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To The Last Man
This Is A New Release Of The Original 1921 Edition.
326 pages, Paperback
Published March 30, 2014
About the author
Zane Grey
2,012 books608 followersPearl Zane Grey was an American author best known for his popular adventure novels and stories that presented an idealized image of the rugged Old West. As of June 2007, the Internet Movie Database credits Grey with 110 films, one TV episode, and a series, Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater based loosely on his novels and short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
October 8, 2019
Long ago, just two weeks into a marriage that has so far lasted 25 years, I moved to Arizona, settling near Globe. We spent the next four years exploring. One Saturday we drove towards Lake Roosevelt, crossed the Salt River and climbed the Mogollon Rim. (One memory I have of this drive is stopping for critters crossing the road--only to note that the "critters" were tarantulas.)
About 30 miles north of the Salt, we arrived in an arresting green valley and the town of Young, populated by a handful of stern-faced locals. "Pleasant Valley" described the scene if not the welcome.
Zane Grey's To the Last Man is his account of the Pleasant Valley War between cattlemen of the valley and the sheepherders of the rim. There is a Romeo & Juliet-style romance between Ellen Jorth (whose father leads the sheep gang in league with a group of cattle rustlers) and Jean Isbel, the half-Indian scion of cattlemen.
Grey traces the migration of both sides from Texas in the past generation. He lovingly describes the topography and wildlife of the Rim (Grey's home in Payson lay 30 miles west of Young).
This is a fun, bloody romp through a beautiful corner of the Wild West. Over a series of "battles" (more like ambushes) the two sides whittle themselves down to...well, you can read the title for yourself.
I have had Zane Grey on my to-read list for years now, but this was my first of his novels. It compared with every Western film I have ever seen, but it also brought back fond memories of the beautiful, green Arizona vale where such awful events once transpired.
About 30 miles north of the Salt, we arrived in an arresting green valley and the town of Young, populated by a handful of stern-faced locals. "Pleasant Valley" described the scene if not the welcome.
Zane Grey's To the Last Man is his account of the Pleasant Valley War between cattlemen of the valley and the sheepherders of the rim. There is a Romeo & Juliet-style romance between Ellen Jorth (whose father leads the sheep gang in league with a group of cattle rustlers) and Jean Isbel, the half-Indian scion of cattlemen.
Grey traces the migration of both sides from Texas in the past generation. He lovingly describes the topography and wildlife of the Rim (Grey's home in Payson lay 30 miles west of Young).
This is a fun, bloody romp through a beautiful corner of the Wild West. Over a series of "battles" (more like ambushes) the two sides whittle themselves down to...well, you can read the title for yourself.
I have had Zane Grey on my to-read list for years now, but this was my first of his novels. It compared with every Western film I have ever seen, but it also brought back fond memories of the beautiful, green Arizona vale where such awful events once transpired.
March 6, 2019
I had read this book before, a good long time ago, and, even then, I remember it being problematic in the way that literally every Hollywood western is problematic (sorry, the genre is kind of rotten to the core, I think there are things that could genuinely change that, but, eh, convince me I'm wrong). But it's the same kind of trashy nonsense that makes up literally 90% of action movies, plus, I'm a total sucker for a Romeo and Juliet story, so I kind of still guiltily love it anyway, despite the fact that it is totally racist and sexist, with a story driven by toxic masculinity.
In terms of actual pacing and writing, it's pretty good. It's entertaining, things happen, there's no slump in the story. Grey sneaks backstory in without a great deal of exposition, and describes the landscape with a certain awe.
My wall-of-text summary of the plot, with spoilers, as follows: (CN - contains mentions of sexual assault. I have not repeated any racial slurs from the book, but also reference racism).
And now I'm going to go ahead and appreciate a century's worth of women's rights and civil rights, and, oh yeah, the gun laws in my own country.
In terms of actual pacing and writing, it's pretty good. It's entertaining, things happen, there's no slump in the story. Grey sneaks backstory in without a great deal of exposition, and describes the landscape with a certain awe.
