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A Texas Ranger
Steve Fraser is an honest deputy who is set on a task to capture the most wanted criminal who is on the run. But Fraser is bound to take help from other criminals and in the process ends up being labelled as a murderer himself. Can Fraser clear his reputation before it's too late? Will he ever succeed in his mission and save the day? William MacLeod Raine was a British-born American novelist who wrote fictional adventure stories about the American Old West. During the First World War 500,000 copies of one of his books were sent to British soldiers in the trenches. Twenty of his novels have been filmed. Though he was prolific, he was a slow, careful, conscientious worker, intent on accurate detail, and considered himself a craftsman rather than an artist.
195 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1911
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247 people want to read
About the author
William MacLeod Raine
460 books15 followersWilliam MacLeod Raine (June 22, 1871 - July 25, 1954), was a British-born American novelist who wrote fictional adventure stories about the American Old West.
William MacLeod Raine was born in London, the son of William and Jessie Raine. After his mother died, his family migrated from England to Arkansas when Macleod was ten years old, eventually settling on a cattle ranch near the Texas-Arkansas border.
In 1894, after graduating from Oberlin College, Macleod left Arkansas and headed for the western U.S. He became the principal of a school in Seattle while contributing columns to a local newspaper. After leaving Seattle, he moved to Denver, where he worked as a reporter and editorial writer for local periodicals, including the Republican, the Post, and the Rocky Mountain News. At this time he began to publish short stories, eventually becoming a full time free lance fiction writer, and finally finding his literary home in the novel.
His earliest novels were romantic histories taking place in the English countryside. However, after spending some time with the Arizona Rangers, Macleod shifted his literary focus and began to utilize the American West as a setting. The publication of Wyoming in 1908 marks the beginning of his prolific career, during which time he averaged nearly two western novels a year until his death in 1954. In 1920 he was awarded an M.L. degree from the University of Colorado where he had established that school's first journalism course. During the First World War 500,000 copies of one of his books were sent to British soldiers in the trenches. Twenty of his novels have been filmed. Despite his prolificness, he was a slow, careful, conscientious worker, intent on accurate detail, and considered himself a craftsman rather than an artist.
In 1905 Mr. Raine married Jennie P. Langley, who died in 1922. In 1924 he married Florence A Hollingsworth: they had a daughter. Though he traveled a good deal, Denver was considered his home.
William MacLeod Raine died on July 25, 1954 and is buried at Fairmount Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.
William MacLeod Raine was born in London, the son of William and Jessie Raine. After his mother died, his family migrated from England to Arkansas when Macleod was ten years old, eventually settling on a cattle ranch near the Texas-Arkansas border.
In 1894, after graduating from Oberlin College, Macleod left Arkansas and headed for the western U.S. He became the principal of a school in Seattle while contributing columns to a local newspaper. After leaving Seattle, he moved to Denver, where he worked as a reporter and editorial writer for local periodicals, including the Republican, the Post, and the Rocky Mountain News. At this time he began to publish short stories, eventually becoming a full time free lance fiction writer, and finally finding his literary home in the novel.
His earliest novels were romantic histories taking place in the English countryside. However, after spending some time with the Arizona Rangers, Macleod shifted his literary focus and began to utilize the American West as a setting. The publication of Wyoming in 1908 marks the beginning of his prolific career, during which time he averaged nearly two western novels a year until his death in 1954. In 1920 he was awarded an M.L. degree from the University of Colorado where he had established that school's first journalism course. During the First World War 500,000 copies of one of his books were sent to British soldiers in the trenches. Twenty of his novels have been filmed. Despite his prolificness, he was a slow, careful, conscientious worker, intent on accurate detail, and considered himself a craftsman rather than an artist.
In 1905 Mr. Raine married Jennie P. Langley, who died in 1922. In 1924 he married Florence A Hollingsworth: they had a daughter. Though he traveled a good deal, Denver was considered his home.
William MacLeod Raine died on July 25, 1954 and is buried at Fairmount Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 31, 2023
I don’t want to be an apologist for Western values, which are semi-antiquated by modern society. Having said that, I believe it is important to read these texts as slices of American History. The values prevalent in this story are no different. There are overt masculine themes that require questions of honor to be settled by fighting and killing. Some may be anathema to the vicissitudes of modern existence, but it is for that very reason that readers should read these books.
A Texas Ranger is the story of how a lawman goes after an escaped convict and finds more than what he expected. I really like this story, despite the antiquated values of male honor. I find fascinating that although the writer was British-born he was American and chose to write about the wild west experience. This may also account as to why his name does not immediately rise to mind when listing giants of the genre.
A Texas Ranger is the story of how a lawman goes after an escaped convict and finds more than what he expected. I really like this story, despite the antiquated values of male honor. I find fascinating that although the writer was British-born he was American and chose to write about the wild west experience. This may also account as to why his name does not immediately rise to mind when listing giants of the genre.
