Blessed McGill: A Novel (Southwestern Writers Collection Series) [Paperback]

Edwin Shrake (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1997 | Series: Southwestern Writers Collection Series

First published by Doubleday in 1968, this ironic tale of the Old Southwest--introduced by Bill Wittliff--recounts the life story of one Peter Hermano McGill, whose brawling progress across the frontier ends in his surprising elevation as the first Roman Catholic saint in North America. Illustrated by Charles Shaw .

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An absolutely first-rate account of the rambunctious life and times of the Reconstruction years in Texas...an enthralling era of derring-do which finds its perfect chronicler in Mr. Shrake. His novel has all the vigor and excitement of a war Apache in full cry." --George Plimpton

"Shrake writes in a hard-driving, ironic style of extreme naturalism, giving a very different view of McGill's sainthood and providing a colorful description of the old West." --Publishers Weekly

"The high adventure in Mr. Shrake's book is interwoven with fascinating material about the lives and customs of the Indians." --New York Review of Books --This text refers to the Perfect Paperback edition.

About the Author

Edwin "Bud" Shrake has written 10 novels, including CUSTER'S BROTHER'S HORSE, BLESSED MCGILL, BORDERLAND, AND STRANGE PEACHES. Movie credits include TOM HORN, KID BLUE, and SONGWRITER. Shrake lives in Austin, Texas. --This text refers to the Perfect Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Univ of Texas Pr (November 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0292777248
• ISBN-13: 978-0292777248
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,031,826 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful tale of the western frontier., June 10, 1999

By 

Ian Holmes (Moama, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blessed McGill: A Novel (Southwestern Writers Collection Series) (Paperback)

McGill is an inspiring hero, immensely capable, with a huge zest for life. He packs incredible adventures into his short life, yet tells his story in a delightfully laid back style. He combines an interest and tolerance of all ideas, religions and philosophies, with a violent intolerance of certain purveyors of them. McGill is a warrior/philosopher, born, raised and ideally suited to this harsh land. His story is one of violence, love, sin and redemption, but it is often hard to distinguish which is which.

This book is a "must read" for all lovers of powerfully written adventure stories, but may make all other westerns dull and unimaginative in comparison.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rivetting tale that keeps you guessing., August 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Blessed McGill: A Novel (Southwestern Writers Collection Series) (Paperback)

This is an incredible tale from beginning to end. Shrake has developed a character that is the first person born on the American Continent to achieve sainthood, and until the last pages of the book the reader is kept guessing how he could deserve such an honor. The book reads as a memoir written by McGill as he tells the story of his life while awaiting his death. He lives the life of an indian scalper, buffalo hunter, and gold miner in 19th century Texas from the time of the Texas War of Independence until after the US Civil War. The more you read of this man's account of his life, the less you can believe he could ever desert to be Sainted.

This book has long been out of print, and its re-printing is an excellent opportunity for new readers to discover a classic western. Any fan of Larry McMurty's books in the "Lonesome Dove" will love "Blessed McGill" and recognize that McMurty has probably gotten some of his writting style from reading this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A blessed read, December 4, 2007

By 

Ed Crumley "The Host — A novel of life ... - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blessed McGill (Texas Literary Classics) (Perfect Paperback)

As a student of Texas history in general and a reader of fiction about Texas and the Southwest in particular, I found Blessed McGill by Edwin "Bud" Shrake to be rich with descriptive color and accurate detail about the rugged lives and times of both settlers and natives in the 19th century. The characters are developed in depth.

His repeated use of sensory descriptions such as the smells of things adds a dimensional aspect not usually found in this kind of fare. In my opinion, the only other Western fiction writer who stacks up with Shrake is Elmer Kelton.