Living the passing of the Old West, 03 Oct 2008
"Obviously (Teddy) had kissing in mind, and possibly matrimony as well ... After all, my Sundays were mainly dull. I suppose I could have stayed at home and hung curtains. But fighting off Teddy might be more interesting ... I didn't want much from Teddy, but I did want something - if not from him, then from somebody, or maybe just from life itself." - Nellie Courtright, in TELEGRAPH DAYS

Larry McMurtry is arguably an iconic writer of Old West themes. In his magnificent Lonesome Dove, the storyline was both character and event driven. In TELEGRAPH DAYS, the former is more the case and events serve almost as props. The chief characters are those of Nellie Courtright and William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody and, in a larger sense, that of the Old West, the passing into history of which Nellie serves as witness.

Nellie's story is told in the first person, and we meet her at age 22 in 1876 when she and her 17-year old brother, Jackson, lose their father to suicide, their mother and siblings having long since perished between Virginia and a homestead on a grassy tract of the West not yet part of a Territory. Abandoning their home, the two move to the tiny prairie town of Rita Blanca, where Jackson becomes the deputy sheriff and Nellie the Telegraph Lady. Later, Nellie relocates to North Platte to become Buffalo Bill's majordomo managing his land and investments, returns to Rita Blanca to become mayor, co-owns a newspaper in Tombstone, and settles down for the final leg in Southern California, where the air was "said to be so soft".

Nellie is feisty, independent-minded, sexually liberated, flirtatious, intelligent, multi-talented and possessing a dry sense of humor. It's a pleasure to observe as she interacts with some of the most famous personages of the age, including Cody, Jessie James, William ("Billy the Kid") Bonnie, the dysfunctional Earp brothers, "Doc" Holliday, and General of the Army William T. Sherman. And, it's in their company that she lives the passing of an era:

"So the years sailed on and the Old West, the West of Dodge City, Rita Blanca, and the O.K. Corral, quickly receded into myth. Over in Victorville, California, Western films were being rolled out by the dozen. I even wrote a couple myself ..."

TELEGRAPH DAYS may have a special poignancy for one born in the years immediately following WWII. In the fifties and sixties and into the seventies, westerns were all the rage on both the big and small screens, and our heroes were Hoppy, Roy, Gene, the Cisco Kid, the Lone Ranger, Paladin, Rin Tin-Tin, the Duke, Rowdy, Maverick, the Cartwrights, Marshal Dillon, and the Man with No Name. Nowadays, such films are rarely produced. Even Clint Eastwood has abandoned the genre. So, in a way, we've seen our own passing of the Old West, and it adds a special sadness as we ride on, spurs a-janglin', as sundown approaches.

More Berrybender than Lonesome, 07 Jun 2008
A McMurtry western is always something of a treat and, although I suspect his greatest work is already written (in the Lonesome Dove books) he continues to entertain with his tales of the mythical West. This one's no disappointment, and is more in the style of the Berrybender Narratives than the epic scope of Lonesome Dove or Commanche Moon - more humour, less menace. If you have enjoyed his more recent work, this will not disappoint.

A rollicking tale., 22 Nov 2007
A fast moving and enjoyable story with a sympathetic heroine. However, I felt that the ending was rather truncated,and disappointing after the rest of the book.

Telegraph Days? More like Pornograph Days!, 07 Nov 2007
OK it was a brilliantly written novel, but I was suprised it contained so much sex. I'm not an old woman, but still it had me going a bit red and wondering who's looking over my shoulder as I read it on the bus. Yet despite all the rude bits, it's great. McMurtry is without a doubt the master of Western writing and this is no exception. It has everything you could want from a Western novel and a lot that you might not, but are glad it's there anyway. I'd recommend this book to anyone... but maybe not my granny. Eek!

Tongue in Cheek Look at the Old West, 20 Jun 2006
Westerns have always been morality tales. Black hats and white hats fight it out to civilize the frontier. Sometimes the identities shift as the black hats become wealthy ranchers trying to keep farmers (white hats) off range land. The ladies of joy are always treated with respect, even if they don't sleep on the right side of the bed covers. After all, women deserve respect.

Larry McMurtry continues his look at strong, unconventional women in the West by creating an unforgettable character, Nellie Cartwright, who is bigger than the West. While some will compare her to Tasmin Berrybender, Tasmin is a weak reed compared to Nellie.

Nellie comes from a fine Virginia family that has fallen on hard times after her father chooses to head West . . . a place where he's not well equipped to thrive. Nellie takes her brother, Jackson, into town to start a new life after their father "suicided himself". Nellie has an eye for men, but they have a bigger yen for her than she usually has for them. Nellie does, however, enjoy a good toss in the hay with an appealing and energetic man of her choice. Nellie persuades the local sheriff, who proposes marriage early and often, to take on Jackson as a deputy despite his inexperience. Jackson soon proves his worth and becomes a legend for wiping out six gunfighters. Ironically, Jackson proves to be a poor shot for the rest of his life.

Nellie decides to earn her keep by becoming the local telegrapher. She soon has messages heading all over the West.

Mr. McMurtry uses Nellie to pop illusions about Western characters as he sends her all over just in time to meet many of the most famous people. She works for Buffalo Bill. One of the Earp brothers proposes to her. She meets Billy the Kid. She travels to Tombstone just in time for the shootout at the O.K. Corral. After the West is over, she also travels in movie circles as the legends are born on the silver screen.

The book's plot seems very contrived which is its weakness. Nellie's unique qualities and deeply practical orientation serve as a breath of fresh air in the Western genre. Since I love character development so much, I found Telegraph Days to be a fun read. Mr. McMurtry's sense of humor is strong, and you'll find yourself chuckling along with him.

Should we take this book seriously? Not really. Instead, Telegraph Days should caution us about our need to make people into more than they are . . . a lesson that still applies today.

Living the passing of the Old West, 03 Oct 2008
"Obviously (Teddy) had kissing in mind, and possibly matrimony as well ... After all, my Sundays were mainly dull. I suppose I could have stayed at home and hung curtains. But fighting off Teddy might be more interesting ... I didn't want much from Teddy, but I did want something - if not from him, then from somebody, or maybe just from life itself." - Nellie Courtright, in TELEGRAPH DAYS

Larry McMurtry is arguably an iconic writer of Old West themes. In his magnificent Lonesome Dove, the storyline was both character and event driven. In TELEGRAPH DAYS, the former is more the case and events serve almost as props. The chief characters are those of Nellie Courtright and William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody and, in a larger sense, that of the Old West, the passing into history of which Nellie serves as witness.

Nellie's story is told in the first person, and we meet her at age 22 in 1876 when she and her 17-year old brother, Jackson, lose their father to suicide, their mother and siblings having long since perished between Virginia and a homestead on a grassy tract of the West not yet part of a Territory. Abandoning their home, the two move to the tiny prairie town of Rita Blanca, where Jackson becomes the deputy sheriff and Nellie the Telegraph Lady. Later, Nellie relocates to North Platte to become Buffalo Bill's majordomo managing his land and investments, returns to Rita Blanca to become mayor, co-owns a newspaper in Tombstone, and settles down for the final leg in Southern California, where the air was "said to be so soft".

Nellie is feisty, independent-minded, sexually liberated, flirtatious, intelligent, multi-talented and possessing a dry sense of humor. It's a pleasure to observe as she interacts with some of the most famous personages of the age, including Cody, Jessie James, William ("Billy the Kid") Bonnie, the dysfunctional Earp brothers, "Doc" Holliday, and General of the Army William T. Sherman. And, it's in their company that she lives the passing of an era:

"So the years sailed on and the Old West, the West of Dodge City, Rita Blanca, and the O.K. Corral, quickly receded into myth. Over in Victorville, California, Western films were being rolled out by the dozen. I even wrote a couple myself ..."

TELEGRAPH DAYS may have a special poignancy for one born in the years immediately following WWII. In the fifties and sixties and into the seventies, westerns were all the rage on both the big and small screens, and our heroes were Hoppy, Roy, Gene, the Cisco Kid, the Lone Ranger, Paladin, Rin Tin-Tin, the Duke, Rowdy, Maverick, the Cartwrights, Marshal Dillon, and the Man with No Name. Nowadays, such films are rarely produced. Even Clint Eastwood has abandoned the genre. So, in a way, we've seen our own passing of the Old West, and it adds a special sadness as we ride on, spurs a-janglin', as sundown approaches.

More Berrybender than Lonesome, 07 Jun 2008
A McMurtry western is always something of a treat and, although I suspect his greatest work is already written (in the Lonesome Dove books) he continues to entertain with his tales of the mythical West. This one's no disappointment, and is more in the style of the Berrybender Narratives than the epic scope of Lonesome Dove or Commanche Moon - more humour, less menace. If you have enjoyed his more recent work, this will not disappoint.

A rollicking tale., 22 Nov 2007
A fast moving and enjoyable story with a sympathetic heroine. However, I felt that the ending was rather truncated,and disappointing after the rest of the book.

Telegraph Days? More like Pornograph Days!, 07 Nov 2007
OK it was a brilliantly written novel, but I was suprised it contained so much sex. I'm not an old woman, but still it had me going a bit red and wondering who's looking over my shoulder as I read it on the bus. Yet despite all the rude bits, it's great. McMurtry is without a doubt the master of Western writing and this is no exception. It has everything you could want from a Western novel and a lot that you might not, but are glad it's there anyway. I'd recommend this book to anyone... but maybe not my granny. Eek!

Tongue in Cheek Look at the Old West, 20 Jun 2006
Westerns have always been morality tales. Black hats and white hats fight it out to civilize the frontier. Sometimes the identities shift as the black hats become wealthy ranchers trying to keep farmers (white hats) off range land. The ladies of joy are always treated with respect, even if they don't sleep on the right side of the bed covers. After all, women deserve respect.

