Bitter Trail

by Elmer Kelton

The Civil War is raging throughout the South, as tough teamster Frio Wheeler figures to haul cotton from Texas into Mexico. Balky mules and the broiling heat of the Mexican desert are the least of his worries.

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Historical Fiction

216 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1959

About the author

Elmer Kelton (1926-2009) was award-winning author of more than forty novels, including The Time It Never Rained, Other Men’s Horses, Texas Standoff and Hard Trail to Follow. He grew up on a ranch near Crane, Texas, and earned a journalism degree from the University of Texas. His first novel, Hot Iron, was published in 1956. Among his awards have been seven Spurs from Western Writers of America and four Western Heritage awards from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. His novel The Good Old Boys was made into a television film starring Tommy Lee Jones. In addition to his novels, Kelton worked as an agricultural journalist for 42 years. He served in the infantry in World War II. He died in 2009.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/elmerk...

Reviews

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good Kelton historical western about Texas. This one tells the tale of Brownsville, before, during, and after it is occupied by Union soldiers. The story shows the affect of the war on families and friends, each of them thinking that they are right and the other side is wrong. Recommended to western fans, especially Kelton fans.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had a nice bit of historical detail, slight love interest. The women were not all whores, so that's nice. Not the best western I've read so far, but not the worst.

[Lindy Santellan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging story about Texas during the Civil War

[Teri-K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story told from the Confederate side of the Civil War. Set in Texas and Mexico, it tells the story of a man who hauls cotton form Texas to Mexico. The proceeds go to support the South in the war, and Union soldiers are eager to stop him. There's also a personal story here, as the hero's best friend and brother of the girl he loves supports the Union.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars Classic western story. Predictable in parts and still a good story.

[John Reis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frio Wheeler hauls cotton from Texas to Mexico during the Civil War. The story begins when some of his mules are stolen. When he gets to Brownsville he sees them in a pen for sale. He buys them from El Gordo then, sends some of his men to rob El Gordo of the cash.

General Bee flees Brownsville ahead of Union troops after having burned the city. He comes upon Wheeler and orders that all his cotton be burned. Wheeler argues against it. He then races to Brownsville to rescue his girlfriend Amelia McCasland. Her dad’s shop is being looted. They fight back. Her dad dies. Her brother Tom arrives and they have a confrontation. Tom has joined the Union cause.

They flee to Matamoros for safety. Tom tries to arrest Frio and Amelia pulls a gun on her on him.

Frio is led into a trap set by one of El Gordo’s toughs, named Chappa. He is tortured and shot and escapes when Chappa’s gun explodes in his hand.

The union army orders Tom to lead them to Frio's house. He does. They burn it to the ground.

Frio has more confrontations and more bad luck.

I have only read a few westerns. They generally involve, revenge, retribution and standoffs. This one reads like Frio’s diary of the past couple of years and a history of trade in the area during the war. It was interesting. Frio takes a lot of abuse.

[Tate Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Classic Elmer Kelton. Definitely a good read. This book does a good job of illustrating the vast range of relationships that existed on the Rio Grande during the civil war. It explores the reasons that war exists and the turmoil it causes personally, interpersonally, statewide, and nationally. Interestingly, since this story takes place in west Texas, you won't find a single mention of slavery in the novel. The plantations (and the slave population) in Texas were located along the east coast (Gulf of Mexico), not in the dusty, dry deserts of cattle country. This book explores confederate motivations for fighting that most authors shy away from, though Kelton isn't anywhere near the level of Margaret Mitchell.

[Jason Bergsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about the civil war, and two friends working with either side of it. Frio is running cotton across the river for gold, largely helping the confederates. While his old friend Tom is working with the Union. Add in some bandidos and it's a whole mess near the border.

This had everything you'd expect from an Elmer Kelton story, with politics at play, plenty of action and of course a love interest, but I found myself enjoying it less than other works from him that I've read. While the story was entertaining and I wanted to see where it went, I found myself struggling to root for the main character as he works for the confederacy.

Overall I think it was a fine read, and a quick one, but there are certainly other works from Elmer Kelton I'd pick up first.

[Dirk Grobbelaar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy Kelton's writing style and prose.
The setting here is quite interesting: the Texas / Mexico border during the Civil War.
The novel deals with the smuggling of Confederate cotton into Mexico, and themes of North / South loyalties. Not sure what you would call something like this: it's not a typical Western, nor is it a typical Historical Fiction novel, it seems to have all the best elements of both.

On the surface its a pretty straightforward story, but it packs a lot of punch.

[Whitney Buckley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story woven in Texas Civil War history of two best friends. The men have chosen their sides and will stop at nothing to help their side win but is it at the price of their friendship? Excellent book.

[Bish Denham · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. The plot is predictable, but the story is good. I liked that the women are all strong and independent. And, I learned something about Texas history (Brownsville) and the Civil War along the border with Mexico (Matamoros) . Interesting stuff.

[Thomas Laughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way it was.

To a lifetime \ longtime Texan it has the feel of complete reality, all the stickers and thorns of south Texas, barely changed in the century and a half since. In my 88 years here and extensive worldwide travels, I never wished I was born somewhere else!

[Davis Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5. Very good. Not as campy as L’Amour. Refreshing to read somebody who understands that the Confederacy wasn’t filled with goblins. Does a great job of putting you in characters’ heads reminiscent of McMurtry. Thrilling at times, can go from 0-60 pretty rapidly.

[Jeanne Clements · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read

I learned a great deal about the Confederate cotton trade between Texas and Mexico during the Civil War. Try it, if you like westerns.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at trade during the Civil War.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good story with lots of historical facts in it, Most from the Confederate point of view but fair to both sides, with both sides being just as evil in their hatred .

[Sandy Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another historically-based story in which men and women make difficult life decisions.

[Leonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read. I sometimes had a bit of trouble remembering who was on what side in the story. It did lag a bit in some places but was an interesting story.

[Abram Cordell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine book. As far as genre “working authors” go, I think Elmer Kelton’s prose is really admirable- it elevates his story and makes it sing. Not as showy as someone like Ray Bradbury (who overdoes it), but better than someone like Brandon Sanderson or Isaac Asimov. While I did enjoy the setting (close of the Civil War Texas), the plot isn’t as strong as other offerings I’ve read of his. I do look forward to returning to him in the future as he is a solid Western author.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always Elmer Kelton can spin a good yarn!! As a reader you find his stories factual about events and things that took place in history. This one mainly being about the Civil War conflicts in and around Brownsville, TX. The fictional account of the story could have even been similar to true events, as it tells of good friends suddenly finding themselves on opposite sides in the war. Frio Wheeler who is delivering huge loads of cotton by mule for the South for the Confederacy, and his long time friend Tom McCasland supporting opposite sides for the North. The book tells of struggles between right and wrong and between good friends, still both thinking they are on the right side for opposite reasons. This account makes you think that the Civil War must have been so hard on many, perhaps even brothers finding themselves on opposing sides. A good quick read and a gripping story!!

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bitter Trail (1962) This is a relatively early Elmer Kelton novel; like most of his stuff from this period, or most of his stuff for that matter, this is both formulaic but refreshingly written and historically driven. He’s had other novels focus on strife caused in Texas by the Civil War. His heroes are usually sympathetic to the North but loyal to their state. In this novel, the hero is a mule skinner who sides with the south. Lots of well drawn characters and convincing violence. Well done, Elmer

[Phil Lyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Kelton page turner.