February 27, 2013
This book seemed like it would be an exciting slice of Americana. Plus, it's free on Amazon.com! (Public domain, I expect. Copyrighted 1911.)
The problem: Values Dissonance.
Like, seriously.
The book starts with a guy, who might be the protag?, getting held up by a cute schoolmarm because she needs his horses. (Her bro, recently escaped from prison, has a broken leg, and she hasn't got the cash to buy the horses outright. Hence, highway robbery.)
This is fine. Right? I mean, it's a western. This feels hackneyed now, but maybe it didn't then.
Unfortunately, the possible protagonist is the smarmiest entitled jerk ever to roam the Earth. He quickly disarms the lady... and steals a kiss. Which, fine, maybe that could STILL be cool.
Except that he notices her freaking out--not in a "you scruffy nerfherder!" way, but in an "it's dark in a foreign country and this guy just overpowered me and he's unbuttoning his jeans no no NO" way.
So, he notices her freaking out, and he DOES apologize, and you think that things might be okay. But then he proceeds to flirt (badly), and not really care that she's completely within his power. He blackmails her into giving him her address, which she clearly doesn't want to do, and feels GOOD about it. Every time she comes up with a plan that will satisfy the law (e.g., "I'll send you money for the horses, and here's a downpayment"), he finds a way to take all power away from her.
Fine, you say. She tried to rob him at gunpoint. But only because she was desperate. And he's clearly trying to rise to the occasion, to become a hero.
But his behavior is far from modern heroic. And I couldn't take it. Didn't get past the intro pages.
The problem: Values Dissonance.
Like, seriously.
The book starts with a guy, who might be the protag?, getting held up by a cute schoolmarm because she needs his horses. (Her bro, recently escaped from prison, has a broken leg, and she hasn't got the cash to buy the horses outright. Hence, highway robbery.)
This is fine. Right? I mean, it's a western. This feels hackneyed now, but maybe it didn't then.
Unfortunately, the possible protagonist is the smarmiest entitled jerk ever to roam the Earth. He quickly disarms the lady... and steals a kiss. Which, fine, maybe that could STILL be cool.
Except that he notices her freaking out--not in a "you scruffy nerfherder!" way, but in an "it's dark in a foreign country and this guy just overpowered me and he's unbuttoning his jeans no no NO" way.
So, he notices her freaking out, and he DOES apologize, and you think that things might be okay. But then he proceeds to flirt (badly), and not really care that she's completely within his power. He blackmails her into giving him her address, which she clearly doesn't want to do, and feels GOOD about it. Every time she comes up with a plan that will satisfy the law (e.g., "I'll send you money for the horses, and here's a downpayment"), he finds a way to take all power away from her.
Fine, you say. She tried to rob him at gunpoint. But only because she was desperate. And he's clearly trying to rise to the occasion, to become a hero.
But his behavior is far from modern heroic. And I couldn't take it. Didn't get past the intro pages.
February 20, 2014
Good reading.
Good reading.
The way the author carried through to the second book was flawless. There was some. repetition in each story but not so much that it was aggravating. the story was believable which is what most readers appreciate
Good reading.
The way the author carried through to the second book was flawless. There was some. repetition in each story but not so much that it was aggravating. the story was believable which is what most readers appreciate
Read
May 29, 2015A step back in time
the language and style of this piece would have made it worth the read. it just so happens to also be a pretty good story
the language and style of this piece would have made it worth the read. it just so happens to also be a pretty good story
July 1, 2018
Riveting
Could not put it down. Even when a movie was on that I wanted to watch. A must read for all western book lovers.
Could not put it down. Even when a movie was on that I wanted to watch. A must read for all western book lovers.
November 18, 2022
It's two stories that are linked. The first story is not as good as the second. I actually thought the first story was hokey. But the second story I read twice! I think a reader could read the second story without having read the first. I had trouble following some of the dialogue due to the author's tendency to spell words like they were spoken back then. But he was closer in time to the Old West than I am.
Some of Raine's depictions of men and women in the Old West may rub people the wrong way today. But he wasn't writing with today's audience in mind. How was he supposed to know those depictions would be mostly out of favor 100 years later?
I was disappointed that this seems to be towards the end of the Old West. Native Americans are on reservations. Telephones are in use, but not widely. There's no mention of automobiles or airplanes, though many of Raine's other westerns include these.
Some of Raine's depictions of men and women in the Old West may rub people the wrong way today. But he wasn't writing with today's audience in mind. How was he supposed to know those depictions would be mostly out of favor 100 years later?
I was disappointed that this seems to be towards the end of the Old West. Native Americans are on reservations. Telephones are in use, but not widely. There's no mention of automobiles or airplanes, though many of Raine's other westerns include these.
March 1, 2021
A pair of novellas by Raine. The first sets the stage for the second. The first is also inferior to the second. Know that going in.