Larry McMurtry continues his look at strong, unconventional women in the West by creating an unforgettable character, Nellie Cartwright, who is bigger than the West. While some will compare her to Tasmin Berrybender, Tasmin is a weak reed compared to Nellie.

Nellie comes from a fine Virginia family that has fallen on hard times after her father chooses to head West . . . a place where he's not well equipped to thrive. Nellie takes her brother, Jackson, into town to start a new life after their father "suicided himself". Nellie has an eye for men, but they have a bigger yen for her than she usually has for them. Nellie does, however, enjoy a good toss in the hay with an appealing and energetic man of her choice. Nellie persuades the local sheriff, who proposes marriage early and often, to take on Jackson as a deputy despite his inexperience. Jackson soon proves his worth and becomes a legend for wiping out six gunfighters. Ironically, Jackson proves to be a poor shot for the rest of his life.

Nellie decides to earn her keep by becoming the local telegrapher. She soon has messages heading all over the West.

Mr. McMurtry uses Nellie to pop illusions about Western characters as he sends her all over just in time to meet many of the most famous people. She works for Buffalo Bill. One of the Earp brothers proposes to her. She meets Billy the Kid. She travels to Tombstone just in time for the shootout at the O.K. Corral. After the West is over, she also travels in movie circles as the legends are born on the silver screen.

The book's plot seems very contrived which is its weakness. Nellie's unique qualities and deeply practical orientation serve as a breath of fresh air in the Western genre. Since I love character development so much, I found Telegraph Days to be a fun read. Mr. McMurtry's sense of humor is strong, and you'll find yourself chuckling along with him.

Should we take this book seriously? Not really. Instead, Telegraph Days should caution us about our need to make people into more than they are . . . a lesson that still applies today.

Best book I've read for a very long time, 07 Apr 2008
I heard this reviewed on Radio 4 where it was raved about and ordered it straight away. This really is an amazing book. My copy is only two weeks old but already three people have read all 300 pages of it!

Loyalty, death, faith, love ... , 06 Apr 2008
This book was an amazing read. It was recommended to our bookclub but was not our usual style or subject. From the off I was there. I was filled with fear and trepidation. When it was brutal, I wanted to hide under the sheets but my stomach churned and I had to read on to see if they got through each ordeal. They may have been wounded physically, but they grew as people. Their particular brand of loyalty ran deep through their long family history which unravels as the story continues with an utterly skillful mastery of suspense and terror in keeping themselves and eachother alive until the final unveiling. The good characters had a thread of astounding strength and bravery that ran through them all - Indian, white, mexican, adults and children alike. Despite the horrors, they kept their compassion towards their fellow man and animals and relied heavily on their faith, which was tested at every turn. They would give their life for eachother. The bad were truly brutal, and you were tempted to say how appalled you were with the cruelty of the Indians but you had to remember that some of their cruelty was linked to their customs but also that the whites and mexicans were just as cruel without regard for race, creed or gender. Religion and spirituality were explored in equal measure and in such a huge expanse of territory with a strong spiritual heritage, it was easy to comprehend how the indigenous population relied on their traditions of faith in the spirits, but you marvelled at how the christians held onto to their faith in God and you understood better why they tried. Highly recommended.

An antidote to modern life , 24 Mar 2008
I really enjoyed this book. It was a walk back in time to a simple and brutally honest period in history.

More than that is was so refreshing to read about pure and simple values so strongly held and fought for; a real antidote to todays moral vacuum.

A story about love and loyalty set amongst the often savage American frontier, where both the white settlers and Native Indians fought desperately to cling onto the lives they held so dear. The book is brilliantly even-handed portraying the picture from both perspectives.



A western thriller, mixed with Apache mysticism., 12 Mar 2008
I wanted to read this book after watching the movie "The Missing" which is based on this book. The movie I thought was excellent but, as is often the case, the book is even better as it enables you to delve deeper into the characters. There was even a surprising amount of humor mixed into the story that was not in the movie. The story of Samuel Jones and his daughter Maggie is told in stark yet humanistic terms, tough related each comes from a completely different world. The story is a quest to free Maggie's own daughter who has been taken captive by Apaches. I loved the mystery and native American mysticism woven into the story. This a beautiful though sometimes brutal read that I highly recommend. For another excellent read set in the modern American west, I have to give a shout out for "Across the High Lonesome!"

The Last Ride is a good, fulfilling journey, 07 Feb 2005
Eidson's the last ride forms a sort of trilogy with his previous books All God's Children and St Agnes' Stand. The Last Ride, made over into The Missing, is a solid example of how the book is better than the film. Though a decent film, the Last Ride is a much better character study (books have that advantage). However, the richness of the character interaction makes this a delightful read. The conversations are well thought out, the plot keeps a good pace, and you do immerse yourself in the dust of the desert. Characters and conversations stay with you after you're done, I even went back to re-read parts between Maggie and her father.

Summed up:
If you have seen the film, and want to read how it should have been, read this. If you like Western-type novels with good, original characters, try it. A good, solid, representation of its genre, you're likely to enjoy The Last Ride.

Living the passing of the Old West, 03 Oct 2008
"Obviously (Teddy) had kissing in mind, and possibly matrimony as well ... After all, my Sundays were mainly dull. I suppose I could have stayed at home and hung curtains. But fighting off Teddy might be more interesting ... I didn't want much from Teddy, but I did want something - if not from him, then from somebody, or maybe just from life itself." - Nellie Courtright, in TELEGRAPH DAYS

Larry McMurtry is arguably an iconic writer of Old West themes. In his magnificent Lonesome Dove, the storyline was both character and event driven. In TELEGRAPH DAYS, the former is more the case and events serve almost as props. The chief characters are those of Nellie Courtright and William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody and, in a larger sense, that of the Old West, the passing into history of which Nellie serves as witness.

Nellie's story is told in the first person, and we meet her at age 22 in 1876 when she and her 17-year old brother, Jackson, lose their father to suicide, their mother and siblings having long since perished between Virginia and a homestead on a grassy tract of the West not yet part of a Territory. Abandoning their home, the two move to the tiny prairie town of Rita Blanca, where Jackson becomes the deputy sheriff and Nellie the Telegraph Lady. Later, Nellie relocates to North Platte to become Buffalo Bill's majordomo managing his land and investments, returns to Rita Blanca to become mayor, co-owns a newspaper in Tombstone, and settles down for the final leg in Southern California, where the air was "said to be so soft".

Nellie is feisty, independent-minded, sexually liberated, flirtatious, intelligent, multi-talented and possessing a dry sense of humor. It's a pleasure to observe as she interacts with some of the most famous personages of the age, including Cody, Jessie James, William ("Billy the Kid") Bonnie, the dysfunctional Earp brothers, "Doc" Holliday, and General of the Army William T. Sherman. And, it's in their company that she lives the passing of an era:

"So the years sailed on and the Old West, the West of Dodge City, Rita Blanca, and the O.K. Corral, quickly receded into myth. Over in Victorville, California, Western films were being rolled out by the dozen. I even wrote a couple myself ..."

TELEGRAPH DAYS may have a special poignancy for one born in the years immediately following WWII. In the fifties and sixties and into the seventies, westerns were all the rage on both the big and small screens, and our heroes were Hoppy, Roy, Gene, the Cisco Kid, the Lone Ranger, Paladin, Rin Tin-Tin, the Duke, Rowdy, Maverick, the Cartwrights, Marshal Dillon, and the Man with No Name. Nowadays, such films are rarely produced. Even Clint Eastwood has abandoned the genre. So, in a way, we've seen our own passing of the Old West, and it adds a special sadness as we ride on, spurs a-janglin', as sundown approaches.

More Berrybender than Lonesome, 07 Jun 2008
A McMurtry western is always something of a treat and, although I suspect his greatest work is already written (in the Lonesome Dove books) he continues to entertain with his tales of the mythical West. This one's no disappointment, and is more in the style of the Berrybender Narratives than the epic scope of Lonesome Dove or Commanche Moon - more humour, less menace. If you have enjoyed his more recent work, this will not disappoint.

A rollicking tale., 22 Nov 2007
A fast moving and enjoyable story with a sympathetic heroine. However, I felt that the ending was rather truncated,and disappointing after the rest of the book.

Telegraph Days? More like Pornograph Days!, 07 Nov 2007
OK it was a brilliantly written novel, but I was suprised it contained so much sex. I'm not an old woman, but still it had me going a bit red and wondering who's looking over my shoulder as I read it on the bus. Yet despite all the rude bits, it's great. McMurtry is without a doubt the master of Western writing and this is no exception. It has everything you could want from a Western novel and a lot that you might not, but are glad it's there anyway. I'd recommend this book to anyone... but maybe not my granny. Eek!

Tongue in Cheek Look at the Old West, 20 Jun 2006
Westerns have always been morality tales. Black hats and white hats fight it out to civilize the frontier. Sometimes the identities shift as the black hats become wealthy ranchers trying to keep farmers (white hats) off range land. The ladies of joy are always treated with respect, even if they don't sleep on the right side of the bed covers. After all, women deserve respect.

Larry McMurtry continues his look at strong, unconventional women in the West by creating an unforgettable character, Nellie Cartwright, who is bigger than the West. While some will compare her to Tasmin Berrybender, Tasmin is a weak reed compared to Nellie.

Nellie comes from a fine Virginia family that has fallen on hard times after her father chooses to head West . . . a place where he's not well equipped to thrive. Nellie takes her brother, Jackson, into town to start a new life after their father "suicided himself". Nellie has an eye for men, but they have a bigger yen for her than she usually has for them. Nellie does, however, enjoy a good toss in the hay with an appealing and energetic man of her choice. Nellie persuades the local sheriff, who proposes marriage early and often, to take on Jackson as a deputy despite his inexperience. Jackson soon proves his worth and becomes a legend for wiping out six gunfighters. Ironically, Jackson proves to be a poor shot for the rest of his life.

