Customer Reviews

Prairie: The Legend of Charles Burton Irwin and the Y6 Ranch

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This book was one of the best books I have read. Anna Lee does a wounderful job telling C.B.Erwins life story while keeping the readers attention. I recommend reading all of her books she does a wouderful job!

I was consumed by this book. I even read during my lunch hour all the while wondering what would happen next. This is undoubtedly the best book I've ever read. Anna Lee Waldo did a fabulous job of taking a real to life character and telling his life story in a fashion that strongly held my interest from beginning to end. I fully intend to read Waldo's other books.

This book was not what I expected. It only contained half of the complete story. The contents showed over 1000 pages and the actual book had around 500 pages. This version of book ends in 1904, while other printings I have seen continue on until C.B. Irwins' death in the 1930's. The advertisement for it should specify Volume 1. I was very disappointed, since I knew C.B.'s daughter and this version ends before she is mentioned.

As much as I have loved all of Anna Lee Waldo's meticulously researched historical novels, this was a very pleasant surprise for it's unusual subject matter. So little would be known about Charles Irwin and his interesting family were it not for her efforts to bring them to life in this novel - which she did with her usual superb eye for detail. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves the west, cowboys, rodeos, horses, racing and family sagas. It has so many great historical tie-ins that a simple review is not enough... do yourself a favor and pick this book up - it's a great read.

I bought the book in 1986 when something said I should buy it. My great uncle was one of Steamboat's handlers. He and his brothers & sisters were all born and raised in Laramie. In doing family researching on George Shanton, I just finished re-reading "Prairie" only to find it just as interesting as the first time. Life in Laramie in the early 1900's was rough. My families lived in Laramie in the late 1800's/early 1900's and I wonder how did they do that. Anna Lee told how they lived, had fun, enjoyed one another. She wrote about Tom Horn (my great uncle knew Tom & worked for John Coble), John Pershing, the James and Younger brothers, and others. What a book! If you love western history, this book is a MUST READ.

C.B Irwin is one of the most colourful characters that lived during the turn of the century in the United States!. This book was a very thorough and complete look at a colourful life and a legend. He was an adventure-lover, and with his wonderful wife Etta by his side, nothing was too difficult for him to attempt. We get as clear a look as possible at the US Midwest from around the 1880's to about 1920. C.B. was raised by a tough but fair father, (his mother died when he was quite young) and he grew up to be a giant of a man, both in stature and in reputation. Irwin was a fair man, who didn't allow any shirkers. Even his children had to learn to tow the line. This is a wonderful book that depicts life as a prairie rancher exactly as it must have been. Waldo's monumental work is well worth the effort to read.