Red Mountain

by David Lavender

He took what he wanted - women, wealth and power
The Colorado silver boom was on - and John Ogden was determined to ride its crest to the peak of power. He had to tame a town, destroy his competitors, master his workers and conquer a mountain - and at the summit of his success waited a woman who mocked his achievement, and a crisis of broken promises and betrayed dreams that could bring crashing down the empire he had built.

Here is a novel of a larger-than-life man and the ruthless ambition and unchecked passion of the West that created and threatened to destroy him.

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction

607 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

David Sievert Lavender was a well-known historian of the Western United States, nominated twice for the Pulitzer Prize, who is best remembered by many for his River Runners of the Grand Canyon.

Lavender spent most of his life in Ojai, California. An articulate and deeply knowledgeable speaker on the political and social history of the American West, he often spoke at the annual Telluride Film Festival.

Reviews

[Mickey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Not bad for a book that's been taking up space on my shelf for over 40 years. Actually, David Lavender knew his Colorado history, and having an inside seat on the silver mining boom was interesting. I wonder whether some of the author's awe of beauty and majesty of the San Juan mountains was written into his primary character, John Ogden.

The time setting progresses from 1880 to about 1895. I never really figured out just what Ogden was -- engineer? construction manager? He seemed to be pretty smart at building roads and knowing where mines would need transportation, with a little bit of politics and schmoozing thrown in when necessary.

The book was pretty formulaic in character description:
John Ogden was a dreamer, whose contagious enthusiasm could make things happen seemingly just because he visualized them.
His wife Lucille was 100% devoted to her man.
Best friend Walt Kennerly was taciturn, had a tough time with women and making commitments.
Former friend Pat Edgell held one heck of a grudge.

After following all the challenges of roads and railroads, I was pretty surprised at the way the ending wasn't neatly tied up. John having to accept that his dream of an electric railroad simply couldn't happen because of lack of financial backing. A showdown between Pat and John. A gun going off by accident, striking John "half an inch above the bridge of his nose." The end! Was he dead? What did Lucille and the kids do? Was Pat finally repentant? Did the town evaporate?

[Chris Babcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good story of mining life in the high mountains of southwestern Colorado. Got a bit slow in the middle, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. Much of it is based on factual people, places and events -though some liberty is taken with the storytelling.

[Misfit]

I'm giving up on this for now, it is too dry even whilst reading at the gym. I'm finding excuses not to go :/

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great setting, long plot. Liked the character development and loved the strong sense of place, particularly an isolated place I know and love. A long read, but good.