Last Go Round: A Real Western

by Ken Babbs and Ken Kesey

Book Overview

It was around a sagebrush campfire in eastern Oregon that Kesey first heard the tale from his father - about the legendary "last go round" that took place at the original Pendleton Round Up in 1911.

Hundreds of riders were competing for the first World Championship Broncbusting title, but it was one special trio of buckeroos that provided the drama: a popular black cowboy, George Fletcher; a Nez Perce Indian cowboy, Jackson Sundown; and a fresh-faced...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140176675
• ISBN13: 9780140176674
• Release Date: July 1995
• Publisher: Penguin Adult Hc/Tr
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.1" x 7.7"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Another Kesey Gem

If you are a fan of Ken Kesey this western-flavored tale that Kesey wrote with the help of another former Merry Prankster Ken Babbs will not disappoint you.

Entertaining

This book tells the story of the first Pendleton Round-Up. The Round-Up was organized to settle once and for all who was the greatest cowboy in the world. Contestants arrived from across the continent to vie for the prize, a magnificent saddle. Three of the men who came to try their luck were Jackson Sundown, a Nez Perce Indian, George Fletcher, an African American from Pendleton, and Jonathan E. Lee Spain, a youngster from Tennessee. When the final scores were tallied, these three came out in a draw, so special events had to be added to the contest to determine the winner. The book tells the story from Spain's point-of-view. As one of the youngest contestants, his experience with rodeo competitions was limited. The authors take us behind the scenes to see how the rodeo favorites took him under their wing, teaching him more than just how to compete in the ring. The story is quite entertaining, with a full cast of characters, from Buffalo Bill to a young girl named Meyerhoff, who could ride like the wind. The only odd part of the story is the beginning, which is set in modern times, with Spain as an old man- -it's a bit hard to understand where the plot is going at first, but once it finally gets going, there's no stopping it.

What's History got to do with it?

If you are looking for a complete and perfect, factual, historical and deathly boring scholarly tome on the first big Pendleton rodeo, this isn't it. What this is, is a great little book that tells a great yarn about some people who may or may not have any resemblance to people that may or may not have been in Pendleton, OR around the time that this book is set. The characters are vivid and the relationship between them is both ribald & enlightening. The young Spain comes up against the elder Jackson & Fletcher. They show him around their world, a world that they have made a niche in for themselves in, and Spain comes out the other side older & wiser. Kesey points out many of the injustices that faced the Indians and Afro Americans in the new west. Spain learns about strength, weakness and right and wrong is an age where they are still working out what these things mean. Kesey shows some of the great mastery of language that made him a hero to many readers with Sometimes a Great Notion. There are sections of this book that are as good as any he ever wrote. (As Spain is nodding off to sleep in Jackson's teepee he watches the smoke curl toward the roof, turn into snakes and then into tiny delicate horses he doesn't want to scare away.)This is a great read. Apparently there are people who have an issue with Kesey for taking people out of history and creating a story from their legends, and having a different interpretation form the accepted legend. Kesey was a storyteller, not a historian. There are great pictures of the real people whose story Kesey has attempted to fictionalize. If you want a fun and light book from a master storyteller, this is a good choice. Don't get hung up with facts, enjoy yourself and buy this book.

It's a dime western, not a history book!

I must take issue with Pati Reitenour's complaint that the book was not historically accurate. I'm sure that's true, but that is why it is a "dime western." It is in the tradition of western adventure books published in the 19th century which would take real characters and weave a tall tale from a thread of truth. The point is entertainment, which this book delivers.

Fun, easy reading with an enthralling plot-heroic characters

Although first seen as an assignment, I throughly enjoyed LAST GO ROUND, my first western. Shorter and more consice than Kesey's SAILOR SONG, LAST GO ROUND foucusses on a true tale wih a tall tale twist. Definately Kesey's best since SOMETIMES A GREAT NOTION (and shorter with chapters too!)