Hopalong Cassidy

By: Clarence E. Mulford

Narrated by: R.C. Bray

Hopalong Cassidy, the iconic western cowboy hero conceived by Clarence Mulford, was immortalized in a highly popular film series starring William Boyd from 1935-1948. A tough-talking and violent character in print, Hopalong Cassidy was remade into a clean-cut screen hero who roamed the West with his sidekicks and fought villains who took advantage of the weak. Here Cassidy is drawn as Mulford originally conceived; rough-and-tumble, foul-mouthed, and thriving on brawls and gunplay.

Set in the raw, unforgiving American frontier, this action-packed classic pits Hopalong Cassidy and the rest of the Bar-20 crew against a violent gang of vigilantes.

Public Domain (P)2013 Dreamscape Media, LLC

one of the best

in a Hopalong Cassidy fan for life. didn't start reading Mulford until 2 years ago, he's incredible.

Great

Very good if you like Hoppy then you will like tis book full of action.

Hoppy Gets Caught

Enjoyed the story. Reminded me of my childhood . Me and my dad used to listen on Saturday mornings.

A Legend Comes Back Strong

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. Mumford is an outstanding writer. Such romance in his descriptions - he paints a picture of the old west that comes straight from personal experience. The poetry of his language is almost impossible to match these days.

Besides that - his characters are so rich. Picture the group in Young Guns (Estevez, Sutherland, Phillips, Sheen, etc.) but more gritty and bad-*ss; while at the same time hilarious with their brotherly digs and unwavering commitment to each other.

What did you like best about this story?

The view into Hopalong's softer side. Seeing Hopalong, the baddest of the bad, become a complete mess around a lady is pretty funny.

Have you listened to any of R. C. Bray’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Thought I was listening to Sam Elliot narrate for a bit! He has a very rich, grit to his voice that really captures the essence of an Old West tale. Great stuff!

Any additional comments?

Check out The Coming of Hopalong and Bar-20 as well. All three are really quite impressive

A Rip-Snortin', Rootin'-Tootin' Thrill Ride!

Topped off by some of the best narration EVER, this fast-paced, thrill-packed, humor-filled adventure story is a page right out of the Old West.

R.C. Bray is so absolutely amazing, so totally engaging, in the telling of this tale, that his narration deserves top billing. His reading has such phenomenal focus, dynamism, and fluency, and his powerful and gritty characterizations are so wonderful, I wish I could award his narration the six stars it deserves. He portrays all the characters, men and woman alike, with complete mastery. Jaw-droppingly, heart-stoppingly fantastic! Honestly, this is the best narration I have ever heard—and I've heard plenty.

As for Clarence E. Mulford's writing, it's gritty, picturesque and beautiful. I felt like I was slapping leather right along with the cow punchers, and walking bow-legged right beside them. His characterizations are so engaging, and the Old Western landscape he paints is so vivid I could see all of it in my mind's eye, and hear the sounds and silences of the wide open spaces with remarkable clarity.

And talk about action! The book is action-packed and non-stop. What a ride! Plus, it's downright hilarious—the playful, jibing banter among the cowpokes kept me laughing throughout.

Even the romance in the book is handled with delightful humor and just a bit of bashful awkwardness—perfect.

One caution. This book was written in 1910, and tells the story from an American cowboy's perspective, so the racial slurs may be off-putting to some listeners. But frankly, that's the way it was, and that's the way it's told. My recommendation is to just let it go, and have fun. Both the story and the narration are worth it.

This book is a joy to listen to. Do not hesitate. Get it. Listen to it. Again, special thanks to R. C. Bray for his terrific narration.

This is a rip-snortin', rootin'-tootin' thrill ride!

If’n it ain’t real life, it ought to be.

If you were a fan of the cinema incarnation of Hopalong Cassidy, the source material takes a bit a getting used to, Mulford’s Hopalong is a bit more reckless, young, and not quite the paragon of virtue as the William Boyd version, but he and the cowboys of the Bar 20 are a charismatic, exuberatant bunch that will grow on you pretty quick. Mulford has a style all his own, both poetic and fun to read, and it’s a wonder his name isn’t as well-known as Louis L’Amour when it comes to the western genre.