My wall-of-text summary of the plot, with spoilers, as follows: (CN - contains mentions of sexual assault. I have not repeated any racial slurs from the book, but also reference racism).
And now I'm going to go ahead and appreciate a century's worth of women's rights and civil rights, and, oh yeah, the gun laws in my own country.
February 7, 2011
This would for me be a 3.5 book (ah could we but give half stars). I don't rate it a 4 above as I didn't enjoy/like it as much as I have most to all of the books I rate 4 point... After all beyond that all that's left is a full 5.
The book is much more of a romance than I look for. It reminds me that Zane Grey (whom I read more of in my teens and preteens has a very strong streak of romanticism in his writing. That accounts for my dropping the half star. It's just a personal point...I don't care for heavy romance.
If you like you might sort of think of this as Romeo and Juliet in the old west...sort of. The feud that serves as the back drop for this story was a real one and was one of the bloodiest in American history. So far as I can find out the actual cause of this feud is lost to history (or at least I suppose an agreed on cause). The feud while probably not as well known as say the Hatfield McCoy feud (from my part of the world...my late wife was half Hatfield half McCoy) this is a well know feud and has been fictionalized elsewhere in books, movies and on TV (including an episode of Gunsmoke). In an afterward Grey mentions that one resident of the area told him that as far as he knew only one participant in either family actually survived (thus Mr. Grey's title). I don't know how many survivors there were/are who got out of the area and didn't participate.
As I said this book is heavily a romance, but don't get the idea that this makes it a calm and easy read. there are still the bloody confrontations and fights that come off so real because of Grey's long suit, descriptive writing. While I might have preferred a story more about the feud and it's effects on the area around and western history in general rather than so much about Zane Grey's star crossed lovers, it's still a good book and a good read. Grey himself points out in his afterward that some of the scenes depicted in the book (especially a couple of the more violent ones) actually took place. So, a highly fictionalized romance placed in the midst of a bloody feud from American history. Strong characters, dialogue that's a bit dated (1920s) but still moving and effective and a well told story. I think I may even recommend it to a friend who particularly likes romance.
The book is much more of a romance than I look for. It reminds me that Zane Grey (whom I read more of in my teens and preteens has a very strong streak of romanticism in his writing. That accounts for my dropping the half star. It's just a personal point...I don't care for heavy romance.
If you like you might sort of think of this as Romeo and Juliet in the old west...sort of. The feud that serves as the back drop for this story was a real one and was one of the bloodiest in American history. So far as I can find out the actual cause of this feud is lost to history (or at least I suppose an agreed on cause). The feud while probably not as well known as say the Hatfield McCoy feud (from my part of the world...my late wife was half Hatfield half McCoy) this is a well know feud and has been fictionalized elsewhere in books, movies and on TV (including an episode of Gunsmoke). In an afterward Grey mentions that one resident of the area told him that as far as he knew only one participant in either family actually survived (thus Mr. Grey's title). I don't know how many survivors there were/are who got out of the area and didn't participate.
As I said this book is heavily a romance, but don't get the idea that this makes it a calm and easy read. there are still the bloody confrontations and fights that come off so real because of Grey's long suit, descriptive writing. While I might have preferred a story more about the feud and it's effects on the area around and western history in general rather than so much about Zane Grey's star crossed lovers, it's still a good book and a good read. Grey himself points out in his afterward that some of the scenes depicted in the book (especially a couple of the more violent ones) actually took place. So, a highly fictionalized romance placed in the midst of a bloody feud from American history. Strong characters, dialogue that's a bit dated (1920s) but still moving and effective and a well told story. I think I may even recommend it to a friend who particularly likes romance.
June 21, 2024
Based on the true story of the Pleasant Valley War in Arizona, this novel is both romantic and tragic as two families allow their greed to destroy everything they had worked for. The war took place in Gila County, primarily, from 1882–1892.