Nellie decides to earn her keep by becoming the local telegrapher. She soon has messages heading all over the West.

Mr. McMurtry uses Nellie to pop illusions about Western characters as he sends her all over just in time to meet many of the most famous people. She works for Buffalo Bill. One of the Earp brothers proposes to her. She meets Billy the Kid. She travels to Tombstone just in time for the shootout at the O.K. Corral. After the West is over, she also travels in movie circles as the legends are born on the silver screen.

The book's plot seems very contrived which is its weakness. Nellie's unique qualities and deeply practical orientation serve as a breath of fresh air in the Western genre. Since I love character development so much, I found Telegraph Days to be a fun read. Mr. McMurtry's sense of humor is strong, and you'll find yourself chuckling along with him.

Should we take this book seriously? Not really. Instead, Telegraph Days should caution us about our need to make people into more than they are . . . a lesson that still applies today.

Best book I've read for a very long time, 07 Apr 2008
I heard this reviewed on Radio 4 where it was raved about and ordered it straight away. This really is an amazing book. My copy is only two weeks old but already three people have read all 300 pages of it!

Loyalty, death, faith, love ... , 06 Apr 2008
This book was an amazing read. It was recommended to our bookclub but was not our usual style or subject. From the off I was there. I was filled with fear and trepidation. When it was brutal, I wanted to hide under the sheets but my stomach churned and I had to read on to see if they got through each ordeal. They may have been wounded physically, but they grew as people. Their particular brand of loyalty ran deep through their long family history which unravels as the story continues with an utterly skillful mastery of suspense and terror in keeping themselves and eachother alive until the final unveiling. The good characters had a thread of astounding strength and bravery that ran through them all - Indian, white, mexican, adults and children alike. Despite the horrors, they kept their compassion towards their fellow man and animals and relied heavily on their faith, which was tested at every turn. They would give their life for eachother. The bad were truly brutal, and you were tempted to say how appalled you were with the cruelty of the Indians but you had to remember that some of their cruelty was linked to their customs but also that the whites and mexicans were just as cruel without regard for race, creed or gender. Religion and spirituality were explored in equal measure and in such a huge expanse of territory with a strong spiritual heritage, it was easy to comprehend how the indigenous population relied on their traditions of faith in the spirits, but you marvelled at how the christians held onto to their faith in God and you understood better why they tried. Highly recommended.

An antidote to modern life , 24 Mar 2008
I really enjoyed this book. It was a walk back in time to a simple and brutally honest period in history.

More than that is was so refreshing to read about pure and simple values so strongly held and fought for; a real antidote to todays moral vacuum.

A story about love and loyalty set amongst the often savage American frontier, where both the white settlers and Native Indians fought desperately to cling onto the lives they held so dear. The book is brilliantly even-handed portraying the picture from both perspectives.



A western thriller, mixed with Apache mysticism., 12 Mar 2008
I wanted to read this book after watching the movie "The Missing" which is based on this book. The movie I thought was excellent but, as is often the case, the book is even better as it enables you to delve deeper into the characters. There was even a surprising amount of humor mixed into the story that was not in the movie. The story of Samuel Jones and his daughter Maggie is told in stark yet humanistic terms, tough related each comes from a completely different world. The story is a quest to free Maggie's own daughter who has been taken captive by Apaches. I loved the mystery and native American mysticism woven into the story. This a beautiful though sometimes brutal read that I highly recommend. For another excellent read set in the modern American west, I have to give a shout out for "Across the High Lonesome!"

The Last Ride is a good, fulfilling journey, 07 Feb 2005
Eidson's the last ride forms a sort of trilogy with his previous books All God's Children and St Agnes' Stand. The Last Ride, made over into The Missing, is a solid example of how the book is better than the film. Though a decent film, the Last Ride is a much better character study (books have that advantage). However, the richness of the character interaction makes this a delightful read. The conversations are well thought out, the plot keeps a good pace, and you do immerse yourself in the dust of the desert. Characters and conversations stay with you after you're done, I even went back to re-read parts between Maggie and her father.

Summed up:
If you have seen the film, and want to read how it should have been, read this. If you like Western-type novels with good, original characters, try it. A good, solid, representation of its genre, you're likely to enjoy The Last Ride.

Wonderfull, 16 Jul 2007
This book is written by a real wordsmith. The author paints pictures and takes the reader through a whole range of emotions. It,s the first Vardis Fisher I have read and I cannot wait to get my hands on another. For people who like tales of the west but cannot stand "meanwhile back at the ranch" literature, this is a must read.

A Gem Of A Book, 24 Apr 2007
This book is magnificent. I'm probably more of a romantic than I am accurate with my history, (scrap that, I'm definitely more of a romantic), but this book really made me feel like I was experiencing both the joy and hardship of what it was like to be a mountain man.
The inclusion of real life characters such as Hugh Glass & Jim Bridger is pure genius on the author's part.
The book is written very well with a hell of a lot of detail. In fact it is this level of detail that makes the book beautiful, vivid & harsh.
Well worth a read, (and for a remarkable price too).


Excellent story of a mountain man, trapper, 06 Jan 2004
I found that once I picked up this book I could not put it down. This book was made into a brilliant film starring robert redford called Jeremiah Jonhson. It describes the lonely life of the fur trapper who ends up declaring war on the whole crow nation. It also goes into great detail about the great knowledge of the mountain men, how they used the behaviour of animals and nature to their advantage when hunting and living off the land. The book is well paced and has lots of other characters, some that actually lived i.e Jim Bridger.
Simply a cracking read for those who like the western, pioneer adventure genre.

A wonderful story of the life of the Mountain Man, 15 Nov 2001
I was first completely captivated by this book many years ago and found it a moving and passionate account of the life of the Mountain Man and the interaction with the native american indians. The film made of this book starring Robert Redford is a touching and magnificent translation into the cinema of a fine book. Read the book and see the film - you won't be dissapointed.

Living the passing of the Old West, 03 Oct 2008
"Obviously (Teddy) had kissing in mind, and possibly matrimony as well ... After all, my Sundays were mainly dull. I suppose I could have stayed at home and hung curtains. But fighting off Teddy might be more interesting ... I didn't want much from Teddy, but I did want something - if not from him, then from somebody, or maybe just from life itself." - Nellie Courtright, in TELEGRAPH DAYS

Larry McMurtry is arguably an iconic writer of Old West themes. In his magnificent Lonesome Dove, the storyline was both character and event driven. In TELEGRAPH DAYS, the former is more the case and events serve almost as props. The chief characters are those of Nellie Courtright and William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody and, in a larger sense, that of the Old West, the passing into history of which Nellie serves as witness.

Nellie's story is told in the first person, and we meet her at age 22 in 1876 when she and her 17-year old brother, Jackson, lose their father to suicide, their mother and siblings having long since perished between Virginia and a homestead on a grassy tract of the West not yet part of a Territory. Abandoning their home, the two move to the tiny prairie town of Rita Blanca, where Jackson becomes the deputy sheriff and Nellie the Telegraph Lady. Later, Nellie relocates to North Platte to become Buffalo Bill's majordomo managing his land and investments, returns to Rita Blanca to become mayor, co-owns a newspaper in Tombstone, and settles down for the final leg in Southern California, where the air was "said to be so soft".

Nellie is feisty, independent-minded, sexually liberated, flirtatious, intelligent, multi-talented and possessing a dry sense of humor. It's a pleasure to observe as she interacts with some of the most famous personages of the age, including Cody, Jessie James, William ("Billy the Kid") Bonnie, the dysfunctional Earp brothers, "Doc" Holliday, and General of the Army William T. Sherman. And, it's in their company that she lives the passing of an era:

"So the years sailed on and the Old West, the West of Dodge City, Rita Blanca, and the O.K. Corral, quickly receded into myth. Over in Victorville, California, Western films were being rolled out by the dozen. I even wrote a couple myself ..."

TELEGRAPH DAYS may have a special poignancy for one born in the years immediately following WWII. In the fifties and sixties and into the seventies, westerns were all the rage on both the big and small screens, and our heroes were Hoppy, Roy, Gene, the Cisco Kid, the Lone Ranger, Paladin, Rin Tin-Tin, the Duke, Rowdy, Maverick, the Cartwrights, Marshal Dillon, and the Man with No Name. Nowadays, such films are rarely produced. Even Clint Eastwood has abandoned the genre. So, in a way, we've seen our own passing of the Old West, and it adds a special sadness as we ride on, spurs a-janglin', as sundown approaches.

More Berrybender than Lonesome, 07 Jun 2008
A McMurtry western is always something of a treat and, although I suspect his greatest work is already written (in the Lonesome Dove books) he continues to entertain with his tales of the mythical West. This one's no disappointment, and is more in the style of the Berrybender Narratives than the epic scope of Lonesome Dove or Commanche Moon - more humour, less menace. If you have enjoyed his more recent work, this will not disappoint.

A rollicking tale., 22 Nov 2007
A fast moving and enjoyable story with a sympathetic heroine. However, I felt that the ending was rather truncated,and disappointing after the rest of the book.

Telegraph Days? More like Pornograph Days!, 07 Nov 2007
OK it was a brilliantly written novel, but I was suprised it contained so much sex. I'm not an old woman, but still it had me going a bit red and wondering who's looking over my shoulder as I read it on the bus. Yet despite all the rude bits, it's great. McMurtry is without a doubt the master of Western writing and this is no exception. It has everything you could want from a Western novel and a lot that you might not, but are glad it's there anyway. I'd recommend this book to anyone... but maybe not my granny. Eek!

