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The Good Indian Illustrated
There is a saying--and if it is not purely Western, it is at least purely American--that the only good Indian is a dead Indian. In the very teeth of that, and in spite of tho fact that he was neither very good, nor an Indian--nor in any sense "dead"-- men called Grant Imsen "Good Indian" to his face; and if he resented the title, his resentment was never made manifest--perhaps because he had grown up with the name.
- GenresWesterns
Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1912
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About the author
B.M. Bower
565 books25 followersBertha Muzzy Sinclair or Sinclair-Cowan, née Muzzy, best known by her pseudonym B. M. Bower, was an American author who wrote novels, fictional short stories, and screenplays about the American Old West. Her works, featuring cowboys and cows of the Flying R Ranch in Montana, reflected "an interest in ranch life, the use of working cowboys as main characters (even in romantic plots), the occasional appearance of eastern types for the sake of contrast, a sense of western geography as simultaneously harsh and grand, and a good deal of factual attention to such matters as cattle branding and bronc busting.
Born Bertha Muzzy in Otter Tail County, MN and living her early years in Big Sandy, Montana, she was married three times: to Clayton Bower, in 1890; to Bertrand William Sinclair,(also a Western author) in 1912; and to Robert Elsworth Cowan, in 1921. Bower's 1912 novel Lonesome Land was praised in The Bookman magazine for its characterization. She wrote 57 Western novels, several of which were turned into films.
Born Bertha Muzzy in Otter Tail County, MN and living her early years in Big Sandy, Montana, she was married three times: to Clayton Bower, in 1890; to Bertrand William Sinclair,(also a Western author) in 1912; and to Robert Elsworth Cowan, in 1921. Bower's 1912 novel Lonesome Land was praised in The Bookman magazine for its characterization. She wrote 57 Western novels, several of which were turned into films.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 25, 2017
I delayed reading this Bower book, the 9th on my list of 29, because the title made me cringe. "Good Indian". Oh, dear. Even though I've become familiar with Bower's style and themes, I could only think how horrible this book might be, just because of that title. But finally I went ahead and started reading, and was surprised at the dimension Bower creates in this story, a more complex one than any of the others I have read so far.
In the first chapter we learn about the Hart Ranch, run by 'Peaceful' Tom Hart, his wife Phoebe and their five sons. In Chapter 2 we meet our main character, and I think a bit of his story is worth quoting:
There is a saying—and if it is not purely Western, it is at least purely American — that the only good Indian is a dead Indian. In the very teeth of that, and in spite of the fact that he was neither very good, nor an Indian — nor in any sense "dead" — men called Grant Imsen "Good Indian" to his face; and if he resented the title, his resentment was never made manifest — perhaps because he had grown up with the name, he rather liked it when he was a little fellow, and with custom had come to take it as a matter of course.
Because his paternal ancestry went back, and back to no one knows where among the race of blue eyes and fair skin, the Indians repudiated relationship with him, and called him white man — though they also spoke of him unthinkingly as "Good Injun."
Because old Wolfbelly himself would grudgingly admit under pressure that the mother of Grant had been the half-caste daughter of Wolfbelly's sister, white men remembered the taint when they were angry, and called him Injun. And because he stood thus between the two races of men, his exact social status a subject always open to argument, not even the fact that he was looked upon by the Harts as one of the family, with his own bed always ready for him in a corner of the big room set apart for the boys, and with a certain place at the table which was called his — not even his assured position there could keep him from sometimes feeling quite alone, and perhaps a trifle bitter over his loneliness.
So, there is the explanation of the cringe-worthy title of the book and the introduction to our brooding main character. He has gone through or at least to the second year of college, because his father, when he died in the Hart's ranch house, asked Phoebe to make sure Grant was educated as far as the bag of money he left her would last. But Grant is home again now, with a vocabulary to puzzle people when he wants to use it, and he is ready for something to happen in his life. Which of course it does, in the person of Evadna, a distant relative of Phoebe's from back east. She has been orphaned and has no place else to go. Phoebe is hoping for some matchmaking, but the two young people seem to hate each other from the start. And then things get complicated, with
a shady lawyer trying to arrange to take over the ranch, someone shooting at Grant, and lots of galloping back and forth to town, and coded messages sent by telegraph.