Zane Grey changed the names of the people involved and fictionalized just about everything, including the romance between a sheepherder's daughter and a cattleman's son. This Romeo and Juliet themed romance was hot and cold all through the novel as the two people involved dealt with being on opposite sides of the conflict.
In true history, about 35 to 50 people died over the course of a decade. In the novel there weren't that many characters and I didn't have the sense of that much time passing by.
I guess everyone knows Zane Grey is considered racist by today's standards but probably not so much by the standards of the time in which he wrote. There are two mentions of the word "greaser" in this novel.
I liked this much better than the other Zane Grey novel I read and it held my attention well. I listened to an audiobook borrowed from the Cloud Library.
Zane Grey changed the names of the people involved and fictionalized just about everything, including the romance between a sheepherder's daughter and a cattleman's son. This Romeo and Juliet themed romance was hot and cold all through the novel as the two people involved dealt with being on opposite sides of the conflict.
In true history, about 35 to 50 people died over the course of a decade. In the novel there weren't that many characters and I didn't have the sense of that much time passing by.
I guess everyone knows Zane Grey is considered racist by today's standards but probably not so much by the standards of the time in which he wrote. There are two mentions of the word "greaser" in this novel.
I liked this much better than the other Zane Grey novel I read and it held my attention well. I listened to an audiobook borrowed from the Cloud Library.
October 25, 2018
A western romance centered in a fictionalized account of the Pleasant Valley, Arizona wars, a real feud that occurred throughout the 1880's and into the 1890's, with all of the men, except one, dead. 35 - 50 casualties. The bloodiness of it all delayed Arizona's statehood for a generation, Congress believing the territory was too uncivilized to be a state. An awesome tale. Read when I was a kid, junior high age, more or less.
March 14, 2026
Ear read 2026 (11hrs, i got 59% then dnf)
2/10 i find i don’t like books that want the reader to be in a perpetual state of dread (like jamaca inn).
This story is about two families and their friends wasting their lives over past regressions, digging the pain for each other deeper, instead of moving on with their lives in this harsh world. I stopped at the hog scene. I don’t find that entertaining, even one sentence would have been bad, but zane wants you to experience what the families are going through, and i say stuff that. I looked up a summary and turns out the book just keeps on its dreary march into more misery until the end, nope, not the tale for me. 1 point for the writing, half a point for the scenery and half a point for the audio narrator clear though monotone telling of the story.
2/10 i find i don’t like books that want the reader to be in a perpetual state of dread (like jamaca inn).
This story is about two families and their friends wasting their lives over past regressions, digging the pain for each other deeper, instead of moving on with their lives in this harsh world. I stopped at the hog scene. I don’t find that entertaining, even one sentence would have been bad, but zane wants you to experience what the families are going through, and i say stuff that. I looked up a summary and turns out the book just keeps on its dreary march into more misery until the end, nope, not the tale for me. 1 point for the writing, half a point for the scenery and half a point for the audio narrator clear though monotone telling of the story.
May 16, 2017
An adventure/romance set in the wilds of Arizona. A crisis builds between two feuding clans of ranchers and sheep-herders, that began years ago in Texas where the two fractious and antagonistic patriarchs grew up together. The action is non-stop as the tension increases, and the gorgeous natural environment is described wonderfully. The romance is woven throughout between the beautiful daughter (brought up among rough cattle rustlers) of one clan's leader, and the handsome and brave tracker/fighter/half Indian son of the other leader. First published in 1921. I listened to this as a free download from LibriVox.org. It was read beautifully.
December 7, 2024
My second Zane Grey novel. This one was a really cool story. Full of forbidden love and a western feud that is bloody. The characters are all interesting and I enjoyed this story. The language is well written for a western story, especially dealing with romance. Not much of a surprise how this one plays out.
September 19, 2023
This book was pretty good, as all Zane Grey books are. I gave it 4 stars because I think it needed to be edited, both for length and consistency. It reads like he didn't complete it for some reason. I recommend it, though, for any western fan.
October 29, 2025
Despite my general enjoyment of the story, 'To the Last Man' has left me with little to feel.