Tongue in Cheek Look at the Old West, 20 Jun 2006
Westerns have always been morality tales. Black hats and white hats fight it out to civilize the frontier. Sometimes the identities shift as the black hats become wealthy ranchers trying to keep farmers (white hats) off range land. The ladies of joy are always treated with respect, even if they don't sleep on the right side of the bed covers. After all, women deserve respect.

Larry McMurtry continues his look at strong, unconventional women in the West by creating an unforgettable character, Nellie Cartwright, who is bigger than the West. While some will compare her to Tasmin Berrybender, Tasmin is a weak reed compared to Nellie.

Nellie comes from a fine Virginia family that has fallen on hard times after her father chooses to head West . . . a place where he's not well equipped to thrive. Nellie takes her brother, Jackson, into town to start a new life after their father "suicided himself". Nellie has an eye for men, but they have a bigger yen for her than she usually has for them. Nellie does, however, enjoy a good toss in the hay with an appealing and energetic man of her choice. Nellie persuades the local sheriff, who proposes marriage early and often, to take on Jackson as a deputy despite his inexperience. Jackson soon proves his worth and becomes a legend for wiping out six gunfighters. Ironically, Jackson proves to be a poor shot for the rest of his life.

Nellie decides to earn her keep by becoming the local telegrapher. She soon has messages heading all over the West.

Mr. McMurtry uses Nellie to pop illusions about Western characters as he sends her all over just in time to meet many of the most famous people. She works for Buffalo Bill. One of the Earp brothers proposes to her. She meets Billy the Kid. She travels to Tombstone just in time for the shootout at the O.K. Corral. After the West is over, she also travels in movie circles as the legends are born on the silver screen.

The book's plot seems very contrived which is its weakness. Nellie's unique qualities and deeply practical orientation serve as a breath of fresh air in the Western genre. Since I love character development so much, I found Telegraph Days to be a fun read. Mr. McMurtry's sense of humor is strong, and you'll find yourself chuckling along with him.

Should we take this book seriously? Not really. Instead, Telegraph Days should caution us about our need to make people into more than they are . . . a lesson that still applies today.

Best book I've read for a very long time, 07 Apr 2008
I heard this reviewed on Radio 4 where it was raved about and ordered it straight away. This really is an amazing book. My copy is only two weeks old but already three people have read all 300 pages of it!

Loyalty, death, faith, love ... , 06 Apr 2008
This book was an amazing read. It was recommended to our bookclub but was not our usual style or subject. From the off I was there. I was filled with fear and trepidation. When it was brutal, I wanted to hide under the sheets but my stomach churned and I had to read on to see if they got through each ordeal. They may have been wounded physically, but they grew as people. Their particular brand of loyalty ran deep through their long family history which unravels as the story continues with an utterly skillful mastery of suspense and terror in keeping themselves and eachother alive until the final unveiling. The good characters had a thread of astounding strength and bravery that ran through them all - Indian, white, mexican, adults and children alike. Despite the horrors, they kept their compassion towards their fellow man and animals and relied heavily on their faith, which was tested at every turn. They would give their life for eachother. The bad were truly brutal, and you were tempted to say how appalled you were with the cruelty of the Indians but you had to remember that some of their cruelty was linked to their customs but also that the whites and mexicans were just as cruel without regard for race, creed or gender. Religion and spirituality were explored in equal measure and in such a huge expanse of territory with a strong spiritual heritage, it was easy to comprehend how the indigenous population relied on their traditions of faith in the spirits, but you marvelled at how the christians held onto to their faith in God and you understood better why they tried. Highly recommended.

An antidote to modern life , 24 Mar 2008
I really enjoyed this book. It was a walk back in time to a simple and brutally honest period in history.

More than that is was so refreshing to read about pure and simple values so strongly held and fought for; a real antidote to todays moral vacuum.

A story about love and loyalty set amongst the often savage American frontier, where both the white settlers and Native Indians fought desperately to cling onto the lives they held so dear. The book is brilliantly even-handed portraying the picture from both perspectives.



A western thriller, mixed with Apache mysticism., 12 Mar 2008
I wanted to read this book after watching the movie "The Missing" which is based on this book. The movie I thought was excellent but, as is often the case, the book is even better as it enables you to delve deeper into the characters. There was even a surprising amount of humor mixed into the story that was not in the movie. The story of Samuel Jones and his daughter Maggie is told in stark yet humanistic terms, tough related each comes from a completely different world. The story is a quest to free Maggie's own daughter who has been taken captive by Apaches. I loved the mystery and native American mysticism woven into the story. This a beautiful though sometimes brutal read that I highly recommend. For another excellent read set in the modern American west, I have to give a shout out for "Across the High Lonesome!"

The Last Ride is a good, fulfilling journey, 07 Feb 2005
Eidson's the last ride forms a sort of trilogy with his previous books All God's Children and St Agnes' Stand. The Last Ride, made over into The Missing, is a solid example of how the book is better than the film. Though a decent film, the Last Ride is a much better character study (books have that advantage). However, the richness of the character interaction makes this a delightful read. The conversations are well thought out, the plot keeps a good pace, and you do immerse yourself in the dust of the desert. Characters and conversations stay with you after you're done, I even went back to re-read parts between Maggie and her father.

Summed up:
If you have seen the film, and want to read how it should have been, read this. If you like Western-type novels with good, original characters, try it. A good, solid, representation of its genre, you're likely to enjoy The Last Ride.

Wonderfull, 16 Jul 2007
This book is written by a real wordsmith. The author paints pictures and takes the reader through a whole range of emotions. It,s the first Vardis Fisher I have read and I cannot wait to get my hands on another. For people who like tales of the west but cannot stand "meanwhile back at the ranch" literature, this is a must read.

A Gem Of A Book, 24 Apr 2007
This book is magnificent. I'm probably more of a romantic than I am accurate with my history, (scrap that, I'm definitely more of a romantic), but this book really made me feel like I was experiencing both the joy and hardship of what it was like to be a mountain man.
The inclusion of real life characters such as Hugh Glass & Jim Bridger is pure genius on the author's part.
The book is written very well with a hell of a lot of detail. In fact it is this level of detail that makes the book beautiful, vivid & harsh.
Well worth a read, (and for a remarkable price too).


Excellent story of a mountain man, trapper, 06 Jan 2004
I found that once I picked up this book I could not put it down. This book was made into a brilliant film starring robert redford called Jeremiah Jonhson. It describes the lonely life of the fur trapper who ends up declaring war on the whole crow nation. It also goes into great detail about the great knowledge of the mountain men, how they used the behaviour of animals and nature to their advantage when hunting and living off the land. The book is well paced and has lots of other characters, some that actually lived i.e Jim Bridger.
Simply a cracking read for those who like the western, pioneer adventure genre.

A wonderful story of the life of the Mountain Man, 15 Nov 2001
I was first completely captivated by this book many years ago and found it a moving and passionate account of the life of the Mountain Man and the interaction with the native american indians. The film made of this book starring Robert Redford is a touching and magnificent translation into the cinema of a fine book. Read the book and see the film - you won't be dissapointed.

A Rich, Rewarding Historical Novel about Wyatt Earp, 10 May 2004
This is an appealing novel for those who would normally not read westerns.

Robert Parker has taken the well-known shootout at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona and turned it into a well-developed, rich tale of family, honor, love, career, and the taming of the West. While many other writers have treated this material before, none have provided so much background to put the event into its proper perspective. The Earps, Doc Holliday, the Clantons, Bat Masterson, and many other Western legends come to life as real people you would recognize if you met them in a saloon. You will also learn a lot about the Earp women, both the wives and those they love. The story continues on to tell about what happened after the shoot-out.

Mr. Parker writes about these characters as though he were a contemporary, but without the exaggeration of a dime novel. In fact, the spare prose of the Spenser series here becomes stronger without the quips and irony that pervade those stories. The writing style will remind you of Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, and that's intended to be a high compliment for his accomplishment here. The story also evokes many of the good qualities of The Virginian.

The story pivots around Wyatt Earp's fascination with a performer who draws his eye, Josie Marcus. Never expecting to see her again, he is startled to find her on the arm of aspiring lawman, Johnny Behan. Josie is a modern woman in many ways, drawn to the stage and Johnny for the excitement they seem to offer. She ends up being disappointed in both. For her, though, Wyatt is the real thing.

Their relationship is complicated by Josie having let Johnny move into a house her father has bought her in Tombstone, and Wyatt having lived with Mattie (Celia Ann Blaylock) for a number of years. The hurt feelings lead to a polarization in the politics in Tombstone and in Wyatt's relationship with his brother Virgil's wife, Allie.

The economic interests in the Tombstone area arrayed the ranchers against the rustlers, and the townsmen against those who wanted to raise a ruckus in town. The political interests split along North-South lines, reflecting the Civil War. Also, the cowboys tended to be southerners, and the Earps were northerners and townspeople.

The character of Wyatt Earp, as portrayed by Mr. Parker, will fascinate you. He is seen as a man of effortless, relaxed precision. He enjoys his card dealing as much as his target-shooting practice. Both a discomfort with alcohol and a preference for being in control have him constantly sipping cups of coffee to keep his vigilance sharp. He is above all a man of honor, which means sticking to his word and to his family. Many of the plot complications are a result of that honor, and you will enjoy thinking about the price that has to be paid.

Mr. Parker also does a remarkably good job of capturing the peril of being a law officer. You not only have to disarm the bad guys, some of them will come after you. If another law officer or citizen falsely accuses you, you can then have a posse chasing you. The Earps had plenty of experience with all of these problems.

My only complaint about the book relate to the Chronicle inserts that outline other events happening at the same time. There is too much of this in the book, and the significance of the events is mainly from the perspective of our time. So the effect of reading them is to take you away from the story in time and space. Unless you happen to enjoy the first ones you read, I suggest you skip over these for a more enjoyable read.

