জেমস বাউয়ি! আমেরিকার সূচনাপর্বের এক অবিস্মরণীয় নায়ক। দুর্ধর্ষ জুয়াড়ী, নাইফ-ফাইটার, আধা শয়তান, আধা সন্ত। দশ বছর পর আবার জীবনে এলো সেই ক্রিওল সুন্দরী জুদাল দ্য বোর্নেই - তার প্রথম প্রেম। অমোঘ আকর্ষণে পাগল পারা করে তুললো সে বাউয়িকে। দ্রুত ঘটতে শুরু করলো আশ্চর্য সব ঘটনা। আবার শুরু হলো রোমহর্ষক জুয়া, চ্যালেঞ্জ, ডুয়েল এবং খুন। তারপর হঠাৎ করেই সত্য উপলব্ধি। এ এক অসাধারণ রোমাঞ্চ-কাহিনী
Paul Iselin Wellman, newspaperman, writer of popular history, novelist and screenwriter, is best known for his books set in the Great Plains of the United States and Kansas. In addition to his books several Hollywood movies , Cheyenne, The Walls of Jericho, Jubal, Apache, The Comancheros, and The Iron Mistress are based on his novels.
This is decent historical fiction that takes on one of those frontier legends -- Jim Bowie -- and makes him a fictional character. The Bowie that emerges is unkowable, but sure gets himself into a lot of scrapes ending in violence. So much violene, in fact, that the book is structured around each episode where one person, or a bunch of people, get killed.
The episodic nature of the book gets in the way a bit, and feeels like a set of stories (some indifferent, some, like the episodes set in Natchez, quite intense). The romances are perfunctory. If I were to recommend, I would say skip the first and last two stories, which just aren't that thrilling, and go with the tales which feature Bowie as a slave trader, and a land spculator straddling the divide between low class and gentry.
After reading the first 50 pages of this, I felt certain it was going to be a 5 star read. I even looked up other books of his on Ebay. Very glad I did not buy any. The author created wonderful characters, and scenes, and situations but it never came together for me. It was more like a screenplay than a novel. At times ,I felt like I was reading newspaper articles. Perhaps a good editor could have saved it. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A 5. such a waste.
জেমস বাউয়ি আমেরিকার সুচনা পর্বের সেই দুর্ধর্ষ, বেপরোয়া নায়ক তার জীবন নিয়ে এই উপন্যাস। বইটি পড়ে জানা যাবে সেই সময় টেক্সাস কিভাবে মেক্সিকো হতে আমারিকার অংগরাজ্যে পরিনত হলো স্যাম হউস্টন এর ভুমিকাও এখানে গুরুত্ববহন করেছিলো।ক্রিওল ( ফরাসী ভাষী জনগোষ্ঠী) সুন্দরী জুদাল এর শঠতা কিভাবে বাউয়ির অন্তর ক্ষতবিক্ষত আর বিক্ষুদ্ধ করেছিলো। কুচ্চিল্লা গ্রান্ডে বাউয়ির সেই বিখ্যাত ছোরা এটা আসলেই ছিলো ইন্টারনেটে সার্চ করে পেলাম। এটা ১৮ শতকের টেক্সাস, মেক্সিকোর ওই সময়ের প্রামাণ্য দলিল বলা যায়। বইটি পড়লে মনের অজান্তেই জেমস বাউয়ি হতে ইচ্ছে জাগবে।
A good book. Felt like an adventure from start to finish. The love interests were laughably bad but I didn't mind it, it was interesting to see how the author portrayed life and love in this 1950s book. It is palatable historical fiction. The author tastefully skips over ten years of slave trading. Leaves in Native American genocide and 1800s misogyny. Great to see men doing duels to the death and stuff though. It has a very eventful ending and kept me interested throughout the book though.
LOVED EVERY WORD....This is one of THE BEST BOOKS I have ever read. James Bowie was so gallant and so wrong... I never stopped cheering him on with the deepest of hope and expectancy of his survival in every battle of his life & heart. Such a kind-hearted bad-boy that I am head over heels in love with and so proud of....how could any red-blooded American not be!!
The story takes place in the early 1800s, in the wild and untamed land of Texas, where Bowie finds himself fighting for survival against various dangers such as hostile Indian tribes, Mexican soldiers, and corrupt officials. Throughout the book, we see Bowie's evolution from a reckless young man to a seasoned fighter and strategist.
Wellman's writing style is engaging, and he masterfully blends historical facts with fictional elements to create a gripping and entertaining story. The characters are well-drawn and believable, and the action scenes are exciting and vividly described.
One of the most notable aspects of the book is the portrayal of the famous Bowie knife. Wellman imbues the knife with almost mythical qualities, elevating it from a mere tool to a symbol of courage and determination.
Overall, The Iron Mistress is an excellent novel that vividly brings to life the early days of Texas and the legendary figures who played a part in its history. The book is highly recommended for fans of historical fiction and anyone interested in the American West.
This book sat on a shelf for years before I finally decided to read it, and then I was pleasantly surprised. At the time, I probably would have given it four-stars, but I have a feeling that today I would only give it three.
This may well have been my introduction to the Alamo, and I remember being surprised to learn that the Bowie knife was named for its 'designer.'
আমেরিকার সূচনালগ্নের এক কিংবদন্তী মানুষের জীবন কাহিনী নিয়ে লেখা বইটি। নাম জেমস বাউয়ি। টমাস কার্লাইল যাকে বর্ণনা করেছেন সীজার কিংবা ক্রমওয়েলের চাইতেও বড় বলে, তুলনা করেছেন পৌরাণিক দেবতা ওডিন কিংবা থরের সাথে!
A very male book. It was made into a movie. Regardless of it being so masculine I enjoyed the read. The hero is the inventor of the Bowie knife and it ends with the Alamo.