Tawlin and his suspicion of the whole plan. I liked how the outlaws were defeated not by sheer dumb luck, as in the movie, but by their own double-dealing and greedy actions. I read this and several other Huffaker books back in the 1970s, and I remember enjoying them. Glad to see time hasn't dimmed that.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the movie with John Wayne as a kid so grabbed the book.

Now that I have read it, I can see the elements used in the movie and see just how different the book and the movie are. I can understand why they changed it but think you could remake it today and be more faithful to the book and the movie would fit right in with more recent westerns. A good fast read that was very enjoyable.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike the Cowboy and the Cossack, Huffaker gets right to the point in this book. It's the book equivalent of an episode of television. Paced quick from start to finish, it's an entertaining read right through to the somewhat predictable end. While given almost no time to do it, you come to appreciate the qualities of the protagonist. It's a neat and tidy story.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story of a man, Taw, as he seeks vengeance from the men who stole what he had and put him in jai;. The suspense filled novel has Taw and his rag tag crew making plans to capture the war wagon and the gold withing. A bit of fun is added to the adventure set in the old west.

[John Peel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack "Taw" Tawlin is fresh out of jail and thinks he might like to go straight. His resolve is tested when his kid brother brings him in on a plot to rob the impregnable War Wagon of it's large cargo of gold. It's a foolproof plan... isn't it? As with any Huffaker Western, there's a great plot, interesting characters and lots of action. This one is a lot of fun.

[Kevin Findley · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best western novels I've ever read. Huffaker has faded from a lot of personal lists and libraries, but he needs to be rediscovered once more.

READ IT!

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as The Cowboy and the Cossack but still a very good read.

[Gena Lott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of action and suspense! A great older western with evil characters galore and quite a plot twist! The best part is that the hero gets the girl in the end!

[Susan Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book from which this movie was made is Badman. The War Wagon is the movie title.

Good, fun, and thoroughly American. I wish I could remember which theater I saw this with my Brownie troop. when I came out.

🎥 Movie version.