The Last Rider

by Matthew Koenen, Jeanne C. Stein

In 1936, America was in the throes of the Great Depression. Time magazine sends a young reporter west to interview Will Hamilton, the last living rider of the Pony Express on its 75th anniversary. The story the reporter uncovers turns out to be more than one man's story, but that of an American West full of adventure, romance and colorful characters—just the thing to make a struggling America proud again and to give it a reason to smile. The Pony Express as an enterprise lasted only eighteen months, but the end of the Pony Express is just the beginning of the story for Will Hamilton. He goes on to find adventure and love in an American West undergoing changes as monumental as those shaping the country as a whole. Most of this book is fiction—most of it. The Last Rider includes real people, some instantly Mark Twain, a young Bill Cody, John Sutter. And some well known in their Will Hamilton, credited with being the first Pony Express rider to complete the journey from Sacramento; John Heenan, a boxer who held the first unofficial title of World Champion; Hermann the Great, a magician who traveled the American West performing his conjuring feats; Timothy O’Sullivan, a photographer famous for his images of a land that most people of his time would never see in person. All were documented to have been in the areas at the time Will Hamilton comes in contact with them. We can’t say for sure the events of The Last Rider took place. But then again, we can’t say they didn’t.

290 pages, Paperback

Published June 26, 2018

Reviews

[Gloria Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will Hamilton’s career as a Pony Express Rider begins at its inception and ends eighteen months later when the riders are no longer needed. Most riders are teenagers, preferably orphans. Hamilton, as an old man, relates this story to a young reporter. The story is so captivating, that the reporter stays on to hear the rest of the tale—how Hamilton meets his bride to be and what high adventures that entails.

Consequently, the story about the Pony Express occupies only the first quarter of the book. The rest is just as entertaining. And if you’re a resident of Northern California, the familiarity of the surroundings and its history is particularly captivating. We meet up briefly with Buffalo Bill, Mark Twain, John Sutter, and others. The story is mostly fiction, while an appendix of places and people fill us in on the facts.

Here is a fun, fast read suitable for both young and old readers. I gave it four stars because I noticed too many typos for a book that supposedly was professionally edited.

[Gloria Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will Hamilton’s career as a Pony Express Rider begins at its inception and ends eighteen months later when the riders are no longer needed. Most riders are teenagers, preferably orphans. Hamilton, as an old man, relates this story to a young reporter. The story is so captivating, that the reporter stays on to hear the rest of the tale—how Hamilton meets his bride to be and what high adventures that entails.

Consequently, the story about the Pony Express occupies only the first quarter of the book. The rest is just as entertaining. And if you’re a resident of Northern California, the familiarity of the surroundings and its history is particularly captivating. We meet up briefly with Buffalo Bill, Mark Twain, John Sutter, and others. The story is mostly fiction, while an appendix of places and people fill us in on the facts.

Here is a fun, fast read suitable for both young and old readers. I gave it four stars because I noticed too many typos for a book that supposedly was professionally edited.

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and fun read, but not really about the pony express. That's the claim about the book, but the pony express goes out of business about 20% of the way into the book. From there it's sort of a gold rush adventure/romance.