Cow Country

by Will James

Reprint (1927) of a cowboy classic cited in BCL3 . Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Genres: Westerns

260 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1973

About the author

Will James, artist and writer of the American West, was born Joseph Ernest Nephtali Dufault. It was during his creative years everyone grew to know him as Will James. During the next several years, he drifted, worked at several jobs, was briefly jailed for cattle rustling, served in the army, and began selling his sketches and in 1922 sold his first writing, Bucking Horse Riders. The sale of several books followed.

An artist and author of books about the American west and, in particular, horses, Will James wrote the 1926 book "Smoky the Cowhorse". It was awarded the John Newbery Medal in 1927, and remains in print to this day. Several movie adaptations of the story have been created, including a 1933 version that included Will James himself as the narrator.

His fictionalized autobiography, Lone Cowboy, was written in 1930. He also wrote Home Ranch (1935) and he wrote his last book, The American Cowboy, in 1942. In all, he wrote and illustrated 23 books.

In 1991, Will James was named a member of the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame.

Reviews

[Tom Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

eight short stories. written before he let the alcohol ruin him. Only three were of a lesser quality - one I could only give a 'C' as he spent too much effort in disparaging brogan wearing farmers which is wrong as those are the people I knew and they loved their profession every bit as much as the cowboy. I found it somewhat offensive. WJ should have stuck with what he knew - two were 'grade B' the rest were all 'grade A' IMO. The drawings are mostly all first rate. Though to be sure, his horses and cattle are much better than his humans. I might have to try 'Lone Cowboy' again; though that book was written when he started his spiral down. 'Smoky' the illustrated classic edition of 1929 is on its way.

Great dust jacket art. He struggled some with his oils. Never was in control of his drinking long enough to learn and practice.

[Harron68 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read one of his other books on cowboy life. Fictionalized, but accurate in terms of the difficult, often dangerous existence and simple pleasures of outdoor living. His personal slang adds immeasurably to the enjoyment. The stories are not detailed "how tos" nor romanticized living. They do put readers into the general atmosphere of how cowboys lived, got along, and relaxed when Winters drove them nearer bunkhouses. Those days are gone, but to know, to truly get the challenges to ranching today, one needs the kind of perspective Will brought through words and beautiful sketches.
One of the reviewers referred to James later problems with alcohol (a not unusual addiction),but there were health issues from concussions caused by falls from horseback as well. James gives everyone a glimpse into life there and then. The westerns of film and TV highlight rare instances so make the job appear more dangerous, more exciting and more phony. I urge every American to pick any of the James' collections of stories to savor the taste of real men doing hard work for low pay. They helped feed the nation as much as "sodbustin'" farmers. Much obliged fer your time.

[Sequoyah Branham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Will James does not disappoint in the categories of story telling and old west style.

I will note that this is a collection of about eight stories not one big novel.

Overall a really great book true to Will James style!!

[Kaycee Monnens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really a quick read once I set out some time for it. It was well-written in that 1920’s cowboy style that only James can pull off. This book centered me once again on the land I love so much.

[Lesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like his work

[Elissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A captivating and fun read about the real "wild west" told in typical Will James cowboy slang through a series of short stories highlighting various aspects of life in cow country.

What more could you ask for with great language and fabulous charcoal/pen and ink sketches of range life?

"These mustangs, if handled right, can be broke and made gentle as any barn-raised horse. They're powerful strong for their size and what there is of 'em is sure enough all horse." (p. 19)

"If a rope popped, or both horse and critter went down in a mix-up, it was all the more fun and agreeing to that cowboy's heart-beats." (p. 185)

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like I was getting an insider's peek into the old-time cowboys' everyday lives. In fact, while reading this I felt like I was an insider as well! The chapters were written like short stories. Some were connected, some not. It was a charming read. It was ideal for reading in small segments (while breastfeeding, waiting at the dentist, etc) because I could get right back into the story easily after leaving off in the middle of a paragraph. I was interested enough to want to pick it back up again, but not so eager that I couldn't set it down.

[Sophia Eloise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love loved it. Made me smile, laugh, and gasp. Love the way it's written, in the dialogue of the cowboys. A short collection of stories, lovely to read all the way through or just one.