The Last Cattle Drive: 30th Anniversary Edition

by Robert Day

First published in 1977, Robert Day's The Last Cattle Drive —an instant bestseller and Book-of-the-Month Club selection—is now a modern-day Western classic. This raucous, rollicking novel of a cattle drive in the age of the automobile revived a genre and added its own special twists in capturing the imagination of readers nationwide. To honor the thirtieth anniversary of its publication, the University Press of Kansas is proud to announce a new 30th anniversary edition of this much-loved work.

This edition includes these new a foreword by acclaimed Western historian Howard R. Lamar, reflecting on the novel's enduring popularity; an afterword by Robert Day recalling the experience of writing the novel and commenting on his own literary heroes (among them Mark Twain); "The Last Cattle Drive Stampede," Day's hilarious piece about failed attempts to make a movie of the book; and special endpaper maps of the cattle-drive route. Whether you're renewing your affection for an old favorite or coming to the work for the first time, this new edition will be a book to treasure and return to time and time again.

Genres: Fiction, Westerns

272 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1976

About the author

American novelist and short-story writer. He has been awarded a National Endowment to the Arts Creative Writing Fellowship, Yaddo and McDowell Fellowships, a Maryland Arts Council Award, and the Edgar Wolfe Award for distinguished fiction.

Reviews

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up 25 miles south of Hays, Ks and know the area and it's characters and this book is dead on. Some of the technical details may be off (the mechanics of selling cattle at the sockyards), but the spirit and the attitudes of Kansas people shines through. Quirky, independent, and determined.

If the only books you've ever read about the plains are The Wizard of Oz and In Cold Blood, you really, really, need to read this.

[Stella Adler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love a story where the main character objectively sucks but you're rooting for them anyway. Also, love a western!

[Devin Tait · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun book to read, being a Kansas native, and having lived right around the places where this book takes place. Much of the book takes place in Hays, where I went to both High School and College, and on the first day of the cattle drive, the main characters venture to Paradise, which is my hometown.
Having said all that, I think this book would appeal to people regardless of where they grew up, because of the entertaining way in which it's written, the colorful characters, and the fast pace of the book. It's not very long and it moves right along. It's a really easy book to read and the ending is very good.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books of all time. I've read it about four times and laughed out loud each time. Being familiar with the landscape of the whole book, I can see the story unfold. I can't drive across Kansas without thinking of this book. The scene in the Brookville Hotel is still semi-possible - the restaurant has moved to Abilene and it hasn't been a hotel in years, but the owners kept the building looking much the same as it did in Brookville. And every once in a while I think about how patient Opal is, even though she's "a mercurial woman." Don't know if it would resonate with non-Kansans, but they should give it a try anyway.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

One mark of a great novel is how well it holds up over time. After 30 years, “The Last Cattle Drive” remains fresh and funny, as if it could have been written last week.
Fed up with high trucking costs, rancher Spangler Tukle decides to drive his herd of 250 steers (and one bingy heifer) from Hays to Kansas City. As in, on horseback, down dirt roads, past little towns, under interstates and eventually through downtown Kansas City to the stockyards. His "mercurial" wife, Opal; his old ranch hand, Jed; and his city-slicker summer helper, Leo (who is the book’s narrator), assist in this endeavor, not entirely convinced that it’s a good idea but caught up in the romance of the ride anyway.
Humorous, poignant, earthy and definitely not politically correct, “The Last Cattle Drive” is a romp of a story with nuanced characters and scenes that will stick in your memory. It’s as much about the people as it is about the cattle drive, and Day has brilliantly captured the personalities of Kansas: of the residents and of the state itself.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book I've read several times!
First published in 1977-an instant bestseller and Book-of-the-Month Club selection—is now a modern-day Western classic.

Spangler Star Tukle is a Kansas cattleman with 6,000 acres and a low boiling point. (Tukle is so choleric that he empties a shotgun into a power mower that has offended him.)

This story is exceedingly well told and funny!
It was my added treat to hear Robert Day talk about the book in the fall of 1999. Everyone was hoping it would be made into a movie. Apparently the movie rights were sold but the movie was never made.

[Ashley Will · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book upset me because a cat is trapped in a box 24/7 and then thrown into a cattle pen. I know that's only one aspect of the novel but cats are my favorite animals and I cannot stop thinking about it. :(

[Clay Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story does capture the time, people and place in good detail. The cattle drive detour to tourist site was not believable. The painting of cowboy boots on the front book cover is uninteresting.

