The Beauty of the Days Gone By

by Jason Stone

In 1926, ninety year-old Charles Goodnight faces the reality that his life will end soon. His accomplishments are legendary as one of the early cattlemen to blaze the Goodnight-Loving Trail and the first to settle permanently in Comancheria. J. Evetts Haley, a young historian collecting folklore for the local historical society, forges a close bond with Goodnight as the elder plainsman shares the memories of his life. As Goodnight fights the urge to free his conscience of a dark secret, his reminiscences turn to the events leading up to the Civil War and during Reconstruction when the frontier of Texas is in chaos. And amidst this chaos emerges Goodnight’s close friend and former Texas Ranger R. L. Terry, who returns home to find his house in flames, his wife mortally wounded, and his two boys hauled away into captivity. As his eldest boy becomes fully Indianized under the tutelage of Quanah Parker, fighting desperately to defend their homelands in the Indian Wars of the 1860s and 70s, R.L.’s desperate search for his sons parallels the relentless passing of the old ways and leads in the end to a revelatory meeting of lives destined from the beginning. Stone’s breathtaking storytelling pushes the conventions of historical fiction, deftly weaving the tragic captivity narrative into the calamitous clash of cultures that defined the settlement of the American West. Hailed by critics, The Beauty of the Days Gone By announces Jason Stone as a major new writer of American fiction.

Genres: Fiction

467 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2022

Reviews

[James Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great historical western. Loved it.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not for the weak or faint of heart. This was a fantastic book that takes you on a roller coaster of wondering what is going to happen next. This historical western really brought out the reality of the “Wild West” and the relationships of both indigenous Native American tribes and European settlers.

This book can get graphic and has a shock factor that will leave you guessing what will happen next.

Looking forward to seeing more from Jason Stone

[Wayne Bost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly researched and beautifully imagined trip through the Old West. The author’s vivid descriptions of the characters, events and surroundings made me think I’d met them and witnessed things myself.

[Max Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extraordinary look at both the life and times of the legendary Charles Goodnight. A very personal insight into his character and career as a cattleman and an uncompromising depiction of the violent era in which he lived. There was no law and order on the Texas frontier in those early days, and the brutality of confrontations with Native Americans, especially the Comanche, is vividly portrayed through the memories and reminiscences of someone who actually experienced them. The novel is epic in scope, capturing the beauty and tragedy of an untamed land as well as the triumphs and regrets of the aging frontiersman towards the end of his life. A must read for anyone who wants to know about Texas history, the cattle drives and the men that made them, the dangers they faced, and the obstacles they overcame. Written in a manner that is different from any other novel that I’ve read on the subject, Jason Stone has crafted a masterpiece.

[Bill Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding historical novel. Meticulously researched, engrossing story. Will re-read this after making a road trip to see where the places Mr. Stone's story tells about.

If you like the old west, stories about the first cattle drives (like Lonesome Dove), and the western expansion of a growing United States - this book is a must read. A heartbreaking story about the destruction of a settler community in north central Texas, kidnapped children, and the life-long search of a Father searching to recover those children - all told with the recollections of a real-life Texas Ranger in the last days of his life. A VERY surprising ending.

A superb read, engrossing, spell bounding - what other adjectives to use to describe a wonderful book that makes you want to learn more about the places, people, and events.

[Hunter Satterfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up in an indie bookstore in San Antonio because I noticed it was written by a Texan and had lots of elements of Texas history woven into the story. It is a true "historical fiction" and is very well done. The prose and imagery are top notch and the author weaves the true life experiences of many of the early famous Texans into an excellent story.

The characters are not as well built as "Lonesome Dove" (yes, I recognize I am comparing it to perhaps the greatest Western ever written) and it lacks dialogue as snappy. The true "character" of this book is West Texas in the late 1800s. It feels more like literature and less like fiction at times given the slower pacing. If you take your time and enjoy the beautiful writing, it is a wonderful journey.

Highly recommended for folks that love westerns, Texans at large, and anyone spending any time in West Texas.

[Chelsea (ChelsBookStop) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Death finishes all of our stories…”
Finished Beauty of the Days Gone By by Jason Stone and wow. What a book. So beautiful and layered and immersive. But also so heavy with emotions. This is not a book you can blow through. It forces you to slow down. It challenges you on so many levels as a human being. There were so many tough parts to read. Some parts I had to put the book down and physically and mentally regroup before I could pick the book back up. But there were also some incredibly beautiful parts. Parts that made up for the heartache from before. My heart is heavy but my spirit is free. This book is the West. Thank you, Jason, for sending this book. It was an absolute treasure to read and I am so thankful for the chance.

[Marty Truss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly epic western saga with roots reaching deep into the historical terrain of the Texas frontier. If you appreciate the history of the American west and the complex relationships between indigenous tribes, European settlers and the westward migration in post-Civil War America, you will love this book. If you like a novel full of adventure and surprise, love, loss, triumph and tragedy, you will love this book. As with every great novel, the climax and ending were magnificent but still left me aching for more time embedded among the lives of the main characters. This novel is begging to be made into a movie.

[Jack W · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really intriguing on several levels. The author grew up in West Texas and has a deep knowledge of the geography and history there. He masterfully weaves actual events with a fictionalized set of characters he “knows” from growing up in this region. The mannerisms, the dialects and the way of life he portrays make you feel like you are there at the time. I learned a lot about several Indian cultures, the Indian wars and how the different factions, Texans, Mexicans and Indians, responded to settling this part of Texas. His imaginative detail and beautiful writing is educational and enjoyable. I recommend this book highly.

[Jodiann RN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story of the Texas High Plains,
the clash between the early pioneers and plainsmen and the indigenous tribes defending their land. Grandeur and brutality, courage and bravado. Jason Stone’s descriptions grab your attention and transports you into the uncharted plains and caprock canyons.

[Lone Star Literary Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed for Lone Star Literary Life.

[Greg Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy Texas history, cattle drives, settling the western front and cowboys and Indians, you will enjoy this tale.

[Robb R · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a magnificent book. A well researched, well written book — and a page turner. One of the best of the year for me.

[Dennis O'Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written story- I enjoyed the characters and the history shared during the narrative. I highly recommend it

[gloria rohner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it !

This book kept my interest to the end. Beautiful story,makes you see how it must have been.great ending,need more like it.

[jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a great story, and I enjoyed reading it. Why not eat more buffalo?

[Michael Kriner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Settling Texas in the mid- 1800's.

Very good description of life and cattle drives in early Texas, including the lives of native Americans and their interactions with the settlers.