True Grit (Paperback)

by Charles Portis (Author), Donna Tartt (Afterword)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Charles Portis has long been acclaimed as one of America's foremost comic writers. True Grit is his most famous novel--first published in 1968, and the basis for the movie of the same name starring John Wayne. It tells the story of Mattie Ross, who is just fourteen years of age when a coward going by the name of Tom Chaney shoots her father down in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and robs him of his life, his horse, and $150 in cash money. Mattie leaves home to avenge her father's blood. With the one-eyed Rooster Cogburn, the meanest available U.S. Marshal, by her side, Mattie pursues the homicide into Indian Territory.

True Grit is eccentric, cool, straight, and unflinching, like Mattie herself. From a writer of true cult status, this is an American classic through and through. This new edition, with a smart new package and an afterword by acclaimed author Donna Tartt, will bring this masterpiece to an even broader audience.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Overlook TP (August 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585679380
• ISBN-13: 978-1585679386
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #25,866 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I Read Cover to Cover, February 12, 2009

By	Rene Anthony Navarrette (Los Angeles ,Ca. USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

True Grit is an adventure story told in a plain style.I sat down on a flight from Louisville to Los Angeles and spent an extra hour and a half finishing the book on a bench at LAX.This is one of those instances where I do not want to ruin the book by seeing the movie,I recommend this book.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than the movie, October 17, 2008

By	J. D. Best, author "The Shopkeeper & Leadville" (Arizona) - See all my reviews

Portis combines an action oriented Western with a fish-out-of-water tale, sprinkles in humor, and then pretends it's all the reminisces of an old woman. A comedy disguised as a Western and a novel disguised as a memoir. Quite a feat. And Portis makes it work. If this reminds you of Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, there's good reason. Different sense of humor, but funny nonetheless.

True Grit is told in the first person by Mattie (the young girl in the movie version) after she has become an old woman. The book is well-written and fun as hell. If you've only seen the movie, then grab this book for a lazy day camping or at the beach, but don't be surprised if your friends keep asking you what you're laughing about.

The Shopkeeper
The Shut Mouth Society

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great American Novel, March 2, 2009

By	John Winterson Richards "lisvanebooks" - See all my reviews

It is curious that the rather self-conscious quest for "The Great American Novel" usually ignores the one exclusively American genre, the Western. The snobbishness or inferiority complex - or both, for they are usually related - of the New York-centred "American Literary Establishment" in this regard has always been counter-productive: after all, it was James Fenimore Cooper who first put the American novel on the world map, and Mark Twain remains the first name which occurs to most foreigners when American novelists are mentioned today, but both were considered rustic and vulgar in their day for looking westwards for their subject matter. The self-appointed arbiters of taste often overlook this beautiful little novel for much the same reason - and because it was made into a successful film. In fact it is a great tribute to the quality of the storytelling that so much of the novel - especially the pitch perfect dialogue - went straight into the film: this is rare for an adaptation. Having said that, fans of the film should be warned that there are some changes, and those who would prefer to keep undisturbed their memory of John Wayne leaping over the fence at the end might wish to steer clear of the book. Those who take it on its own terms will love it.