Long Way to Texas

Three Novels

By: Dale L. Walker, Elmer Kelton

Narrated by: Pete Bradbury

Long Way to Texas brings together three rare Kelton novels, all with Texas roots.

In Joe Pepper, the titular character, while awaiting a hangman's noose, tells the story of how he discovered a propensity for violence while seeking revenge. The irony is that Joe's keen sense of justice puts him on the wrong side of the law.

Long Way to Texas, taking place just after the Civil War battle of Glorieta Pass in New Mexico, is the story of Lt. David Buckalew, whose remnant of Confederate riflemen is under siege and low on rations and water. Complicating matters is the young officer's self-doubt and fear of failure.

Thomas Canfield of Eyes of the Hawk, known to the Mexican citizens of his town of Stonehill, Texas, as "El Gavilan" - the Hawk - is not a man to forgive a wrong. He sets out to prove this to an insolent ranch man rival who intends to build a fortune at Canfield's expense. The Hawk has a radically different idea: He will destroy the town before yielding to his enemy.

This omnibus edition of three novels by Elmer Kelton features an introduction by Dale L. Walker, author of 23 novels and a past president of the Western Writers of America.

©1975, 1976, 1981 The Estate of Elmer Kelton (introduction: 2011 Dale L. Walker) (P)2018 Recorded Books

Enjoyable story

Good, solid western story writing. Elmer Kelton’s effort to maintain historical accuracy to the setting which makes it more enjoyable.

Excellent!

I believe I will read, or listen to as many Elmer Kelton books as possible.

Excellent stories

Great reads or listens Kelton is one of the greats of the western genre especially about Texas

Only complaint is the narrator

The narrator has a habit of delivering one sentence with full breath in the next sentence with lesser breath which makes it hard to hear if the audio is adjusted to the same volume. So I had to adjust the volume up higher than I wanted so that I could hear those other sentences that were not well supported

The Nature of Men

First Novel = Joe Pepper, good average western tale.

Second Novel = "Long Way to Texas": I believe this says something about humanity as does the third novel, "Eye of the Hawk."

The latter two, as is Elmer Kelton's wont, is not about good guys and bad guys. It's about the nature of men. What they think about and act on determines who they are. Is this man or that man good or bad, well part of life is determining such things about those around you.

These two novels read more like Judges or Job than Zane Grey or Louis L'Amour. Good stuff.

Doc Holidavid.