One fun character is the young lady telegraph operator named Georgie. I liked her much better than Evadna immediately, maybe because when we first meet her in the general store she is talking about a five pound box of chocolates she is expecting on the next train. Another young lady affected by Grant's presence is Rachel, a young Indian woman who lives in the Indian camp near town. And her uncle Peppajee is an impressive character as well: I love the way he tells off Grant at a certain point in the story.
One thing that continued to make me cringe even after I got over the title was the use of the 'heap big meybeso you ketchum' type of dialogue whenever any of the Indians and the whites were talking to each other. Bower puts in an author's note when she begins the first long conversation between the two groups, but knowing that this is the way the Indians of the time supposedly actually spoke does not make it any more comfortable to read in this day and age. However, I never had the feeling that the dialogue was done disrespectfully, or that the Indian characters were slighted in any way. I would not have kept reading if that had been the case.
There is mystery here, some romance, lots of lover's quarrels (that Evadna is SO self-centered!), rowdy young western men trying to protect their ranch from ruffians, dramatic moments, funny moments, a few 'You Go, girl!' moments, and more than once when I could only sigh and say 'Oh, no, not that'.
Definitely an entertaining read!
In the first chapter we learn about the Hart Ranch, run by 'Peaceful' Tom Hart, his wife Phoebe and their five sons. In Chapter 2 we meet our main character, and I think a bit of his story is worth quoting:
There is a saying—and if it is not purely Western, it is at least purely American — that the only good Indian is a dead Indian. In the very teeth of that, and in spite of the fact that he was neither very good, nor an Indian — nor in any sense "dead" — men called Grant Imsen "Good Indian" to his face; and if he resented the title, his resentment was never made manifest — perhaps because he had grown up with the name, he rather liked it when he was a little fellow, and with custom had come to take it as a matter of course.
Because his paternal ancestry went back, and back to no one knows where among the race of blue eyes and fair skin, the Indians repudiated relationship with him, and called him white man — though they also spoke of him unthinkingly as "Good Injun."
Because old Wolfbelly himself would grudgingly admit under pressure that the mother of Grant had been the half-caste daughter of Wolfbelly's sister, white men remembered the taint when they were angry, and called him Injun. And because he stood thus between the two races of men, his exact social status a subject always open to argument, not even the fact that he was looked upon by the Harts as one of the family, with his own bed always ready for him in a corner of the big room set apart for the boys, and with a certain place at the table which was called his — not even his assured position there could keep him from sometimes feeling quite alone, and perhaps a trifle bitter over his loneliness.
So, there is the explanation of the cringe-worthy title of the book and the introduction to our brooding main character. He has gone through or at least to the second year of college, because his father, when he died in the Hart's ranch house, asked Phoebe to make sure Grant was educated as far as the bag of money he left her would last. But Grant is home again now, with a vocabulary to puzzle people when he wants to use it, and he is ready for something to happen in his life. Which of course it does, in the person of Evadna, a distant relative of Phoebe's from back east. She has been orphaned and has no place else to go. Phoebe is hoping for some matchmaking, but the two young people seem to hate each other from the start. And then things get complicated, with
a shady lawyer trying to arrange to take over the ranch, someone shooting at Grant, and lots of galloping back and forth to town, and coded messages sent by telegraph.
One fun character is the young lady telegraph operator named Georgie. I liked her much better than Evadna immediately, maybe because when we first meet her in the general store she is talking about a five pound box of chocolates she is expecting on the next train. Another young lady affected by Grant's presence is Rachel, a young Indian woman who lives in the Indian camp near town. And her uncle Peppajee is an impressive character as well: I love the way he tells off Grant at a certain point in the story.
One thing that continued to make me cringe even after I got over the title was the use of the 'heap big meybeso you ketchum' type of dialogue whenever any of the Indians and the whites were talking to each other. Bower puts in an author's note when she begins the first long conversation between the two groups, but knowing that this is the way the Indians of the time supposedly actually spoke does not make it any more comfortable to read in this day and age. However, I never had the feeling that the dialogue was done disrespectfully, or that the Indian characters were slighted in any way. I would not have kept reading if that had been the case.