During the novel, Zane Grey's illustrative and endearing descriptions of the Arizona landscapes took my breath away, creating a wonderful picture of this violent yet beautiful world Jean finds himself in. But, as a consequence, I feel the book is far too drawn out, and each moment is overwhelmed with the surroundings rather than allowing more insight into our characters' thoughts and emotions. Yes, we get a sense of what the characters are feeling through short descriptions, but never as in-depth as I would have liked—oftentimes the main characters get an equal amount of attention as the side characters in this field.
Ellen Jorth, the tragic and torn deuteragonist and main love interest in the story, is the least affected in this regard. I found the descriptions of her heart-rending emotions and desperate whirlwind of thoughts to be beautifully descriptive, perhaps because of her intimacy with the wildlife around her, as she runs to it more often than she does to her single friend. In fact, Ellen Jorth is the strong suit of the book, in my opinion, in both the handling of her as a character and, more importantly, of her trauma.
She is the classic "good girl in a bad situation," living in squalor and surrounded by rough men, torn between the loyalty to her father and the need to escape the people of his faction and the truth of his place in this feud. Despite this, she feels very genuine as a character. The constant sexual assault from the men around her does not feel romanticized, and I can so clearly feel her pain, her love, and her courage and strength despite it all, which is never played as a joke (except from the mouths of characters we know not to take genuinely). During the final moments of the book, when she chooses to shoot Colter and bring the Isbel-Jorth war to a close, it is as much a moment of success for her as it is another tragedy, encapsulating the blood feud in itself.
But, as I had mentioned, this ending did not leave me satisfied. The moment was a good capstone to the war, but not to the story being told- that of Jean and Ellen. In the last moments of the book, they do meet and declare their love, but that is where it ends: Both stranded in the wilderness with nowhere to turn to, with Jean wounded, Ellen fully distraught, and no clue of where they could turn to next. I am equally left with a multitude of questions, yet the lack of care to rake my mind and understanding of the story for answers. Where Ellen's development soars, Jean's falls very flat, and the relationship that was so built up over the book feels incomplete, as this final declaration of love leaves so much wanting, especially in comparison to Ellen's internal understanding of her love earlier in the book.
Despite what I felt were somewhat underwhelming characters, the main story has much to offer with its hefty suspense and slow but intriguing action. It is written rather well and in-depth, which can be uncommon in Westerns. And though it is definitely a romanticization of the Wild West, it is written very close to, and thus quite true to, the time in which it takes place. Overall, I did enjoy the story and all it had to offer, but I wish that promise had a little more payoff.
During the novel, Zane Grey's illustrative and endearing descriptions of the Arizona landscapes took my breath away, creating a wonderful picture of this violent yet beautiful world Jean finds himself in. But, as a consequence, I feel the book is far too drawn out, and each moment is overwhelmed with the surroundings rather than allowing more insight into our characters' thoughts and emotions. Yes, we get a sense of what the characters are feeling through short descriptions, but never as in-depth as I would have liked—oftentimes the main characters get an equal amount of attention as the side characters in this field.
Ellen Jorth, the tragic and torn deuteragonist and main love interest in the story, is the least affected in this regard. I found the descriptions of her heart-rending emotions and desperate whirlwind of thoughts to be beautifully descriptive, perhaps because of her intimacy with the wildlife around her, as she runs to it more often than she does to her single friend. In fact, Ellen Jorth is the strong suit of the book, in my opinion, in both the handling of her as a character and, more importantly, of her trauma.
She is the classic "good girl in a bad situation," living in squalor and surrounded by rough men, torn between the loyalty to her father and the need to escape the people of his faction and the truth of his place in this feud. Despite this, she feels very genuine as a character. The constant sexual assault from the men around her does not feel romanticized, and I can so clearly feel her pain, her love, and her courage and strength despite it all, which is never played as a joke (except from the mouths of characters we know not to take genuinely). During the final moments of the book, when she chooses to shoot Colter and bring the Isbel-Jorth war to a close, it is as much a moment of success for her as it is another tragedy, encapsulating the blood feud in itself.
