Customer Reviews

Yellowstone Kelly

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I read this book for the first time over 20 years ago. Loved it then, still do. Will Henry/Clay Fisher brings these people from the past alive. They become living breathing sympathetc characters in this book and all his others.

Bravery, cowardice, pathos it's all here. One of my prized posessions is a picture of me by Luther S. " Yellowstone " Kelly's grave above Billings, Montana.

Will Henry/Clay Fisher is far better, than the more popular Louis L'Amour, at evoking a real sense of place, time and history.

Prior to entering the military in the late 1950s I saw a movie entitled "Yellowstone Kelly." I thought it very good, especially with ole Clint 'Cheyenne' Walker in the lead role. A Warner Brothers extravaganza of the Sioux Wars with John Russell playing the Hunkpapa war leader, Gall.

Later as I began to read westerns I learned that Luther Sage "Yellowstone" Kelly was a real person, and that he actually did accomplish stupendous things out west. So much so that the Sioux (Lakota) not only feared him, but gave him the honored name "The Little Man With The Strong Heart." In this novel from Clay Fisher/Will Henry he is also known as "Man Who Never Lays Down His Gun."

He did all this while serving as an Army scout for General George Crook in Crook's far-flung Department of the Platte. Some of his fellow scouts were said to have commented that Kelly could smell an Indian in the dark, better than they could see one in the light of day. In his days of Army service he very much helped write the history of the Yellowstone Valley.

This novel based on events from Luther Sage Kelly's life by Clay Fisher was published in hardcover in 1957. In and out of print since then, it has more recently been reprinted by Leisure Westerns using Will Henry as author. Since they were both pen names for William Henry Allen, no matter how they print the book or to whom they give credit as author, this is one wonderful saga from the mists of those far gone times.

Do yourself a favor, and spend a couple nights reading this. Your time spent with Luther Sage Kelly, or Yellowstone Kelly will not be wasted.

Semper Fi.

Prior to entering the military from high school in the late 1950s, I saw a Warner Bros. movie entitled "Yellowstone Kelly". I thought it very good, especially with 'ole' Clint 'Cheyenne' Walker in the lead role. This Warner Bros. extravaganza of the Lakota (Sioux)wars also starred John 'Lawman' Russell playing the venerable Hunkpapa war leader, Gall. Throw in Andra Martin and Ed 'Kookie' Byrnes and you have one solid western from Warner Bros. pictures.

Much later as I began to read westerns and western history, learned that Luther Sage 'Yellowstone' Kelly had been a real historical figure, and that he actually did accomplish stupendous things out west. So much so that the Lakota (Sioux) not only feared him, but gave him the honored name "The Little Man With The Strong Heart". In this novel from Clay Fisher/Will Henry, Kelly is also known as "Man Who Never Lays Down His Gun".

Yellowstone Kelly did most of his accomplishments while serving as a U.S. Army scout for General George Crook in Crook's far-flung Department of the Platte. Some of Kelly's fellow scouts were said to comment that Kelly could smell an Indian in the dark, better than they could see one in the light of day. In his days of army service Kelly very much helped write a portion of history for the Yellowstone Valley.

This excellent novel based on events from Luther Sage Kelly's life by author Clay Fisher was originally published in hardcover in 1957. In and out of print since then, it has more recently been reprinted by Leisure Books using Will Henry as its author. Will Henry and Clay Fisher, pen names of Henry Wilson Allen, were one and the same person. No matter how they print it or to whom they give credit as author, this is one wonderful saga coming down to us through the mists of those far gone western times.

Do yourself a favor, and spend a couple nights reading this fine novel. Your time spent with Luther Sage Kelly, or Yellowstone Kelly will not be wasted. It might even move you to read a biography of the man, plus he left us an autobiography of himself as well.

Well recommended.

Semper Fi.

Prolific western storyteller Clay Fisher/Will Henry turns in another winner with this story of Luther "Yellowstone" Kelly, trapper, scout and Indian fighter. Kelly's trouble begins when he takes on a raw tenderfoot in Montana high country, then must save the life of a Indian maiden wounded by a Sioux warrior. Kelly has an uneasy relationship with chief Gall and manages to keep his hair and stay one jump ahead of the Indians, led by Gall's dangerous nephew who claims the girl as his captive. The book describes the hard and lonely life of a mountain man as Kelly adapts to the lore of the red man to survive in the wilderness. This author has his own peculiar way of narrating events that can best described as droll, a personal stamp that is present in his many other works. Fisher's story was also made into an excellent Warner Brothers feature starring Clint Walker as the title character.