Ride for the High Points: The Real Story of Will James

by Jim Bramlett

Traces the life of the writer and artist known for his portrayal of life in the old West in his works

272 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1987

Reviews

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bramlett's book is not quite what the title suggests. The story of the "real" Will James would take a more objective eye, and this author is probably too much a fan to give us the reality behind the persona of the Montana cowboy who captured the imagination of readers in the 1920s and 1930s.

But there's a great deal in this book to enjoy, especially the hundreds of photographs of James and his friends, of ranching in the early 20th century, and reproductions of many of his illustrations and covers of his books. There are also reminiscences of people who knew him, including his wife, Alice.

Born Ernest Nephtali Dufault in Quebec in 1882, Will James reinvented himself as a "drifting cowboy" in the Western states, serving time briefly in a Nevada prison for stealing cattle, and reinvented himself again as a writer-illustrator in the 1920s, becoming famous almost overnight for his short stories and graphic images of cowboys and horses. In his book, Bramlett recounts his all-too-brief career as a celebrated and loved icon of the West, which ended in 1942 after a long bout with alcoholism.

Readers looking for an evaluation of James' literary output won't find it in the pages of Bramlett's book. He gives no estimation of James' place in the literature of the West. Neither is this a proper biography. But for the casual reader and Western enthusiast, the book's quick and engaging overview of James' life, with its multitude of interesting photographs, will do quite nicely.

[Randy Daugherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book and afine one for any collection