There is mystery here, some romance, lots of lover's quarrels (that Evadna is SO self-centered!), rowdy young western men trying to protect their ranch from ruffians, dramatic moments, funny moments, a few 'You Go, girl!' moments, and more than once when I could only sigh and say 'Oh, no, not that'.
Definitely an entertaining read!
March 8, 2017
It seemed forever for this book to unveil it's dilemma, plus its use of native American English dialect made this story rather tedious at first. Although the character and landscape descriptions were quite good and vivid, I had a hard time staying interested for at least the first half of the book. Once the action began to unravel the whole thing came alive and was most enjoyable. The story was simply about some claim jumpers trying to seize a happy family's hard earned and deeply loved homestead. The method of seizure was attempted by using mineral right laws over agricultural rights, which evidently have the greater authority. The hero is hansom if not slightly impetuous well educated young half breed man. The antagonist is a overly portly, sneaky, conniving attorney who is the mastermind of this attempted claim jump. Funny how the image of lawyers over the years has not changed with time. All that entwined with three lovely women with completely different characters, a group of native Americans, and some interesting family dynamics transformed this saga into a good read.
July 20, 2016
Do you need a second opinion on this book? Visit and explore www.oceanpearlbooks.wordpress.com. OceanPearl Books endeavors to provide well-informed book reviews, business readings, parenting tips, and consulting services for our clients. And it's all for Free!
OceanPearl Books - Book Review
Good Indian is a foster son of a western ranch owner. Considered as the eldest son, Good Indian plays a pivot role when the family ranch is attacked by scheming, gold prospectors. He is taken by the beauty of one fragile girl who cannot understand the western customs. His partner and supporter, Georgie Howard, quells her love for him, when they both go through the legal battle of the family ranch.
Bower gives the reader an excellent portrayal of a man loved by more than one woman.
This book is available for FREE at http://manybooks.net/titles/bowerbmet....
Rating: 5/5
OceanPearl Books - Book Review
Good Indian is a foster son of a western ranch owner. Considered as the eldest son, Good Indian plays a pivot role when the family ranch is attacked by scheming, gold prospectors. He is taken by the beauty of one fragile girl who cannot understand the western customs. His partner and supporter, Georgie Howard, quells her love for him, when they both go through the legal battle of the family ranch.
Bower gives the reader an excellent portrayal of a man loved by more than one woman.
This book is available for FREE at http://manybooks.net/titles/bowerbmet....
Rating: 5/5
October 31, 2016
Do you need a second opinion on this book? Visit and explore www.oceanpearlbooks.wordpress.com. OceanPearl Books endeavors to provide well-informed book reviews, business readings, parenting tips, and consulting services for our clients worldwide. And it's all for Free!
OceanPearl Books - Book Review
Good Indian is a foster son of a western ranch owner. Considered as the eldest son, Good Indian plays a pivot role when the family ranch is attacked by scheming, gold prospectors. He is taken by the beauty of one fragile girl who cannot understand the western customs. His partner and supporter, Georgie Howard, quells her love for him, when they both go through the legal battle of the family ranch.
Bower gives the reader an excellent portrayal of a man loved by more than one woman.
This book is available for FREE at http://manybooks.net/titles/bowerbmet....
OceanPearl Books - Book Review
Good Indian is a foster son of a western ranch owner. Considered as the eldest son, Good Indian plays a pivot role when the family ranch is attacked by scheming, gold prospectors. He is taken by the beauty of one fragile girl who cannot understand the western customs. His partner and supporter, Georgie Howard, quells her love for him, when they both go through the legal battle of the family ranch.
Bower gives the reader an excellent portrayal of a man loved by more than one woman.
This book is available for FREE at http://manybooks.net/titles/bowerbmet....
April 10, 2017
It took me a while to get into it, but once I hit chapter 3, I was hooked. It's really just a delightful Idahoan story. The relationship was simply adorable at first, and then as it progressed, I began to have doubts. I love the way it ended: Unexpected, and very satisfying.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews