Five Star First Edition Westerns - High Iron: A Western Trio

By Frank Bonham

Book Overview

'The Sin of Wiley Brogan' is the tale of a horse-breaker fed up with his lot in life. 'Texicans Die Hard' tells of the cowhand who inherits an old Chihauhuan rancho. 'High Iron' tells the story of the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 159414334X
• ISBN13: 9781594143342
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: Five Star
• Length: 301 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 1.0" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

A Trio of Frank Bonham Tales!

Frank Bonham is widely remembered as one of the best Western writers ever. He's certainly one of my top five favorites. HIGH IRON brings together three novellas Bonham wrote in the 1940s which demonstrate why he was held in such favor by lovers of quality Western fiction. 'The Sin of Wiley Brogan' chronicles the adventures of a young bronc buster who joins up with a stagecoach company trying to secure a contract to deliver the mail. There are several complications. First, a competing firm will stop at nothing to get the contract. Second, the owner of the stagecoach company has a ravishing daughter! In 'Texicans Die Hard,' a lowly cowpoke inherits a huge spread from a Mexican he once saved from being robbed. Not only does Charle Drake feel like he's in way over his head but the Mexican's brother covets the spread and is scheming to get the land. Drake's two-timing partner and an equally deadly female make matters even worse. 'High Iron' deals with the efforts of a Central Pacific Railroad construction crew headed by Johnny Duff to build a line through the treacherous Sierra Nevada mountains. Another company is trying to beat Duff's crew and they too will stop at nothing to beat Duff & Company. And, naturally, there is a ravishing female involved as well. Of the three novellas, I enjoyed 'High Iron' the most. It demonstrates Bonham's wonderful ability to pick and create unique and utterly realistic settings for his stories along with characters that came across as living, breathing human beings. His great knowledge of transportation, communication, etc. also shows in the 'Sin of Wiley Brogan' tale. Lastly, Bonham had a wonderful way with words. A stagecoach driver is described as being "as unsociable as a pint of tobacco juice." Mulling over a tough decision, one character "just sat there with his eyes hungering and the buzzard beak of regret tearing at him" and so on. If you're interested in quality Western fiction, HIGH IRON will fit the bill. It's a great read. Recommended.