The moral choices involved in this book are interesting. How would you have decided between Mattie and Josie if you were Wyatt? If you chose Josie, how would you have handled the break-up? What promise would you have made to Josie about Johnny? If you were Josie, would you have released Wyatt from his promise?

Be a straight-shooter!

A fine Wild West myth!, 26 Apr 2002
GUNMAN'S RHAPSODY, as the flyleaf says, "is the book that Robert B. Parker has always longed to write."

Most everyone has a working knowledge of Wyatt Earp, Tombstone & the Gunfight at the OK Corral. So I had some hesitation about partaking in yet another rendition of the life & times of this Old West hero.

I liked this Wyatt Earp & his brothers. I liked the characters & their lives with all their flaws & their depths. I could smell the blood & feel the dust; their lives became real; their times became real & the thread of American history glowed brighter because of this book.

Buy GUNMAN'S RHAPSODY without fear & read it! Because when I finished it I felt as if Spenser & Susan had finished the book with me.

Parker always wanted to write this book? I'm glad he did!, 20 Feb 2002
The sleeve notes described this as the book Parker always wanted to write. I can see why, it's classic Parker. Set in Tombstone and chronicaling the life of Wyatt Earp, it's written in that economic style that makes him so easy to read. Parker can say in 10 words what other writers take a page to do. I suppose I should do the same. I didn't want this book to finish. If you're a fan of any of his work. Buy it.

Living the passing of the Old West, 03 Oct 2008
"Obviously (Teddy) had kissing in mind, and possibly matrimony as well ... After all, my Sundays were mainly dull. I suppose I could have stayed at home and hung curtains. But fighting off Teddy might be more interesting ... I didn't want much from Teddy, but I did want something - if not from him, then from somebody, or maybe just from life itself." - Nellie Courtright, in TELEGRAPH DAYS

Larry McMurtry is arguably an iconic writer of Old West themes. In his magnificent Lonesome Dove, the storyline was both character and event driven. In TELEGRAPH DAYS, the former is more the case and events serve almost as props. The chief characters are those of Nellie Courtright and William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody and, in a larger sense, that of the Old West, the passing into history of which Nellie serves as witness.

Nellie's story is told in the first person, and we meet her at age 22 in 1876 when she and her 17-year old brother, Jackson, lose their father to suicide, their mother and siblings having long since perished between Virginia and a homestead on a grassy tract of the West not yet part of a Territory. Abandoning their home, the two move to the tiny prairie town of Rita Blanca, where Jackson becomes the deputy sheriff and Nellie the Telegraph Lady. Later, Nellie relocates to North Platte to become Buffalo Bill's majordomo managing his land and investments, returns to Rita Blanca to become mayor, co-owns a newspaper in Tombstone, and settles down for the final leg in Southern California, where the air was "said to be so soft".

Nellie is feisty, independent-minded, sexually liberated, flirtatious, intelligent, multi-talented and possessing a dry sense of humor. It's a pleasure to observe as she interacts with some of the most famous personages of the age, including Cody, Jessie James, William ("Billy the Kid") Bonnie, the dysfunctional Earp brothers, "Doc" Holliday, and General of the Army William T. Sherman. And, it's in their company that she lives the passing of an era:

"So the years sailed on and the Old West, the West of Dodge City, Rita Blanca, and the O.K. Corral, quickly receded into myth. Over in Victorville, California, Western films were being rolled out by the dozen. I even wrote a couple myself ..."

TELEGRAPH DAYS may have a special poignancy for one born in the years immediately following WWII. In the fifties and sixties and into the seventies, westerns were all the rage on both the big and small screens, and our heroes were Hoppy, Roy, Gene, the Cisco Kid, the Lone Ranger, Paladin, Rin Tin-Tin, the Duke, Rowdy, Maverick, the Cartwrights, Marshal Dillon, and the Man with No Name. Nowadays, such films are rarely produced. Even Clint Eastwood has abandoned the genre. So, in a way, we've seen our own passing of the Old West, and it adds a special sadness as we ride on, spurs a-janglin', as sundown approaches.

More Berrybender than Lonesome, 07 Jun 2008
A McMurtry western is always something of a treat and, although I suspect his greatest work is already written (in the Lonesome Dove books) he continues to entertain with his tales of the mythical West. This one's no disappointment, and is more in the style of the Berrybender Narratives than the epic scope of Lonesome Dove or Commanche Moon - more humour, less menace. If you have enjoyed his more recent work, this will not disappoint.

A rollicking tale., 22 Nov 2007
A fast moving and enjoyable story with a sympathetic heroine. However, I felt that the ending was rather truncated,and disappointing after the rest of the book.

Telegraph Days? More like Pornograph Days!, 07 Nov 2007
OK it was a brilliantly written novel, but I was suprised it contained so much sex. I'm not an old woman, but still it had me going a bit red and wondering who's looking over my shoulder as I read it on the bus. Yet despite all the rude bits, it's great. McMurtry is without a doubt the master of Western writing and this is no exception. It has everything you could want from a Western novel and a lot that you might not, but are glad it's there anyway. I'd recommend this book to anyone... but maybe not my granny. Eek!

Tongue in Cheek Look at the Old West, 20 Jun 2006
Westerns have always been morality tales. Black hats and white hats fight it out to civilize the frontier. Sometimes the identities shift as the black hats become wealthy ranchers trying to keep farmers (white hats) off range land. The ladies of joy are always treated with respect, even if they don't sleep on the right side of the bed covers. After all, women deserve respect.

Larry McMurtry continues his look at strong, unconventional women in the West by creating an unforgettable character, Nellie Cartwright, who is bigger than the West. While some will compare her to Tasmin Berrybender, Tasmin is a weak reed compared to Nellie.

Nellie comes from a fine Virginia family that has fallen on hard times after her father chooses to head West . . . a place where he's not well equipped to thrive. Nellie takes her brother, Jackson, into town to start a new life after their father "suicided himself". Nellie has an eye for men, but they have a bigger yen for her than she usually has for them. Nellie does, however, enjoy a good toss in the hay with an appealing and energetic man of her choice. Nellie persuades the local sheriff, who proposes marriage early and often, to take on Jackson as a deputy despite his inexperience. Jackson soon proves his worth and becomes a legend for wiping out six gunfighters. Ironically, Jackson proves to be a poor shot for the rest of his life.

Nellie decides to earn her keep by becoming the local telegrapher. She soon has messages heading all over the West.

Mr. McMurtry uses Nellie to pop illusions about Western characters as he sends her all over just in time to meet many of the most famous people. She works for Buffalo Bill. One of the Earp brothers proposes to her. She meets Billy the Kid. She travels to Tombstone just in time for the shootout at the O.K. Corral. After the West is over, she also travels in movie circles as the legends are born on the silver screen.

The book's plot seems very contrived which is its weakness. Nellie's unique qualities and deeply practical orientation serve as a breath of fresh air in the Western genre. Since I love character development so much, I found Telegraph Days to be a fun read. Mr. McMurtry's sense of humor is strong, and you'll find yourself chuckling along with him.

Should we take this book seriously? Not really. Instead, Telegraph Days should caution us about our need to make people into more than they are . . . a lesson that still applies today.

Best book I've read for a very long time, 07 Apr 2008
I heard this reviewed on Radio 4 where it was raved about and ordered it straight away. This really is an amazing book. My copy is only two weeks old but already three people have read all 300 pages of it!

Loyalty, death, faith, love ... , 06 Apr 2008
This book was an amazing read. It was recommended to our bookclub but was not our usual style or subject. From the off I was there. I was filled with fear and trepidation. When it was brutal, I wanted to hide under the sheets but my stomach churned and I had to read on to see if they got through each ordeal. They may have been wounded physically, but they grew as people. Their particular brand of loyalty ran deep through their long family history which unravels as the story continues with an utterly skillful mastery of suspense and terror in keeping themselves and eachother alive until the final unveiling. The good characters had a thread of astounding strength and bravery that ran through them all - Indian, white, mexican, adults and children alike. Despite the horrors, they kept their compassion towards their fellow man and animals and relied heavily on their faith, which was tested at every turn. They would give their life for eachother. The bad were truly brutal, and you were tempted to say how appalled you were with the cruelty of the Indians but you had to remember that some of their cruelty was linked to their customs but also that the whites and mexicans were just as cruel without regard for race, creed or gender. Religion and spirituality were explored in equal measure and in such a huge expanse of territory with a strong spiritual heritage, it was easy to comprehend how the indigenous population relied on their traditions of faith in the spirits, but you marvelled at how the christians held onto to their faith in God and you understood better why they tried. Highly recommended.

An antidote to modern life , 24 Mar 2008
I really enjoyed this book. It was a walk back in time to a simple and brutally honest period in history.

More than that is was so refreshing to read about pure and simple values so strongly held and fought for; a real antidote to todays moral vacuum.

A story about love and loyalty set amongst the often savage American frontier, where both the white settlers and Native Indians fought desperately to cling onto the lives they held so dear. The book is brilliantly even-handed portraying the picture from both perspectives.



A western thriller, mixed with Apache mysticism., 12 Mar 2008
I wanted to read this book after watching the movie "The Missing" which is based on this book. The movie I thought was excellent but, as is often the case, the book is even better as it enables you to delve deeper into the characters. There was even a surprising amount of humor mixed into the story that was not in the movie. The story of Samuel Jones and his daughter Maggie is told in stark yet humanistic terms, tough related each comes from a completely different world. The story is a quest to free Maggie's own daughter who has been taken captive by Apaches. I loved the mystery and native American mysticism woven into the story. This a beautiful though sometimes brutal read that I highly recommend. For another excellent read set in the modern American west, I have to give a shout out for "Across the High Lonesome!"

