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The Obstinate Land
After arriving in Oklahoma and finding that the Cooper family has settled illegally on their land, the Rombergs choose a less favored spot and battle against drought, dust storms, bandits, and hostile ranchers
214 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1977
20 people want to read
About the author
Harold Keith
35 books21 followers Harold Keith lived his entire life in Oklahoma, a state that he greatly loved and which served as the setting for many of his books.
Perhaps his best known story, the historical novel "Rifles for Watie", was first released in 1957. It went on to win the 1958 John Newbery Medal and the 1964 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award.
In 1998, Harold Keith died of congestive heart failure, in Norman, Oklahoma.
Perhaps his best known story, the historical novel "Rifles for Watie", was first released in 1957. It went on to win the 1958 John Newbery Medal and the 1964 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award.
In 1998, Harold Keith died of congestive heart failure, in Norman, Oklahoma.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 16, 2014
I met Mr. Keith when we first moved to OK...he was a sweet old man at that time, but still active reaching out to kids in his community. I've read his RIFLES FOR WATIE and SUSIE'S SCOUNDREL, but not this one. I found it reshelving books at my Grand's elementary. It's signed by Keith...my point is made.
He says in the author's note that most of his research for this book was the many conversations he had with his uncles who settled in OK when it was a rough territory. The details of Fritz's life bear this out. We don't have an academic look here at the life of a settler in the Cherokee Strip...we have a real picture.
Fritz and his German parents are eacger for a new life in the newly opened Strip. His dad had scouted the perfect piece of land, not in the central part of the state, but out west, near the new town of Woodward. When the family gets there, they find a hated Sooner family has already sneaked across the border and staked the claim before it was legal. The family will continue to plague and help Fritz's family.
Farmers were not welcome in this part of OK...cattlemen had had full use of all the land for their herds, and pesky farmers with their plows and fences made life harder. Remember the song from OKLAHOMA, "The Farmers and the Cowmen Should Be Friends." Well, they're not yet.
Hardships followed Fritz's family -- drought, storms, never enough money. And the resident cowman who is determined to starve and then buy out the settlers.
Things go from bad to worse when Fritz's beloved father dies, and he is suddenly the man of the family.
But Fritz is a smart kid with lots of social skills, as well as survival skills. He makes friends, connections. He works, harder than three men. He builds his reputation. He begins to carve a living and a life out of this 'obstinate land.'
The ending is so hopeful...and yet. I know, within 40 years, Fritz and his family will be smack-dab in the middle of the Dust Bowl. As hopeful as I am about his future, I'm also worried.
And that is the power of this book. I forgot Fritz is a fictional character who will not have to live through the Dust Bowl.
He says in the author's note that most of his research for this book was the many conversations he had with his uncles who settled in OK when it was a rough territory. The details of Fritz's life bear this out. We don't have an academic look here at the life of a settler in the Cherokee Strip...we have a real picture.
Fritz and his German parents are eacger for a new life in the newly opened Strip. His dad had scouted the perfect piece of land, not in the central part of the state, but out west, near the new town of Woodward. When the family gets there, they find a hated Sooner family has already sneaked across the border and staked the claim before it was legal. The family will continue to plague and help Fritz's family.
Farmers were not welcome in this part of OK...cattlemen had had full use of all the land for their herds, and pesky farmers with their plows and fences made life harder. Remember the song from OKLAHOMA, "The Farmers and the Cowmen Should Be Friends." Well, they're not yet.
Hardships followed Fritz's family -- drought, storms, never enough money. And the resident cowman who is determined to starve and then buy out the settlers.
Things go from bad to worse when Fritz's beloved father dies, and he is suddenly the man of the family.
But Fritz is a smart kid with lots of social skills, as well as survival skills. He makes friends, connections. He works, harder than three men. He builds his reputation. He begins to carve a living and a life out of this 'obstinate land.'
The ending is so hopeful...and yet. I know, within 40 years, Fritz and his family will be smack-dab in the middle of the Dust Bowl. As hopeful as I am about his future, I'm also worried.
And that is the power of this book. I forgot Fritz is a fictional character who will not have to live through the Dust Bowl.
December 12, 2012
I really liked this book, loved the characters, I could have read on and n about fritz.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews