The Texas author paints a dramatic picture of the wild-west lives of the widely scattered adventurers and aboriginals of Texas in the 19th century in this well-researched novel. There are only two principal characters. One is a very young veteran of the War of 1812 and later of the Civil War, named Captain Jefferson Kyle Kitt, originally from Appalachia, who later becomes widowed, penniless, and jobless. The other is a southern Texas German girl orphaned at age six, by raiding Kiowa natives then abducted by them, then returned to white settlers by Indian Agents at age 10. Their lives become entwined as poverty-stricken Captain Kitt reluctantly contracts to return the sullen girl to relatives as he travels around Texas reading newspapers at local town gatherings. This is in a world of divided political loyalties, especially after the Civil War, lawlessness, poverty and violence.
The geography and wild west culture of Texas in that era is well depicted. The happy ending in the last chapter covers a whole generation after old Captain Kitt dies and is a welcome surprise.
A somewhat unrealistic gunfight in Durand with a pursuing child pornographer adds suspense, and the use of dimes that he collects from his readings, rammed into shotgun shells, proves to be deadly and unique.
The map of Texas in the front of the book is too small to be a readable useful guide does not enlarge with changing the font size.
The writing, in mostly short snappy sentences, flows smoothly and flawlessly with many memorable descriptions.
“Above and behind them the Dipper turned on its great handle as if to pour night itself out onto the dreaming continent and each of its seven stars gleamed from between the fitful passing clouds.”
“At the age he had attained with his life span short before him he had begun to look upon the human world with the indifference of a condemned man.”
This novel has now been adapted as a movie starring Tom Hanks and Helena Zengel that has got good reviews. I have not watched it but I cannot imagine it being as good as the book as movies based on books seldom are, in my opinion.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/10
Thanks, Lois.
The Passionate Reader 