The Last Ride is a good, fulfilling journey, 07 Feb 2005
Eidson's the last ride forms a sort of trilogy with his previous books All God's Children and St Agnes' Stand. The Last Ride, made over into The Missing, is a solid example of how the book is better than the film. Though a decent film, the Last Ride is a much better character study (books have that advantage). However, the richness of the character interaction makes this a delightful read. The conversations are well thought out, the plot keeps a good pace, and you do immerse yourself in the dust of the desert. Characters and conversations stay with you after you're done, I even went back to re-read parts between Maggie and her father.

Summed up:
If you have seen the film, and want to read how it should have been, read this. If you like Western-type novels with good, original characters, try it. A good, solid, representation of its genre, you're likely to enjoy The Last Ride.

Wonderfull, 16 Jul 2007
This book is written by a real wordsmith. The author paints pictures and takes the reader through a whole range of emotions. It,s the first Vardis Fisher I have read and I cannot wait to get my hands on another. For people who like tales of the west but cannot stand "meanwhile back at the ranch" literature, this is a must read.

A Gem Of A Book, 24 Apr 2007
This book is magnificent. I'm probably more of a romantic than I am accurate with my history, (scrap that, I'm definitely more of a romantic), but this book really made me feel like I was experiencing both the joy and hardship of what it was like to be a mountain man.
The inclusion of real life characters such as Hugh Glass & Jim Bridger is pure genius on the author's part.
The book is written very well with a hell of a lot of detail. In fact it is this level of detail that makes the book beautiful, vivid & harsh.
Well worth a read, (and for a remarkable price too).


Excellent story of a mountain man, trapper, 06 Jan 2004
I found that once I picked up this book I could not put it down. This book was made into a brilliant film starring robert redford called Jeremiah Jonhson. It describes the lonely life of the fur trapper who ends up declaring war on the whole crow nation. It also goes into great detail about the great knowledge of the mountain men, how they used the behaviour of animals and nature to their advantage when hunting and living off the land. The book is well paced and has lots of other characters, some that actually lived i.e Jim Bridger.
Simply a cracking read for those who like the western, pioneer adventure genre.

A wonderful story of the life of the Mountain Man, 15 Nov 2001
I was first completely captivated by this book many years ago and found it a moving and passionate account of the life of the Mountain Man and the interaction with the native american indians. The film made of this book starring Robert Redford is a touching and magnificent translation into the cinema of a fine book. Read the book and see the film - you won't be dissapointed.

A Rich, Rewarding Historical Novel about Wyatt Earp, 10 May 2004
This is an appealing novel for those who would normally not read westerns.

Robert Parker has taken the well-known shootout at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona and turned it into a well-developed, rich tale of family, honor, love, career, and the taming of the West. While many other writers have treated this material before, none have provided so much background to put the event into its proper perspective. The Earps, Doc Holliday, the Clantons, Bat Masterson, and many other Western legends come to life as real people you would recognize if you met them in a saloon. You will also learn a lot about the Earp women, both the wives and those they love. The story continues on to tell about what happened after the shoot-out.

Mr. Parker writes about these characters as though he were a contemporary, but without the exaggeration of a dime novel. In fact, the spare prose of the Spenser series here becomes stronger without the quips and irony that pervade those stories. The writing style will remind you of Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, and that's intended to be a high compliment for his accomplishment here. The story also evokes many of the good qualities of The Virginian.

The story pivots around Wyatt Earp's fascination with a performer who draws his eye, Josie Marcus. Never expecting to see her again, he is startled to find her on the arm of aspiring lawman, Johnny Behan. Josie is a modern woman in many ways, drawn to the stage and Johnny for the excitement they seem to offer. She ends up being disappointed in both. For her, though, Wyatt is the real thing.

Their relationship is complicated by Josie having let Johnny move into a house her father has bought her in Tombstone, and Wyatt having lived with Mattie (Celia Ann Blaylock) for a number of years. The hurt feelings lead to a polarization in the politics in Tombstone and in Wyatt's relationship with his brother Virgil's wife, Allie.

The economic interests in the Tombstone area arrayed the ranchers against the rustlers, and the townsmen against those who wanted to raise a ruckus in town. The political interests split along North-South lines, reflecting the Civil War. Also, the cowboys tended to be southerners, and the Earps were northerners and townspeople.

The character of Wyatt Earp, as portrayed by Mr. Parker, will fascinate you. He is seen as a man of effortless, relaxed precision. He enjoys his card dealing as much as his target-shooting practice. Both a discomfort with alcohol and a preference for being in control have him constantly sipping cups of coffee to keep his vigilance sharp. He is above all a man of honor, which means sticking to his word and to his family. Many of the plot complications are a result of that honor, and you will enjoy thinking about the price that has to be paid.

Mr. Parker also does a remarkably good job of capturing the peril of being a law officer. You not only have to disarm the bad guys, some of them will come after you. If another law officer or citizen falsely accuses you, you can then have a posse chasing you. The Earps had plenty of experience with all of these problems.

My only complaint about the book relate to the Chronicle inserts that outline other events happening at the same time. There is too much of this in the book, and the significance of the events is mainly from the perspective of our time. So the effect of reading them is to take you away from the story in time and space. Unless you happen to enjoy the first ones you read, I suggest you skip over these for a more enjoyable read.

The moral choices involved in this book are interesting. How would you have decided between Mattie and Josie if you were Wyatt? If you chose Josie, how would you have handled the break-up? What promise would you have made to Josie about Johnny? If you were Josie, would you have released Wyatt from his promise?

Be a straight-shooter!

A fine Wild West myth!, 26 Apr 2002
GUNMAN'S RHAPSODY, as the flyleaf says, "is the book that Robert B. Parker has always longed to write."

Most everyone has a working knowledge of Wyatt Earp, Tombstone & the Gunfight at the OK Corral. So I had some hesitation about partaking in yet another rendition of the life & times of this Old West hero.

I liked this Wyatt Earp & his brothers. I liked the characters & their lives with all their flaws & their depths. I could smell the blood & feel the dust; their lives became real; their times became real & the thread of American history glowed brighter because of this book.

Buy GUNMAN'S RHAPSODY without fear & read it! Because when I finished it I felt as if Spenser & Susan had finished the book with me.

Parker always wanted to write this book? I'm glad he did!, 20 Feb 2002
The sleeve notes described this as the book Parker always wanted to write. I can see why, it's classic Parker. Set in Tombstone and chronicaling the life of Wyatt Earp, it's written in that economic style that makes him so easy to read. Parker can say in 10 words what other writers take a page to do. I suppose I should do the same. I didn't want this book to finish. If you're a fan of any of his work. Buy it.

L'amour's Hopalong, 07 Nov 2008
NOt up to the standards of L'amours own name work but this book, originally published as by Tex Burns, is a rip roaring adventure starring Clarance Mulford's hero.

If you like action-packed books, this is one you should read, 15 Jan 1999
If you like Hopalong Cassidy novels, you sure would like this one. It has lots of action and is kind of like a mystery. I really liked it.

Living the passing of the Old West, 03 Oct 2008
"Obviously (Teddy) had kissing in mind, and possibly matrimony as well ... After all, my Sundays were mainly dull. I suppose I could have stayed at home and hung curtains. But fighting off Teddy might be more interesting ... I didn't want much from Teddy, but I did want something - if not from him, then from somebody, or maybe just from life itself." - Nellie Courtright, in TELEGRAPH DAYS

Larry McMurtry is arguably an iconic writer of Old West themes. In his magnificent Lonesome Dove, the storyline was both character and event driven. In TELEGRAPH DAYS, the former is more the case and events serve almost as props. The chief characters are those of Nellie Courtright and William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody and, in a larger sense, that of the Old West, the passing into history of which Nellie serves as witness.

Nellie's story is told in the first person, and we meet her at age 22 in 1876 when she and her 17-year old brother, Jackson, lose their father to suicide, their mother and siblings having long since perished between Virginia and a homestead on a grassy tract of the West not yet part of a Territory. Abandoning their home, the two move to the tiny prairie town of Rita Blanca, where Jackson becomes the deputy sheriff and Nellie the Telegraph Lady. Later, Nellie relocates to North Platte to become Buffalo Bill's majordomo managing his land and investments, returns to Rita Blanca to become mayor, co-owns a newspaper in Tombstone, and settles down for the final leg in Southern California, where the air was "said to be so soft".

Nellie is feisty, independent-minded, sexually liberated, flirtatious, intelligent, multi-talented and possessing a dry sense of humor. It's a pleasure to observe as she interacts with some of the most famous personages of the age, including Cody, Jessie James, William ("Billy the Kid") Bonnie, the dysfunctional Earp brothers, "Doc" Holliday, and General of the Army William T. Sherman. And, it's in their company that she lives the passing of an era:

"So the years sailed on and the Old West, the West of Dodge City, Rita Blanca, and the O.K. Corral, quickly receded into myth. Over in Victorville, California, Western films were being rolled out by the dozen. I even wrote a couple myself ..."

TELEGRAPH DAYS may have a special poignancy for one born in the years immediately following WWII. In the fifties and sixties and into the seventies, westerns were all the rage on both the big and small screens, and our heroes were Hoppy, Roy, Gene, the Cisco Kid, the Lone Ranger, Paladin, Rin Tin-Tin, the Duke, Rowdy, Maverick, the Cartwrights, Marshal Dillon, and the Man with No Name. Nowadays, such films are rarely produced. Even Clint Eastwood has abandoned the genre. So, in a way, we've seen our own passing of the Old West, and it adds a special sadness as we ride on, spurs a-janglin', as sundown approaches.

