Prairie Gothic: The Story of a West Texas Family (Frances B. Vick) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Elmer Kelton (Foreword) "It was my great fortune to have been raised by a woman who loved language, told wonderful stories, and believed that passing those stories along..." (more)
Key Phrases: ranching business, Joe Sherman, Tom Ross, New Mexico (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"Prairie Gothic" is full of Texas lore. Erickson tells the story of people in the context of a specific place. This place, instrumental in shaping their lives, is the flatland prairie of northwestern Texas that has gone by various names (High Plains, South Plains, Staked Plains, and Llano Estacado), as well as the rugged country on its eastern boundary, often referred to as the "caprock canyonlands." One branch of Erickson's family arrived in Texas in 1858, settling in Parker County, west of Weatherford. Another branch, sturdy Quaker farmers from Ohio, helped establish the first Anglo settlement on the Llano Estacado in 1881, near present-day Lubbock. Erickson's family interacts with significant historical figures, such as Cynthia Ann Parker, and includes members of the Estacado Quaker colony. There is the story of Martha Sherman, who died at the hands of the Comanche, and the tale of the notorious outlaw Tom Ross. "Prairie Gothic" also includes Erickson's encounters with famous Texas writers, such as John Graves and J. Evetts Haley. Burrowing deep into his West Texas roots, Erickson discovered people of substance and strong character, made that way in part by the challenges they faced in a harsh environment. He has created a fascinating blend of family and regional history. Excerpts from journals, letters, and other original sources enrich the narrative.

About the Author

JOHN R. ERICKSON, a fifth generation Texan, was born and raised in the Texas Panhandle. In 1982 Erickson launched the Hank the Cowdog series, now published by Penguin Putnam. He and his wife run their own ranch and commercial beef cattle operation. A member of the Texas Institute of Letters, Erickson has been profiled in Southern Living, American Cowboy Magazine, and on CBS's Evening News with Dan Rather.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: University of North Texas Press (October 4, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574412035
• ISBN-13: 978-1574412031
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #550,902 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent portrayal of a West Texas family., November 26, 2005

By	Jan E. Wiedemann "JWTexas" (College Station, TX United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a well written book about a West Texas Family. John R. Erickson, creator of Hank the Cowdog Series, introduces us to his Texas family along with descriptive stories of life in the pioneering era of the West.

5.0 out of 5 stars Prairie Gothic - A Texas Genisis, May 14, 2007

By	Charles M. Yates (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My family came to Texas when it still belonged to Spain and I grew up in South Texas in roughly the same generation as John Erickson. I saw my whole family in this book. They were all there, the outlaws and lawmen, the ranchers and shop keepers, the drunks and the Baptists. Erickson has what only the truly great writers have: the ability to tell a story. And it is a story of his family, perhaps the hardest subject for a writer to write about with competence. There are two distinct gifts I received from this book. The first was the honesty, tenderness and love with which Erickson treated the story of some of his relations who may not have been at the pinnacle of society's list of admirable role models. The second is the amazing strength, determination and grit of the women prior to our modern times. We have few of their equal today. Whether you're from Connecticut, Utah, Florida or Texas, this book is worth reading and rereading.