Prairie: The Legend of Charles Burton Irwin and the Y6 Ranch (v. I) [Paperback]

Anna Lee Waldo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 12, 2000

Prairie is a vivid portrait of the spirit and passions of a bold new land and of the men and women who embodied its shining future. C.B. Irwin, a legend, who rode the wild American west into a new frontier - the 20th century. From wagon trains and cattle drives to the birth of the railroads and airplanes, he shaped Americas destiny.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Waldo, author of the bestselling Sacajawea, here uses the life and history of Charles B. Irwin as the basis for her mammoth second novel. A prominent figure in the West at the turn of the century, Irwin crossed paths with the likes of Tom Horn, Tom Mix and Theodore Roosevelt. He was a successful and influential farmer, rancher, producer of a Wild West show and superintendent of the Union Pacific Railroad. He was also an unpretentious, happily married man with no vices worth mentioning. Thus his story is somewhat on the boring side, and it is no surprise that he lingers in obscurity. Presented here in a series of short episodes, his life loses continuity and interest. 400,000 first printing; major ad/promo; author tour.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"A rare pleasure." -- New York Daily News

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Product Details

• Paperback: 536 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (December 12, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595149790
• ISBN-13: 978-0595149797
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #595,453 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At least my second-favorite novel of all time., October 12, 1998

By 

"thegrandfool" (North California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prairie (Mass Market Paperback)

It has been several years since I read this book but I still count it as close to being my all-time favorite. I thought it a better read than Sacajawea. I found Charlie Irwin's story fascinating, not the least because we might be related. Irwin seems to have been one of the last great characters of the Old West. As portrayed by Waldo, he gave us a lot that made our heritage richer. Yet, when I try to search the Web to find out more about Irwin, I find nothing. Thanks to Waldo for helping us to remember such a noble if tragically short life. C. B. Irwin gave so much in such a short time!

Periodically, I check the Web, hoping to find that Anna Lee Waldo has offered us another historical/biographical novel to cherish.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books I have ever read, March 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Prairie (Paperback)

I was very impressed with this book. I live in Colorado Springs and was amazed at how historical this book is. I have been to the graves of some of the charactors in the book and feel as if I know them.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Everything you ever wanted to know about CB Irwin (and more), January 25, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Prairie (Paperback)

This is an incredibily thorough, detailed book about the life of CB Irwin. Anna Lee Waldo has done an incredible job researching the subject. The book gives a wonderful insight into what life was like for farmers and ranchers in Kansas, Colorado and Wyoming during 1870-1930. As this is a true story, it is often lacking the exciting plot twists that you would have in a novel.