Seven Rivers West (Contemporary American Fiction) [Paperback]

Edward Hoagland (Author)

Book Description

Series: Contemporary American Fiction | Publication Date: September 1, 1987

SEVEN RIVERS WEST chronicles the adventures of Cecil Roop, an easterner drawn to the West in the 1880s in search of a grizzly cub to bring back east to show on the Vaudeville circuit. During his quest--which evolves into a hunt for a bigfoot--he picks up eccentric companions: Sutton, a circus performer in search of gold; Charley, a wily old frontiersman; Roy, a one-armed, toothless gold hunter; Margaret, a serene Indian woman; and a pack of loyal dogs. Full of high drama, bear attacks, run-ins with displaced Indians, and set against the stunning backdrop of the natural wonders of the West at the turn of the century, this novel is at once a picaresque adventure and the exuberant story of an unprecedented quest.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Hoagland shows again that he is one of the finest nature writers in America in this novel about three charmingly eccentric characters who travel through the wilderness in the turn-of-the-century West. PW called this as "vivid and authentic as an Audubon painting."
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This is not a fast-paced Western but a deliberately written account of a trek through the mountains of the West with time taken to appreciate the beauties of nature and to observe the wildlife. Cecil Roop goes west in search of a young grizzly to train for vaudeville. With him is Sutton, a skilled high diver, who seeks gold. As they proceed they acquire companions, human and animal, most of whom fall victim to the dangers of the wild. The characters are fascinating, the writing is excellent. A novel for readers who enjoy nature, with all its beauties and hazards, this will please Hoagland's many fans. Sister Avila, Acad . of the Holy Angels, Minneapolis
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 319 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (September 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140102760
• ISBN-13: 978-0140102765
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,905,778 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Rare Find!, August 25, 2005

By 

Thomas L. Ogren (San Luis Obispo, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Seven Rivers West (Hardcover)

I bought a copy of Seven Rivers West at a used books sale at my own public library & just happened to start reading it a few days ago. Wow! What a rare find, what a treasure! A swashbuckling, no holds bared, uncensored, wild, exciting, deeply rich tall tale of the West in the early 1880's.
I real slots of Westerns and have started to write some, too, and once in a while I come across a writer, new to me, one that I greatly admire. The author, Edward Hoagland, is such a writer, one that I'll be searching out, looking for more of his Westerns to read.
A combination of fact and fiction, of fantasy and reality, Hoagland in some way kind of reminds me of the great fiction of Isaac Singer. The book too, in a way, reminds me of Lonesome Dove...at any rate, it is the story of a bunch of very odd characters who are headed into the wild mountains of the Rockies, in search of love, gold, adventure, and grizzly bears to catch and tame. Each character in the book is flawed, is real, is quite human, and Hoagland's writing is packed with interesting detail that only one who has lived close to the wild could appreciate and put on paper. I highly recommend that anyone who happens to see this review of mine, that they get a hold of a copy of Seven Rivers West, then put aside some serious time, as you'll need it. This book will hook you, hold you, and charm you.