Bar-20

A Hopalong Cassidy Novel

By: Clarence E. Mulford

Narrated by: R.C. Bray

Clarence Mulford's classic Western introduces the legendary Hopalong Cassidy and other colorful cohorts from the Bar-20 ranch. While the Hopalong Cassidy of film and TV (portrayed by the silver-haired, avuncular William Boyd) was clean-cut and polished, Mulford's original Cassidy is rough-and-tumble and foul-mouthed, thriving on brawls and gun-fights.

Bar-20 depicts Cassidy as he was originally conceived, fierce and free-wheeling, and matches the cowboy hero up against Slim Travennes, the violent head of a vigilante gang. Filled with hard characters and gritty gun-play, Bar-20 is a Hopalong Cassidy story from the golden days of the Western that is not to be missed.

Public Domain (P)2013 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Surprisingly Good !

Like many I became acquainted with Hopalong Cassidy through the William Boyd films, and while I've know for a while that the character was based on a series of books, I'd never bothered to ever read them, and now that I have I'll definitely be back for more.

First off the Cassidy character like James Bond, or Matt Helm fit into that category of adaptations where the cinema versions are basically completely different characters than their literary source material. Just know up front that if you've a fan of the movie/television hero, this Hopalong with be a complete stranger. For stories written in the early 1900s, these tales hold up remarkable well, Mulford's writing style is a joy to read; extremely witty, and full of action, and even better to listen to like you're being told a story round a campfire. R.C. Bray is the perfect narrator for these kind of yarns, and I will definitely be looking for other titles with his talents.

Now for the elephant in the room. A lot of comments are made about the racism. Characters in fiction just like in real life aren't perfect. Having racist thought, just like being sexist, or amoral are legit character traits, and I don't expect characters in fiction to be paragons of virtue anymore than I do the people I interact with every day. A fictional character doesn't always have to be likeable, they just need to feel real. If you remember that you're reading historical fiction about the mythological wild west, all of Mulford's characters ring true to the period, not the modern contrivance of stories set in an earlier time where the characters think and act like a 21st century individual when a person from that period wouldn't. If you can accept that, you're in for a good time.

Not for the Woke

These stories were written in a time and place where your feelings about most subjects didn't matter. The stories are gritty and raw with language used by most of the people at that time and in these places. It's authentic and real. If you can't stomach hearing words that hurt your feelings, find something else. This a great story told by a very good narrator. The portrayals of the Indians and Mexicans may be negative, but they're stories founded in actual events. Sorry, most Indians were not peaceful, nature loving pacifists. They were warring and brutal. The depictions of the villains, white, Indian and Mexican, are factual and the details of their depravity have filled the historical record. If you can't handle truthful story telling, you'll miss out.

not your dad's hoppalong

I'm a super fan of hopalong cassidy (William boyd) but this reads more like django. its gritty action packed and not for the easily offended. I don't know with hoppy I love more now.

Most excellent!!

Clarence Milford puts ‘me all to shame. This is Mark Twain quality writing. Great audio performance!! Hope all of Mumford’s work will be available!!!

Disappointed

I just finish listening to the Hopalong Cassidy books that Louis L'Amour wrote. I thought I'd like to hear from the original author. I am so disappointed. This Hopalong is part of a mean crew of men who seem to enjoy hunting & gunning down men. I didn't even finish it so great was my disgust. I won't bother to get any more of this authors work.

can't do it.

Bray is a great narrator.
This may be an accurate dramatization of the time, culture, and personnel...
The abundant racism detracts so much from the entertainment value, that I couldn't finish it.