More Berrybender than Lonesome, 07 Jun 2008
A McMurtry western is always something of a treat and, although I suspect his greatest work is already written (in the Lonesome Dove books) he continues to entertain with his tales of the mythical West. This one's no disappointment, and is more in the style of the Berrybender Narratives than the epic scope of Lonesome Dove or Commanche Moon - more humour, less menace. If you have enjoyed his more recent work, this will not disappoint.

A rollicking tale., 22 Nov 2007
A fast moving and enjoyable story with a sympathetic heroine. However, I felt that the ending was rather truncated,and disappointing after the rest of the book.

Telegraph Days? More like Pornograph Days!, 07 Nov 2007
OK it was a brilliantly written novel, but I was suprised it contained so much sex. I'm not an old woman, but still it had me going a bit red and wondering who's looking over my shoulder as I read it on the bus. Yet despite all the rude bits, it's great. McMurtry is without a doubt the master of Western writing and this is no exception. It has everything you could want from a Western novel and a lot that you might not, but are glad it's there anyway. I'd recommend this book to anyone... but maybe not my granny. Eek!

Tongue in Cheek Look at the Old West, 20 Jun 2006
Westerns have always been morality tales. Black hats and white hats fight it out to civilize the frontier. Sometimes the identities shift as the black hats become wealthy ranchers trying to keep farmers (white hats) off range land. The ladies of joy are always treated with respect, even if they don't sleep on the right side of the bed covers. After all, women deserve respect.

Larry McMurtry continues his look at strong, unconventional women in the West by creating an unforgettable character, Nellie Cartwright, who is bigger than the West. While some will compare her to Tasmin Berrybender, Tasmin is a weak reed compared to Nellie.

Nellie comes from a fine Virginia family that has fallen on hard times after her father chooses to head West . . . a place where he's not well equipped to thrive. Nellie takes her brother, Jackson, into town to start a new life after their father "suicided himself". Nellie has an eye for men, but they have a bigger yen for her than she usually has for them. Nellie does, however, enjoy a good toss in the hay with an appealing and energetic man of her choice. Nellie persuades the local sheriff, who proposes marriage early and often, to take on Jackson as a deputy despite his inexperience. Jackson soon proves his worth and becomes a legend for wiping out six gunfighters. Ironically, Jackson proves to be a poor shot for the rest of his life.

Nellie decides to earn her keep by becoming the local telegrapher. She soon has messages heading all over the West.

Mr. McMurtry uses Nellie to pop illusions about Western characters as he sends her all over just in time to meet many of the most famous people. She works for Buffalo Bill. One of the Earp brothers proposes to her. She meets Billy the Kid. She travels to Tombstone just in time for the shootout at the O.K. Corral. After the West is over, she also travels in movie circles as the legends are born on the silver screen.

The book's plot seems very contrived which is its weakness. Nellie's unique qualities and deeply practical orientation serve as a breath of fresh air in the Western genre. Since I love character development so much, I found Telegraph Days to be a fun read. Mr. McMurtry's sense of humor is strong, and you'll find yourself chuckling along with him.

Should we take this book seriously? Not really. Instead, Telegraph Days should caution us about our need to make people into more than they are . . . a lesson that still applies today.

Best book I've read for a very long time, 07 Apr 2008
I heard this reviewed on Radio 4 where it was raved about and ordered it straight away. This really is an amazing book. My copy is only two weeks old but already three people have read all 300 pages of it!

Loyalty, death, faith, love ... , 06 Apr 2008
This book was an amazing read. It was recommended to our bookclub but was not our usual style or subject. From the off I was there. I was filled with fear and trepidation. When it was brutal, I wanted to hide under the sheets but my stomach churned and I had to read on to see if they got through each ordeal. They may have been wounded physically, but they grew as people. Their particular brand of loyalty ran deep through their long family history which unravels as the story continues with an utterly skillful mastery of suspense and terror in keeping themselves and eachother alive until the final unveiling. The good characters had a thread of astounding strength and bravery that ran through them all - Indian, white, mexican, adults and children alike. Despite the horrors, they kept their compassion towards their fellow man and animals and relied heavily on their faith, which was tested at every turn. They would give their life for eachother. The bad were truly brutal, and you were tempted to say how appalled you were with the cruelty of the Indians but you had to remember that some of their cruelty was linked to their customs but also that the whites and mexicans were just as cruel without regard for race, creed or gender. Religion and spirituality were explored in equal measure and in such a huge expanse of territory with a strong spiritual heritage, it was easy to comprehend how the indigenous population relied on their traditions of faith in the spirits, but you marvelled at how the christians held onto to their faith in God and you understood better why they tried. Highly recommended.

An antidote to modern life , 24 Mar 2008
I really enjoyed this book. It was a walk back in time to a simple and brutally honest period in history.

More than that is was so refreshing to read about pure and simple values so strongly held and fought for; a real antidote to todays moral vacuum.

A story about love and loyalty set amongst the often savage American frontier, where both the white settlers and Native Indians fought desperately to cling onto the lives they held so dear. The book is brilliantly even-handed portraying the picture from both perspectives.



A western thriller, mixed with Apache mysticism., 12 Mar 2008
I wanted to read this book after watching the movie "The Missing" which is based on this book. The movie I thought was excellent but, as is often the case, the book is even better as it enables you to delve deeper into the characters. There was even a surprising amount of humor mixed into the story that was not in the movie. The story of Samuel Jones and his daughter Maggie is told in stark yet humanistic terms, tough related each comes from a completely different world. The story is a quest to free Maggie's own daughter who has been taken captive by Apaches. I loved the mystery and native American mysticism woven into the story. This a beautiful though sometimes brutal read that I highly recommend. For another excellent read set in the modern American west, I have to give a shout out for "Across the High Lonesome!"

The Last Ride is a good, fulfilling journey, 07 Feb 2005
Eidson's the last ride forms a sort of trilogy with his previous books All God's Children and St Agnes' Stand. The Last Ride, made over into The Missing, is a solid example of how the book is better than the film. Though a decent film, the Last Ride is a much better character study (books have that advantage). However, the richness of the character interaction makes this a delightful read. The conversations are well thought out, the plot keeps a good pace, and you do immerse yourself in the dust of the desert. Characters and conversations stay with you after you're done, I even went back to re-read parts between Maggie and her father.

Summed up:
If you have seen the film, and want to read how it should have been, read this. If you like Western-type novels with good, original characters, try it. A good, solid, representation of its genre, you're likely to enjoy The Last Ride.

Wonderfull, 16 Jul 2007
This book is written by a real wordsmith. The author paints pictures and takes the reader through a whole range of emotions. It,s the first Vardis Fisher I have read and I cannot wait to get my hands on another. For people who like tales of the west but cannot stand "meanwhile back at the ranch" literature, this is a must read.

A Gem Of A Book, 24 Apr 2007
This book is magnificent. I'm probably more of a romantic than I am accurate with my history, (scrap that, I'm definitely more of a romantic), but this book really made me feel like I was experiencing both the joy and hardship of what it was like to be a mountain man.
The inclusion of real life characters such as Hugh Glass & Jim Bridger is pure genius on the author's part.
The book is written very well with a hell of a lot of detail. In fact it is this level of detail that makes the book beautiful, vivid & harsh.
Well worth a read, (and for a remarkable price too).


Excellent story of a mountain man, trapper, 06 Jan 2004
I found that once I picked up this book I could not put it down. This book was made into a brilliant film starring robert redford called Jeremiah Jonhson. It describes the lonely life of the fur trapper who ends up declaring war on the whole crow nation. It also goes into great detail about the great knowledge of the mountain men, how they used the behaviour of animals and nature to their advantage when hunting and living off the land. The book is well paced and has lots of other characters, some that actually lived i.e Jim Bridger.
Simply a cracking read for those who like the western, pioneer adventure genre.

A wonderful story of the life of the Mountain Man, 15 Nov 2001
I was first completely captivated by this book many years ago and found it a moving and passionate account of the life of the Mountain Man and the interaction with the native american indians. The film made of this book starring Robert Redford is a touching and magnificent translation into the cinema of a fine book. Read the book and see the film - you won't be dissapointed.

A Rich, Rewarding Historical Novel about Wyatt Earp, 10 May 2004
This is an appealing novel for those who would normally not read westerns.

Robert Parker has taken the well-known shootout at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona and turned it into a well-developed, rich tale of family, honor, love, career, and the taming of the West. While many other writers have treated this material before, none have provided so much background to put the event into its proper perspective. The Earps, Doc Holliday, the Clantons, Bat Masterson, and many other Western legends come to life as real people you would recognize if you met them in a saloon. You will also learn a lot about the Earp women, both the wives and those they love. The story continues on to tell about what happened after the shoot-out.

Mr. Parker writes about these characters as though he were a contemporary, but without the exaggeration of a dime novel. In fact, the spare prose of the Spenser series here becomes stronger without the quips and irony that pervade those stories. The writing style will remind you of Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, and that's intended to be a high compliment for his accomplishment here. The story also evokes many of the good qualities of The Virginian.

The story pivots around Wyatt Earp's fascination with a performer who draws his eye, Josie Marcus. Never expecting to see her again, he is startled to find her on the arm of aspiring lawman, Johnny Behan. Josie is a modern woman in many ways, drawn to the stage and Johnny for the excitement they seem to offer. She ends up being disappointed in both. For her, though, Wyatt is the real thing.

Their relationship is complicated by Josie having let Johnny move into a house her father has bought her in Tombstone, and Wyatt having lived with Mattie (Celia Ann Blaylock) for a number of years. The hurt feelings lead to a polarization in the politics in Tombstone and in Wyatt's relationship with his brother Virgil's wife, Allie.

The economic interests in the Tombstone area arrayed the ranchers against the rustlers, and the townsmen against those who wanted to raise a ruckus in town. The political interests split along North-South lines, reflecting the Civil War. Also, the cowboys tended to be southerners, and the Earps were northerners and townspeople.