This is a classic Texas Ranger gets his man set of stories. There's also a romantic element. But, it isn't a hero rides off into the sunset story - he gets the girl too.
I would have to say these are pretty typical stories. Raine is probably close to the level of Zane Gray in his writing, but not up to Louis L'Amour. So, still pretty high quality writing. Given that the first story wasn't stellar, I'm glad I stuck it out and read the second story. Raine created a pretty cool community in a remote, hidden area as the setting for most of the second story. It made me wonder if such a place actually existed.
This is a classic Texas Ranger gets his man set of stories. There's also a romantic element. But, it isn't a hero rides off into the sunset story - he gets the girl too.
I would have to say these are pretty typical stories. Raine is probably close to the level of Zane Gray in his writing, but not up to Louis L'Amour. So, still pretty high quality writing. Given that the first story wasn't stellar, I'm glad I stuck it out and read the second story. Raine created a pretty cool community in a remote, hidden area as the setting for most of the second story. It made me wonder if such a place actually existed.
October 9, 2021
Entertaining listening 🔰😀
Another will written romantic western thriller adventure by William MacLeod Raine with lots of interesting will developed characters. The story line is set in Arizona and Wyoming with murders and escapes lead an Arizona Ranger on a merry chase, I would recommend this novel to readers of westerners. Enjoy the adventure of reading or listening to books 📚 2021 🐐🏡😀
Another will written romantic western thriller adventure by William MacLeod Raine with lots of interesting will developed characters. The story line is set in Arizona and Wyoming with murders and escapes lead an Arizona Ranger on a merry chase, I would recommend this novel to readers of westerners. Enjoy the adventure of reading or listening to books 📚 2021 🐐🏡😀
October 30, 2023
Its a good story, but has issue.
The thing about stories is they need to make sense, the first act of the story tells of a robbery. The man is robbed of his wagon and two horses that he readily says are worth at least $240 when a dollar a day is cattle man's wages; and yet the man and a Texas ranger after finding them just leave them in the desert? How does that make sense?
The thing about stories is they need to make sense, the first act of the story tells of a robbery. The man is robbed of his wagon and two horses that he readily says are worth at least $240 when a dollar a day is cattle man's wages; and yet the man and a Texas ranger after finding them just leave them in the desert? How does that make sense?
October 5, 2020
Author tries too hard to have characters sound 'old west'. Hard to follow.
February 1, 2021
The best!
Super read , when men were real men and lived up to the billing. Great story great characters a must read for anyone into the old west genre.
Super read , when men were real men and lived up to the billing. Great story great characters a must read for anyone into the old west genre.
February 8, 2021
A good read.
February 25, 2021
Wonderful old time western romance.
After Zane Grey, before Louis L 'Amour. That's pretty good story telling company!
Starts fast, stays interesting and ends great.
After Zane Grey, before Louis L 'Amour. That's pretty good story telling company!
Starts fast, stays interesting and ends great.
July 9, 2021
Couldn't finish.
September 17, 2017
Way different than Hollywood's version of the story. Not sure I'd read it to my children
February 26, 2014
Western is back again!
s
So very glad I got my Kindle and have
got to read Western books again! I used to live in the country but the city has overtaken and subdivisions are all around. Never-ending noise. Being able to read books like this takes me away to the places I wish I could be. Thank you so much for a great read!
s
So very glad I got my Kindle and have
got to read Western books again! I used to live in the country but the city has overtaken and subdivisions are all around. Never-ending noise. Being able to read books like this takes me away to the places I wish I could be. Thank you so much for a great read!
July 6, 2014
I LOVE WESTERNS OF ALL STRIPES.
All western have the same theme to most of the stories,witch have elements for easy reading hand easily understoud books.
All western have the same theme to most of the stories,witch have elements for easy reading hand easily understoud books.
January 2, 2015
Not the best western story. Awkward development of characters and flow of story.
July 1, 2018
Very good reading. Would like more of the same books
I love to Read Western books. Fast action ones
Also like adult westerns .
Will look for them.well find them
I love to Read Western books. Fast action ones
Also like adult westerns .
Will look for them.well find them
May 26, 2015
Enjoyable!
Really good story of old west times. It transitioned masterfully from each facet of the Tale. Nice to read a clean old fashioned adventure.
Really good story of old west times. It transitioned masterfully from each facet of the Tale. Nice to read a clean old fashioned adventure.
June 11, 2016
A Texas Ranger
I am sucker for a good western. Not the best western ever written but true to the genre. Good guy beats the bad guys and wins the girl. What is not to like?
I am sucker for a good western. Not the best western ever written but true to the genre. Good guy beats the bad guys and wins the girl. What is not to like?
July 12, 2016
Good book
Very well written book that Hold's you to the end
Five stars on this book. As good as Louis Lamour.
Very well written book that Hold's you to the end
Five stars on this book. As good as Louis Lamour.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews