Customer Reviews

Reminiscences of a Ranger: Early Times in Southern California (Western Frontier Library)

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

 

 

Excellent book for anyone interested in a first person account of life in frontier Los Angeles. Although perhaps prone to exagerate a little, Bell paints a vivid picture of outlaws, gunmen, bull fights and grizzly bears during the wild and lawless times of 1850's Southern California. Just as informative as "Two Years Before the Mast".

As an English teacher, I found the book to be refreshingly authentic. The use of the vernacular of the time is terrific. The stories are a little outrageous, but Mr. Bell was an author and a delightful wordsmith. I loved this book.

Fascinating, rollicking (but wordy) account of the early days of Los Angeles before the high rises, cars, sidewalks and even streets. Half the fun is trying to figure out what really happened and what Bell "padded" to make the stories better. I assure you that the stories of the Great Cat Roundup of 1849, the Wild Fandangos, the shootings and subsequent hangings are all very much true. Buy this book and discover Los Angeles as it used to be: The small but promising city where quirky, elegant residents rubbed elbows with bandits, Cattle rustlers and indians...probably on the very same spot on which you stand.