The character of Wyatt Earp, as portrayed by Mr. Parker, will fascinate you. He is seen as a man of effortless, relaxed precision. He enjoys his card dealing as much as his target-shooting practice. Both a discomfort with alcohol and a preference for being in control have him constantly sipping cups of coffee to keep his vigilance sharp. He is above all a man of honor, which means sticking to his word and to his family. Many of the plot complications are a result of that honor, and you will enjoy thinking about the price that has to be paid.

Mr. Parker also does a remarkably good job of capturing the peril of being a law officer. You not only have to disarm the bad guys, some of them will come after you. If another law officer or citizen falsely accuses you, you can then have a posse chasing you. The Earps had plenty of experience with all of these problems.

My only complaint about the book relate to the Chronicle inserts that outline other events happening at the same time. There is too much of this in the book, and the significance of the events is mainly from the perspective of our time. So the effect of reading them is to take you away from the story in time and space. Unless you happen to enjoy the first ones you read, I suggest you skip over these for a more enjoyable read.

The moral choices involved in this book are interesting. How would you have decided between Mattie and Josie if you were Wyatt? If you chose Josie, how would you have handled the break-up? What promise would you have made to Josie about Johnny? If you were Josie, would you have released Wyatt from his promise?

Be a straight-shooter!

A fine Wild West myth!, 26 Apr 2002
GUNMAN'S RHAPSODY, as the flyleaf says, "is the book that Robert B. Parker has always longed to write."

Most everyone has a working knowledge of Wyatt Earp, Tombstone & the Gunfight at the OK Corral. So I had some hesitation about partaking in yet another rendition of the life & times of this Old West hero.

I liked this Wyatt Earp & his brothers. I liked the characters & their lives with all their flaws & their depths. I could smell the blood & feel the dust; their lives became real; their times became real & the thread of American history glowed brighter because of this book.

Buy GUNMAN'S RHAPSODY without fear & read it! Because when I finished it I felt as if Spenser & Susan had finished the book with me.

Parker always wanted to write this book? I'm glad he did!, 20 Feb 2002
The sleeve notes described this as the book Parker always wanted to write. I can see why, it's classic Parker. Set in Tombstone and chronicaling the life of Wyatt Earp, it's written in that economic style that makes him so easy to read. Parker can say in 10 words what other writers take a page to do. I suppose I should do the same. I didn't want this book to finish. If you're a fan of any of his work. Buy it.

L'amour's Hopalong, 07 Nov 2008
NOt up to the standards of L'amours own name work but this book, originally published as by Tex Burns, is a rip roaring adventure starring Clarance Mulford's hero.

If you like action-packed books, this is one you should read, 15 Jan 1999
If you like Hopalong Cassidy novels, you sure would like this one. It has lots of action and is kind of like a mystery. I really liked it.

An Extremely Captivating Read, 29 Jul 2008
"Clive Sinclair's True Tales of the Wild West" captivated me to such an extent that my fingers refused to perform any activity other than turning the pages until having reached the end of the book. Despite having no particular previous knowledge of or interest in the Wild West, this book soon got me under its spell. Sinclair's ingenious narrative technique and unique blending of fact and fiction (what he calls "dodgy realism") underline the difficulty of separating the myths and legends from the historical facts of the Wild West. This book is a superb and witty take on the myths which inform the ideas and conceptions of the American West. The two protagonists, Peppercorn and Saltzman, two Jewish cousins from North London, the former a photojournalist doing a piece on a buffalo round-up and on a quest to find "his inner cowboy", the latter a Professor from the USA (University of St Albans) and member of the SAS (the School of American Studies) setting out on a project of "deconstructing Deadwood", provide the two strands on which a variety of famous figures, places and films of the Wild West are threaded. If this book is already such a captivating read for someone without any knowledge of the Wild West, how much more so must it be for avid fans of Western films, for instance, of which the book provides such detailed descriptions. The attractive cover and many photos and illustrations are further sure to guarantee the book a place of honour in anyone's book shelves.

Living the passing of the Old West, 03 Oct 2008
"Obviously (Teddy) had kissing in mind, and possibly matrimony as well ... After all, my Sundays were mainly dull. I suppose I could have stayed at home and hung curtains. But fighting off Teddy might be more interesting ... I didn't want much from Teddy, but I did want something - if not from him, then from somebody, or maybe just from life itself." - Nellie Courtright, in TELEGRAPH DAYS

Larry McMurtry is arguably an iconic writer of Old West themes. In his magnificent Lonesome Dove, the storyline was both character and event driven. In TELEGRAPH DAYS, the former is more the case and events serve almost as props. The chief characters are those of Nellie Courtright and William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody and, in a larger sense, that of the Old West, the passing into history of which Nellie serves as witness.

Nellie's story is told in the first person, and we meet her at age 22 in 1876 when she and her 17-year old brother, Jackson, lose their father to suicide, their mother and siblings having long since perished between Virginia and a homestead on a grassy tract of the West not yet part of a Territory. Abandoning their home, the two move to the tiny prairie town of Rita Blanca, where Jackson becomes the deputy sheriff and Nellie the Telegraph Lady. Later, Nellie relocates to North Platte to become Buffalo Bill's majordomo managing his land and investments, returns to Rita Blanca to become mayor, co-owns a newspaper in Tombstone, and settles down for the final leg in Southern California, where the air was "said to be so soft".

Nellie is feisty, independent-minded, sexually liberated, flirtatious, intelligent, multi-talented and possessing a dry sense of humor. It's a pleasure to observe as she interacts with some of the most famous personages of the age, including Cody, Jessie James, William ("Billy the Kid") Bonnie, the dysfunctional Earp brothers, "Doc" Holliday, and General of the Army William T. Sherman. And, it's in their company that she lives the passing of an era:

"So the years sailed on and the Old West, the West of Dodge City, Rita Blanca, and the O.K. Corral, quickly receded into myth. Over in Victorville, California, Western films were being rolled out by the dozen. I even wrote a couple myself ..."

TELEGRAPH DAYS may have a special poignancy for one born in the years immediately following WWII. In the fifties and sixties and into the seventies, westerns were all the rage on both the big and small screens, and our heroes were Hoppy, Roy, Gene, the Cisco Kid, the Lone Ranger, Paladin, Rin Tin-Tin, the Duke, Rowdy, Maverick, the Cartwrights, Marshal Dillon, and the Man with No Name. Nowadays, such films are rarely produced. Even Clint Eastwood has abandoned the genre. So, in a way, we've seen our own passing of the Old West, and it adds a special sadness as we ride on, spurs a-janglin', as sundown approaches.

More Berrybender than Lonesome, 07 Jun 2008
A McMurtry western is always something of a treat and, although I suspect his greatest work is already written (in the Lonesome Dove books) he continues to entertain with his tales of the mythical West. This one's no disappointment, and is more in the style of the Berrybender Narratives than the epic scope of Lonesome Dove or Commanche Moon - more humour, less menace. If you have enjoyed his more recent work, this will not disappoint.

A rollicking tale., 22 Nov 2007
A fast moving and enjoyable story with a sympathetic heroine. However, I felt that the ending was rather truncated,and disappointing after the rest of the book.

Telegraph Days? More like Pornograph Days!, 07 Nov 2007
OK it was a brilliantly written novel, but I was suprised it contained so much sex. I'm not an old woman, but still it had me going a bit red and wondering who's looking over my shoulder as I read it on the bus. Yet despite all the rude bits, it's great. McMurtry is without a doubt the master of Western writing and this is no exception. It has everything you could want from a Western novel and a lot that you might not, but are glad it's there anyway. I'd recommend this book to anyone... but maybe not my granny. Eek!

Tongue in Cheek Look at the Old West, 20 Jun 2006
Westerns have always been morality tales. Black hats and white hats fight it out to civilize the frontier. Sometimes the identities shift as the black hats become wealthy ranchers trying to keep farmers (white hats) off range land. The ladies of joy are always treated with respect, even if they don't sleep on the right side of the bed covers. After all, women deserve respect.

Larry McMurtry continues his look at strong, unconventional women in the West by creating an unforgettable character, Nellie Cartwright, who is bigger than the West. While some will compare her to Tasmin Berrybender, Tasmin is a weak reed compared to Nellie.

Nellie comes from a fine Virginia family that has fallen on hard times after her father chooses to head West . . . a place where he's not well equipped to thrive. Nellie takes her brother, Jackson, into town to start a new life after their father "suicided himself". Nellie has an eye for men, but they have a bigger yen for her than she usually has for them. Nellie does, however, enjoy a good toss in the hay with an appealing and energetic man of her choice. Nellie persuades the local sheriff, who proposes marriage early and often, to take on Jackson as a deputy despite his inexperience. Jackson soon proves his worth and becomes a legend for wiping out six gunfighters. Ironically, Jackson proves to be a poor shot for the rest of his life.

Nellie decides to earn her keep by becoming the local telegrapher. She soon has messages heading all over the West.

Mr. McMurtry uses Nellie to pop illusions about Western characters as he sends her all over just in time to meet many of the most famous people. She works for Buffalo Bill. One of the Earp brothers proposes to her. She meets Billy the Kid. She travels to Tombstone just in time for the shootout at the O.K. Corral. After the West is over, she also travels in movie circles as the legends are born on the silver screen.

The book's plot seems very contrived which is its weakness. Nellie's unique qualities and deeply practical orientation serve as a breath of fresh air in the Western genre. Since I love character development so much, I found Telegraph Days to be a fun read. Mr. McMurtry's sense of humor is strong, and you'll find yourself chuckling along with him.

Should we take this book seriously? Not really. Instead, Telegraph Days should caution us about our need to make people into more than they are . . . a lesson that still applies today.

Best book I've read for a very long time, 07