[Mace Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Last Cattle Drive"

"The Last Cattle Drive" by Robert Day is a captivating tribute to the strength, charm, and enduring spirit of Kansas, woven into the fabric of a fast-paced and engaging novel. Set against the vast expanse of the Kansas prairie, this book immerses readers in a journey that is as much about the landscape as it is about the colorful cast of characters who inhabit it.

At its core, "The Last Cattle Drive" is a tale of adventure, resilience, and the bonds of friendship forged in the face of adversity. Spangler Star Tukle, the Kansas cattleman with 6,000 acres and a low boiling point, emerges as a towering figure in the narrative—a rugged, no-nonsense cowboy with a complex inner world. Despite his gruff exterior, Tukle harbors a deep well of empathy and compassion, guided by a moral compass that transcends mere self-interest.

As the last of the old-time cowboys embarks on a final cattle drive across the heartland, readers are treated to a rich tapestry of Midwestern landscapes, from rolling plains to bustling towns, each brimming with its own unique charm and character. Day's descriptive prowess transports readers to the heart of the Kansas wilderness, where adventure awaits at every turn.

Moreover, "The Last Cattle Drive" is a testament to Day's skill as a storyteller. His prose is crisp and evocative, painting scenes that leap off the page with vivid detail. From the thundering hooves of the cattle to the whispering winds of the prairie, Day captures the essence of the Midwest with warmth and affection.

While the novel moves at a brisk pace, there are moments of quiet reflection that allow readers to savor the beauty and tranquility of the Kansas landscape. Tukle's journey is one of transformation—a journey marked by growth, introspection, and a gradual thawing of the walls he has built around his heart. As he confronts the challenges that lie ahead, readers witness a gradual evolution in his character—a softening of rough edges, a newfound sense of camaraderie, and a deeper appreciation for the bonds of friendship that transcend social boundaries.

"The Last Cattle Drive" is a delightful read that captures the strength and charm of Kansas and its many characters. With its fast-paced narrative, evocative prose, and compelling character development, this novel is sure to appeal to readers who appreciate a good old-fashioned adventure set against the backdrop of America's heartland. Through Tukle's journey, Day reminds us of the timeless virtues of courage, compassion, and the enduring power of the human spirit—a testament to the resilience and redemption that can be found amidst the vast expanse of the Kansas prairie.

[Brenda Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book we have chosen to read as a family this summer. I can't help but think that if the boys would have read this in English class, they may have enjoyed school more. But this book will never be taught in public school - it's too raw. It's raw in a way that honors the rural male experience. Sometimes I wonder just what we lose when we are too afraid to teach something real.

I enjoyed the trip through familiar Kansas territory with Leo, Spengler, Spengler's wife Opal and the only person who knew what he was doing - Jed. There was also the horses, a crazy-in-the-head heifer, 250 head of cattle (give or take), and a cat that may or may not have had rabies. The drive went through Woodbine and White City and even pauses for an awkward moment at the White City bar....been there. They eat at the Brookville hotel and visit the Garden of Eden, shoot at a helicopter, survive a close one with a tornado, go in and out of jail and wind up at the Kansas City Stockyards. And there are plenty of laughs along the way.

I look forward to talking about the book with the boys and hearing their thoughts. It's a good book to digest. It's provocative. It's hilarious. Read it and enjoy the characters for the rascals they are. Don't read it if you are easily offended. Or then again, maybe you should. And then when you are finished, think about what it all might mean...or don't. The book isn't here to preach. It's here to present us with a few crusty, high-spirited prairie folk that many of us on the plains know today or remember fondly. This book is for Jed.

[Joe Stack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun story to read. I found the writing superb and the characters interesting and amusing. The author's descriptive writing provides readers with distinct images of parts of Kansas and makes you part of the story's cattle drive, believing that it really could happen as it does in the story. The author puts you in Kansas, puts you in the cattle drive, and puts you alongside the characters. The author's writing makes each major character, and some of the secondary characters too, real people with their eccentric or quirky ways. Some of characterizations may be stretched for dramatic and humorous purposes, the characters - with perhaps one exception - still come off real and likable. Readers who dislike profanity probably should stay away from this book. I think the profanity added to the humor and certainly added to the personality of the main character, Spangler. The humor is not just from the events that happen, but also the way the author plays the characters off of each other. Very entertaining book with inspired writing.

