Customer Reviews

Westerners (Five Star First Edition Western)

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The Westerners is a series of short stories. The heroes and heroines have a love for all things "west" and Zane Grey is eloquent in his descriptions of the places,geography and scenes surrounding his characters. The tone is "romantic" and personal, including some Zane Grey experiences in exploring and being in the Southwest himself. For an "up" experience of the romance of the West, you can't beat Zane Grey's The Westerners.

This short story collection combines both fiction and non-fiction material spread over a period of 60 years from earliest publication date to the last story published. One can only wonder why it took so long for some of them to be published. The diverse elements and range of the stories can also be found, extending from Death Valley to the movie set of Hollywood, to the coast of Australia; but in what ever region or setting, Zane Grey gives the reader the feeling he is there with his colorful descriptions and detailed nuances of speech and action. The title story, The Westerners, is typical Zane Grey, with a touch of the outlandish. I suppose that is because the story takes place in Reno, Nevada in the 1930's and involves a marriage and a divorce the daughter of the couple involved wants to stop in any way she can. So, easterner Katherine Hempstead enlists the aid of cowboy Phil Cameron to stop the proceedings by, shall we say, unusual methods. You have to read it to beleive it. The non-fiction story, Death Valley, relates a hike Zane Grey took across the floor of Death Valley in January 1919. One of many such trips he would make in preparation of writing Wanderer of the Wasteland. It is a marvelous and detailed step by step account of his adventure in this valley of death, and the perils and dangers he faced in doing this. Zane Grey's descriptive qualites and powerful imagery of land and sky and mountain are unsurpassed by any author; and he tells a good story too. Get this collection.

The title of the book is the first problem, as only some of the stories are westerns. The first story, The Ranger, is fun to read. The actual story which shares the name of the book has almost nothing to do with anything western. I found it very boring and could not wait to finish it. The problem is that it takes up a good portion of the book. The last couple of stories are about whales and fishermen in Australia. One of them was written by Loren Grey, the daughter of Zane. These stories are actually the most interesting parts of the book and for me they made the book worth reading. I recommend you take a copy and read the first and last two stories. Unless you have nothing better to do, leave off the others in between.

Excellent service, and the book was in the condition as they described. I will certainly buy again from this person.