The Mine With The Iron Door: A Romance

by Harold Bell Wright

The story in Harold Bell Wright's THE MINE WITH THE IRON DOOR (1923) takes place almost entirely within the Santa Catalina Mountains to the north of Tucson, an area that Wright became familiar with during his visit to the area in 1915 and his subsequent residence in and just outside of Tucson. While the story focuses on the adventures of a couple old miners who scratch out a living in the mountains while jointly raising their adopted daughter Marta Hillgrove into a strong, young woman, the book also serves as a time capsule with fleeting glimpses of the city and surrounding mountains and desert as they were in the early 20th century. The novel is just one part of Wright's legacy in Tucson, however. As the first American author to sell a million copies of a book and earn a million dollars from his writing, he had considerable influence on the desert town he briefly made his home, and as evidenced by his dedication in The Mine with the Iron Door--"To My friends in the Old Pueblo Tucson"--the town left an impression on him as well. (Booma)

Genres: Fiction, Westerns

Library Binding

First published January 1, 1923

About the author

Harold Bell Wright was a best selling American author of the first part of the 20th century.

Between 1903 and 1942, this minister-turned-author wrote nineteen books, several scripts for stage plays, and several magazine articles. At least fifteen movies were made from his novels. Seven of Wright's books appeared on the top ten best sellers lists, two of them twice, including a number one seller in 1914, a number two in 1916 and a third best seller three times.

He's best known for his work entitled The Shepherd of the Hills which was made into the well known, outdoor play, of the same name, performed in Branson, Mo.

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very minor spoilers which give away very little.

This was the first fiction book in the US to sell over a million copies. Wright became the first author to earn over a million dollars.

The novel holds up pretty well. It certainly has some pulp aspects to it. The portrayal of the Indian Natachee was fairly enlightened for its day. I became intrigued by the novel because it is set around Tucson where I currently call home. And I'd read about a mine with an iron door legend in Oklahoma. It must be a trope of some kind. The descriptions of the Sonoran Desert and areas around Tucson are pretty accurate. Wright does a good job of capturing this corner of the desert southwest.

Interestingly enough the girl in the book was adopted by two old prospectors. An alternate title might have been Marta Had Two Daddies. Make of that what you will.

[Rena Bransky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found out about this book when I was a teenager, and refused to read it until now. I had always been obsessed with the place I live, and done so much research about local history. so it was really exciting for me to read a book where I didn't have to imagine the landscape and roads in my head. I know them all already! and I had so much fun imagining that people 100 years ago looked upon the same mountains with the same feeling of admiration and home as I do now.

the way it was written truly entertained me. and I liked the way the author wrote each character and intertwined all their lives with each other. it is realistic since that is how Tucson is- one day you will meet a random person that you had some kind of connection with in your life before. I gave it 4 stars only because i didn't like the ending as much.

I can see why some people wouldn't enjoy it as much , seeing as it is an old book with outdated concepts, however the author wrote the scenery perfectly and the characters are all very lively

[Johnny Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly good. This was less of a romance, despite the subtitle, than a western set in the early 1900s. Interesting portrayal of a First Nations grey man - fairly stereotypical except instead of being extremely one sided, there are two sides.

Also quite the change that this entire story is about being unable to do what you want to do because your name has been dishonored. This is a thing we don't really have in the US anymore.

[Damita Perez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set against the rugged beauty of Arizona’s Cañon of Gold, The Mine with the Iron Door is a heartfelt romance that blends adventure, mystery, and the warmth of human connection. Harold Bell Wright’s writing captures the spirit of the early 20th century—when the West was both a place of promise and a reminder of how dreams can shape (and haunt) a person’s life.

The story follows two aging prospectors, Bob Hill and Thad Grove, and their adopted daughter, Marta Hillgrove. Their little family is built on love, loyalty, and a touch of mystery—especially surrounding Marta’s origins. When Hugh Edwards, a man with a troubled past, wanders into their world, the novel takes on deeper emotional tones about redemption, trust, and the meaning of home.

What I loved most was how vividly Wright painted the Arizona landscape. You can almost feel the heat of the desert and see the light bouncing off the mountains. The pacing is gentle, and while some of the prose reflects the slower rhythm of its time, it suits the story’s reflective nature.

It’s an old-fashioned love story wrapped in the timeless themes of forgiveness and belonging. While it may not be for everyone due to its dated style, I found it quietly moving—a window into another era and a reminder of the simple, enduring power of hope.

[L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Allow me to introduce you to the inhabitants of Canada del Oro - The Canyon of Gold. Thad Grove and Bob Hill are two old prospectors panning for gold as they work together to parent Marta, a young girl they stumbled upon and to took to raise. (Wright loves to write about bachelor fathers. I wonder if he was a bachelor father. Eh, I'm too lazy to look into it.) Up the trail is neighbor Jimmy Burton, a doctor who has moved to the dry air of the southwest for health reasons. Every once in awhile pops up I, Natachee, the Indian. (This is how he constantly refers to himself. Kinda gets on your nerves.) Into this rural area enters a stranger who calls himself Hugh Edwards. Hugh and Marta fall in love but both have secrets in their past which keep them apart. Finally there is some action as Marta is placed into danger and Hugh must come to her rescue.

Being Kinder To My Books In 2023

[MrsWhiteLibrary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not my favorite of Wright’s books. I’ve loved the others I read, so I took a chance on this one. I’m a happy ending kind of person and, to me, the sadness outweighs the happiness in this story.

[Marie Marietta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finally got through this not very interesting book. It's a pretty sappy romance story with the girl being the epitome of a damsel in distress. I didn't ever feel very invested in what happened to the characters. The best part of the story was the portrayal of the Indian.