[Zoann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always been confused between this book and books by David Dary. I'm glad I read the 30th anniversary edition, because the author added notes on questions he frequently got about the book--was it autobiographical (somewhat), will it be a movie (maybe, someday), were the locations in the book real places (yes). This is a hyper-local book for me, set as it is in Hays, Gorham and surrounding areas. Day also used the filming of Paper Moon, a real movie filmed in 1973, as the basis for one of the scenes in his book. My Dad's car was an extra in Paper Moon (just the car, not Dad, a disappointment to him). Of course, there are jarring notes because the book is definitely of its time--dialogue and characters that are racist and sexist. But all in all, enjoyable few hours (it's a small book).

[Susanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book at a reading at UNK by the author and have been putting off starting this book for years. I absolutely loved it! The character development is the best of any book that I have read in a long time, and I found myself laughing out loud throughout it. The gruff rancher, his feisty wife, and the school-teacher hired hand are all well-rounded, and the plot has many interesting twists. There is a little "cat abuse" that turns out OK and some violence, but it is more from anger out of frustration. This book will be enjoyed by many, but especially those with rural roots. Supposedly the plot and several characters of movie City Slicker were plagiarized from this novel.

[Lana · Rating 3 out of 5]

My sister, a high school librarian, had recommended this book to me for years. She said that she would recommend it to boys who hated to read and that most of them came back asking for more books like it. So I was excited when a nearby library selected it for its monthly book discussion and asked me to lead the session. To be honest, there was little about it I enjoyed other than the descriptions of the land farm and ranch life. Having grown up on a farm/ranch in central Kansas I did find those descriptions to be accurate and evocative. Most of the characters were a different story; My sister is usually a good judge of literature, but I can't agree with her on this one.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting and humorous work of fiction that reads like a travelogue. It is the story of a modern day cattle drive that takes place in the 1970's and goes from Hays, Kansas to Kansas City, Missouri. Being a Kansas native and having been to many of the places mentioned in the book, it was fun to follow the path of the cattle drive. The four main characters are quirky and larger than life and greatly add to the humor of the book.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were parts of this that made me think of the movie City Slickers. Overall, this was an enjoyable read and it was easy to get lost in the book. There are things I really loved and really disliked about each character. There a few things of personal preference that are holding back that fourth stars.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, reminded me of McMurtry, especially the humor and quirky characters. The politically incorrect dialog was hard to stomach at times, but was realistic because I grew up hearing talk like that.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

More like 2.5, as it was a quick read (1 day once I started). It was fun to read about towns I recognized and it matched my parents' descriptions of rural Kansas in this time period (though Pittsburg and not Hays), but something just seemed off to me and made me just say "meh".

[Pablo Rodriguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting enough story that is told well. None of the characters in the story is particularly likeable though; that lowers my evaluation of the book. Having lived in Kansas, I appreciate the setting of the story.

[Kathie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious and poignant at the same time. (Hated the girlfriend, though.)

[Becca Schleif · Rating 3 out of 5]

This definitely wasn’t my kind of book but it was still a good book nonetheless.

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for a library book discussion series. I did find it entertaining and definitely humorous in some parts, but it definitely does not reflect what a real cattle drive would be like which was I was expecting when I began the book since the book discussion series was on the history of the settlement of the West. The Last Cattle Drive is more like a parody of what an actual cattle drive would be like. In the story, a young man recently graduated from college has gone to Gorham, KS to teach. He decides to find a summer job and ends up working for a rancher named Spangler. Spangler is a very colorful character who spouts profanity constantly, blusters his way through all kinds of situation, and uses physical violence to resolve his frustrations---even shooting a lawn mower. When he gets upset about what the trucking companies want to charge him for shipping his cattle, Leo suggests that they 'drive' the cattle to Kansas City---not really serious intending it. However, Spangler looks into and his wife Opal comes up with a daily plan how they can achieve this so at the end of the summer, Spangler, his taciturn elderly cowhand (who is the only one who really knows what he is doing with the cattle), Leo and Opal begin driving 250 steers from Gorham, KS (near Hays, KS) to Kansas City. They encounter all kinds of challenges and obstacles on their journey. The book was interesting and entertaining but I did not like the views on women presented at times in the book---even if they were probably supposed to just be humorous and part of the overall colorful character of Spangler. Spangler's wife, Opal. is portrayed as an intelligent, capable, and strong woman, there are instances throughout the book when women are portrayed as not much more than sex objects.

