Kindred of the Dust

by Peter B. Kyne, Dean Cornwell (Illustrator)

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

Genres: Fiction

392 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1920

About the author

Peter Bernard Kyne was an American novelist who wrote between 1904 and 1940. Many of his works were adapted into screenplays starting in the silent era, particularly his first novel, The Three Godfathers, which was published in 1913 and proved to be a huge success. He is credited in 110 films between 1914 and 1952.

When still under 18, he lied about his age and enlisted in Company L, 14th U.S. Infantry, which served in the Philippines from 1898-1899. The Spanish-American War and the following insurrection of General Emilio Aguinaldo provided background for many of Kyne's later stories.[1] During World War I, he served as a captain in Battery A of the 144th field Artillery, known as the California Grizzlies.

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

My description:
McKaye is a Pacific-Northwest lumber baron who's built his own idyllic town around his sawmill. He owns everything in the town and all his employees rent at low rates, plus free healthcare at the local hospital he's had built, and zero taxes. Sounds perfect, right? But McKaye isn't a happy man, because his own family is ready to discount or outright ignore his wishes and authority. His daughters are one thing, but when the son of his heart goes against his edicts with every ounce of his own type of courage, something's got to give.

Review: An interesting old book with lots of things going on. Donald McKaye is a great hero and an upright one. I really disliked the bombastic father, "The Laird" McKaye, and his short-sighted hypocrisies. He needed to learn some humility! Especially after having told his son to "sow your wild oats while you're young" and not caring about consequences, but when the son falls in love with a good girl whose name is of ill repute (but whose life is not) he'd honestly rather his son die than marry her? Ugh. Nan is a charming heroine and I loved it when she found her spunk when it was most needed.

Content: lots of swears of the garden variety; think PG-13 level, freely sprinkled.

[L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Donald McKaye is the shining prince of his father's lumber empire up in Washington state. He's rich, handsome, brave, smart, loyal and understanding. He's - dare I say it? - almost Christ-like in the way everyone around him worships the ground Don walks upon. So when the young Laird dares to start falling for the wrong kind of gal, the whole town takes it upon themselves to keep Donald on the right path. Because everyone else knows what's best for you more than you do.

Seduced by a con man when she was young and naive, poor girl Nan Brent is left with nothing but an illegitimate child and a reputation she doesn't deserve. She knows any kind of relationship with Donald is doomed from the start, but the heart wants what it wants. Thus this story of Ye Olde Double Standard. Some people totally turn their backs to Nan as others may admire her strength and quiet dignity while still shaking their heads about what a shame she's unsuitable. Even Donald's father, Hector, thinks to himself

What a wife for my boy - what a mother for my grandson - if you hadn't spoiled it all!

Again, there's no blame laid at the feet of the man who knew exactly what he was doing when he duped Nan. It's all the woman's fault. Sadly, this way of thinking is still going on today.