But, as I had mentioned, this ending did not leave me satisfied. The moment was a good capstone to the war, but not to the story being told- that of Jean and Ellen. In the last moments of the book, they do meet and declare their love, but that is where it ends: Both stranded in the wilderness with nowhere to turn to, with Jean wounded, Ellen fully distraught, and no clue of where they could turn to next. I am equally left with a multitude of questions, yet the lack of care to rake my mind and understanding of the story for answers. Where Ellen's development soars, Jean's falls very flat, and the relationship that was so built up over the book feels incomplete, as this final declaration of love leaves so much wanting, especially in comparison to Ellen's internal understanding of her love earlier in the book.
Despite what I felt were somewhat underwhelming characters, the main story has much to offer with its hefty suspense and slow but intriguing action. It is written rather well and in-depth, which can be uncommon in Westerns. And though it is definitely a romanticization of the Wild West, it is written very close to, and thus quite true to, the time in which it takes place. Overall, I did enjoy the story and all it had to offer, but I wish that promise had a little more payoff.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2026
Shore a lot of Texan ramblin' in heah. Mebbe a lil' much
December 6, 2014
Pure genius! Zane Grey never ceases to amaze. Decades after his death, his books are as fresh and inspirational as when they were written so long ago.
This book is the abridged version of "Tonto Basin." Apparently, "Tonto Basin" was too large for the magazine in which it was first introduced to the public, one chapter per month. I had read "Tonto Basin" in 2010, the first year it was released in paperback.
I visited Payson, AZ last month and purchased this book at the museum book store there. I had no clue it was the same book, in essence, that I'd read over 4 years ago - not until I got into it a bit. How surprised I was to discover I'd already read it! Seeing since it had been four years since I read 'Tonto Basin," it was nearly like reading the story for the first time.
The story is pure fiction, but loosely based up an historical fact - a feud between cattlemen and sheep herders over 100 years ago. Known as the "Pleasant Valley War," it was much bloodier than the more well-known feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys back east.
A great story written by a great author!
This book is the abridged version of "Tonto Basin." Apparently, "Tonto Basin" was too large for the magazine in which it was first introduced to the public, one chapter per month. I had read "Tonto Basin" in 2010, the first year it was released in paperback.
I visited Payson, AZ last month and purchased this book at the museum book store there. I had no clue it was the same book, in essence, that I'd read over 4 years ago - not until I got into it a bit. How surprised I was to discover I'd already read it! Seeing since it had been four years since I read 'Tonto Basin," it was nearly like reading the story for the first time.
The story is pure fiction, but loosely based up an historical fact - a feud between cattlemen and sheep herders over 100 years ago. Known as the "Pleasant Valley War," it was much bloodier than the more well-known feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys back east.
A great story written by a great author!
November 10, 2021
Jean Isbel was a young man living peacefully in Oregon when he received a letter from his father asking him to come home. His father was a cattle rancher in Grass Valley, a beautiful valley in the foothills of Arizona’s Tonto Basin. Sheep ranchers were encroaching into the valleys, from Black Butte to the Apache country, and there was going to be trouble. His father had been losing cattle lately as well. Jean packed up, got his animals and supplies, and headed off for home. Being unfamiliar with the country, Jean stopped at a camp to ask for directions. Here he met Ellen Jorth and had an amicable conversation with benefits, agreeing to meet here again in two days. Sure enough, Ellen was the daughter of a sheep rancher. You know this is going to be a problem. Jean made it home to a relieved and happy father. The story continues with what amounted to war between the opposing ranchers. Gunfighters and gangs were hired and the body count rose. It’s an interesting tale with the forbidden romance between Jean and Ellen taking the major focus. I would have expected even more action considering the authenticity of the story. Three.point.five.
December 3, 2020
Always wanted to read Zane Grey, I've been a fan of Western movies since I could crawl, and this was offered along with my Audible subscription so why not?