[Kaite Stover · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a bemused and benevolent and flatly observational tone, Leo narrates the tale of a modern day cattle drive led by Spangler Star Tukle. After the truckers raise prices for hauling cattle to the Kansas City stockyards, Spangler decides to organize his own cattle drive ably asisted by his wife, Opal and their hired hands, Jed & Leo. Along the way the drovers encounter a tornado, movie crew, a stone Garden of Eden, a drunken night of dinner and debauchery at an historic hotel, and some helicopters helping the herd along in Kansas City.

Great re-imagining of the mythical American cowboy and his perennial conflict with civilized society. The pacing is quick, the story engaging, and the characters, while colorful and broadly drawn, are likeable. A modern midwestern with a strong sense of place. Readers should be aware of the spicy, ribald dialogue. The most clever use of invective I've ever read. Suitable for book groups and a good western for readers who don't like westerns.

Used in Book Group Buzz 2/08; Book Doctors 3/08; HRSR

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used to live in Kansas, and spent a bit of time familiarizing myself with the Kansas literary scene. Robert Day is a Kansas City boy who lived in D.C. when he wrote this novel. It is a thin volume, but very memorable. I read it over ten years ago, and still remember it as if I had read it yesterday. Spangler is one of the most original characters I have run across in some time. And driving a herd of cattle down I-70 from Hays to Kansas City to protest the rates of those *&^&%&* railroads is as original a modern cowboy story as you'll ever come across. Even if you don't like cowboy stories. I read it out loud to a group of about 40 people from various backgrounds over a period of weeks, and they adored it, too. It does that to people.

[Jon Angell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed much of this book. It made me chuckle several times, and had me rootin' for the main characters... It reminded me of some of the ol' rough rural cowboy types such as in "The Last Picture Show" the movie, I still need to read that book. It did have me turning pages hustling to find out what happened. As a cattleman and an out of state admirer of Kansas most of the author's depictions of the adventure on the land, cattle and cowboying was acceptable... until it came time to describing selling cattle in the stockyards and the dialog with the commission company representative. Sometimes in novels and movies you just need to forget that you know what you know and enjoy the presentation in the spirit is given... I'm torn between 3 stars and 4 stars... lets just say its a 3 1/2.

[Kathy KS · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first read this in the late 70s, I thought the depiction of Kansans seemed pretty close to many. I was an eastern Kansan then and definitely understood the Lawrence, Kansas City, and other eastern Kansas towns mentioned.

Since then I've lived in Western Kansas and worked for the trucking industry briefly, so I understood that part better. I've also lived in Central Kansas, not that far from Gorham, and I still believe that Day has captured many things: KC boy from KU adjusts to small town Kansas "west of Manhattan," teachers in small town schools and their summer jobs, even the move from sporty car to pickup.

Not for those that are offended by rougher language of the rancher-types, but full of laughs.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short novella, easy to read and a very good "take on vacation" book. It is about a Western Kansas rancher, Spangler, who is peeved about costs of transporting his cattle, and so decides to
drive his own cattle to the Kansas City stockyards via backroads. Taking place in modern times, the journey of the drive is fraught with obstacles to overcome, including a tornado. It is very humorous and Spangler, a character so fiercely independent and crusty, it will remind many of you of real like
Kansas you have known, especially if you grew up in small town Kansas. Written by Robert Day, a KU graduate.

[Robin Sandwina Holloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book when I was living in Kansas. I chose it for one of our adult book talks at the library. The story takes place in Kansas so many of the towns and places were familiar to the attendees at the book talk. It's a modern western. The main character, mad because of the rates the railroad charges to ship his cattle, decides to drive the cattle to Kansas City the old fashioned way. Anyway, I thought it was a good book, but the others at the book talk, mainly little old ladies, didn't care for the cowboy cussin'.

[Julianne]

I read this during college, in the 1980s and liked it very much. These stories about contemporary cowboys bumping up against the urban majority were new then. I think the book has stood the test of time, but now I'm noticing things I didn't notice before. Examples include racists & sexist references that I couldn't tell if were supposed to be details of characters or unexamined attitudes the author could have unpacked a bit more. Stopped me in my tracks a few times. Still, the book has a great structure and is worth the read.

[Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a Kansan, you will love it. If you are looking for a good story, some great laughs, colorful characters, you might just love it, too. Everyone should do something crazy at least once in his life. The characters in this novel did just that. I laughed so hard when Leo fell in the cattle dip that my cat, sitting on my lap at the moment, looked at me with alarm and ran from the room. Get the book, get a cat, and prepare to be entertained.