Cast a Long Shadow

by Wayne D. Overholser

Book by Wayne D. Overholser

Genres: Fiction

191 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1955

About the author

Wayne D. Overholser (born September 4, 1906 in Pomeroy, Washington; died August 27, 1996 in Boulder, Colorado) was an American Western writer.

Overholser won the 1953 First Spur Award for best novel for Lawman using the pseudonym Lee Leighton. In 1955 he won the 1954 (second) Spur Award for The Violent Land. He also used the pseudonyms John S. Daniels, Dan J. Stevens and Joseph Wayne.

Reviews

[Van Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much Better Than The Lame Movie Version

Wayne D. Overholster’s western saga about a dispute over ownership of land is tolerable entertainment. All the cliches of a sturdy western occur in this clash between big business and an homesteaders. The hero starts out working for the villainous land company that disputes ownership of property held by farmers. He takes us residence at the local hotel and acts as a go-between the hotel mistress and the land company boss. Eventually, the conflicted protagonist quits working for the land company and reveals his role as a spy for the land company. Gradually, he changes sides and winds up wedding the daughter of one homesteader. Predictably, things come to a boil and the homesteaders and the land company that has disputed their right to the land clash. By this time, the footloose protagonist has married the daughter of one of the leading lights. “Cast A Long Shadow” qualifies as a sprawling opus with several primary characters. The Audie Murphy western that was made from an adaptation of “Cast A Long Shadow” shares little in common with the novel. The film depicted a rugged cattle drive to save a debt-ridden ranch. Although both novel and film have the same title, they share little else in common.

[Robert Hepple · Rating 4 out of 5]

First published in 1957, Cast A Long Shadow is a western novel set in Colorado in the late 19th century. The plot involves the familiar theme of a large corporation using legal chicanery and coercion to remove farmers and small ranchers from a valley which it wishes to acquire. The character development is unusually strong and well achieved in a genre that often does things by the numbers, but this is not surprising given the skill and experience of the author.

[Kellyt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written story of a struggle over the boundaries of a former Spanish Land Grant near the Spanish Peaks in Southeastern Colorado. The author knows the country well which adds to the quality of the writing. It is not a fast moving plot like many Westerns but it has a good feel to it.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow, i was about to give up , thinking there were no more 5 star books in my collection, this was great

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful in every way