Hanging Judge [Mass Market Paperback]

Elmer Kelton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 2002

Elmer Kelton, voted "The Greatest Western Writer of All Time" by the Western Writers of America, is a legend in the field of Western literature. Famous for his realistic characters and accurate depictions of the history of his home state of Texas, Elmer Kelton continues to write exceptional novels of American history.

In Hanging Judge, Justin Moffitt is eager to help keep the peace as a deputy marshal in small-town Texas. That is, until Justin is assigned to the wrong marshal-a "hanging judge" who is as famous for his ruthlessness as he is for his commitment to justice. When Justin's boss hangs a controversial criminal, Justin must defend himself against an army of friends and relatives, desperate for revenge.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Recently voted 'the greatest Western writer of all time' by the Western Writers of America, Kelton creates characters more complex than L'Amour's."-Kirkus Reviews

"Elmer Kelton writes of early Texas with unerring authority. His knowledge of the state's history is complete, too-drawn from the lives of real people . . . . The fate of Texas is at hand, and Kelton will have readers eager to find out what happens."-Fort Worth Star-Telegram

About the Author

Elmer Kelton (1926-2009) was the award-winning author of more than forty novels, including The Time It Never Rained, Other Men’s Horses, Texas Standoff and Hard Trail to Follow. He grew up on a ranch near Crane, Texas, and earned a journalism degree from the University of Texas. His first novel, Hot Iron, was published in 1956. Among his awards have been seven Spurs from Western Writers of America and four Western Heritage awards from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. His novel The Good Old Boys was made into a television film starring Tommy Lee Jones. In addition to his novels, Kelton worked as an agricultural journalist for 42 years, and served in the infantry in World War II. He died in 2009.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Forge Books; 1st edition (April 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812561562
• ISBN-13: 978-0812561562
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #793,788 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Elmer Kelton of San Angelo, Texas is a native Texan and author of over 50 Western novels. He has won many awards for his work and has been recognized as the Greatest Western Writer of all time by the Western Writers of America, Inc. He is the author of Forge's Texas Ranger series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Impressive if downbeat Western, April 10, 2008

By 

F. J. Harvey "Cricket ,country music and a go... (Birmingham England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hanging Judge (Mass Market Paperback)

The eponymous Judge is a real life historical figure ,Isaac Parker ,whose vigorous pursuit and punishment of malefactors while on the Federal Bench at Fort Smith ,on the cusp of Indian Territory ,from 1875 onwards earned him that soubriquet ,and the disapprobation of the more Liberal Eastern newspapers .He had frequent recourse to the rope ,often via mass executions and his methods were highly regarded by the locals ,if not by the Eastern establishment .He is shown in the novel as a decent man marked by an unswerving dedication to the law and its upkeep. He is a key figure in the book but not its main character.

The book opens on a hanging -that of a mixed race (part white part Indian)youth Barney Tankard who while drunk om illicit whiskey had killed a man .The whiskey has been sold to him by Harvey Oates who has built up a substantial business by illegally selling liquor to Indians but whom the law can never quite catch in the act .Sam Dark the Marshall who brought him to book is sickened and guilt ridden at his death .When the vengeful Tankard family confront him he is rescued by the timely arrival of Justin Moffittt who wants to become a Marshall too and is taken on ,Sam acting as his mentor.Enlisting the aid of the Tankard family Sam goes after Oates and seeks to bring him to justice .

The story from then on mixes the pursuit of Oates with the maturation of Justin ,from a deep suspicion of Indians to an acceptance ,and to a realisation that devotion to the law may run contrary to personal feelings and friendships.The action scenes are plentiful and vividly described but it is the personal journey of Justsin and Sam that gives this book its edge and bite

The ending is powerful and bleak and the book is a must for Western lovers and will be enjoyed by broad minded readers who do not normally explore that fictional terrain

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars not much about the judge, July 10, 2007

By 

Porcelain Monkey (St. Louis - The Hill) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hanging Judge (Mass Market Paperback)

the book is more of a young man maturing and an old sheriff guiding than a judge making men swing. still a good story.