Based on an actual feud and events that impacted Arizona history, this romance/action adventure tells the tale of the Jorths and the Isbells. The patriarchs of both clans had grown up together in Texas. One went to war and the other stayed home but they both loved the same woman. Bad blood, bad decisions and the inability to move on led to the ultimate destruction of all but one member of each family.
Foremost in this tale is the lovingly described landscape of forest, mountain and valley that frame every scene.
I have to credit Jim Gough, the narrator, whose manly Texas accent and excellent characterizations made this story come to life, with making this a three dimensional experience. If I were to read this book in hard copy I would surely hear his voice.
Based on an actual feud and events that impacted Arizona history, this romance/action adventure tells the tale of the Jorths and the Isbells. The patriarchs of both clans had grown up together in Texas. One went to war and the other stayed home but they both loved the same woman. Bad blood, bad decisions and the inability to move on led to the ultimate destruction of all but one member of each family.
Foremost in this tale is the lovingly described landscape of forest, mountain and valley that frame every scene.
I have to credit Jim Gough, the narrator, whose manly Texas accent and excellent characterizations made this story come to life, with making this a three dimensional experience. If I were to read this book in hard copy I would surely hear his voice.
December 4, 2012
This is a book I would really like to be able to use half stars. I really liked the majority of this book. I could hardly stand to put this book down. This hasn't happened in a long time! This is also the first western I have read in a long time as well. I think I will have to mix westerns in the mix a little more often. The writing was good. Grey is really able to paint a picture in your mind especially of the scenery. The romantic portions didn't bother me, but by the end of the book the western speech of the speakers was starting to bother me some. Also there is just a slight bit of nudity mentioned that I didn't appreciate. It could have been skipped! Without these two things (speech and nudity), I would have definetly rated this a 4, but it was not 5 star material. I may revisit this later and decide to upgrade to 4 stars after I have more time to think about it.
August 4, 2016
My grandmother left a handwritten document recording everything she knew about the family. When my father had it typed, it ran to 12 pages, single-spaced. She had a remarkable memory for family history. There was one huge gap: aside from the date and place of his birth, there was nothing about her husband, my grandfather Monet Gould Metcalf. Many years later, my mother told me the reason: my grandfather was a half-breed, and she was ashamed that she married him because she was pregnant. Not only was he a half-breed, but he was a bastard. His parents weren’t married. They couldn’t get married because the anti-miscegenation laws prohibited marriage between a white person and an Indian (as they called Native Americans then.)
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Read the rest at my blog
https://theinterstitialreader.wordpre...
October 21, 2022
What a surprising book! Heard of Zane Gray all my life, of course, but never read one of his books. Maybe the funky covers on most of them shied me away, or just never had one available. Whatever, I have a copy of this book printed in 1921. Inside the front is a list of 50 books already published by that date.
This novel is based on a real Arizona range war, called the Pleasant Valley War. Gray spent months researching the history of this war. That's interesting in itself, but what makes this novel so engaging to me is the depth and passion with which he describes the rugged territory in which the story occurs, as well as the personalities and internal feelings and thoughts of the characters who live it.
If you like Western action stories and you revel in writers who can offer the the nth degree the motivations and feeling of his characters, this is a must read.
This novel is based on a real Arizona range war, called the Pleasant Valley War. Gray spent months researching the history of this war. That's interesting in itself, but what makes this novel so engaging to me is the depth and passion with which he describes the rugged territory in which the story occurs, as well as the personalities and internal feelings and thoughts of the characters who live it.
If you like Western action stories and you revel in writers who can offer the the nth degree the motivations and feeling of his characters, this is a must read.
September 22, 2013
Jotakin suomeksi myös..
Romanttista hömppää länkkäriaikaan sijoittuen, en pitänyt kovin kummoisena kirjana.
Zane Grey - Viimeiseen mieheen
(Riksin sarja 43, Wsoy, 1959, 7.painos)
Alkuperäisteos: To the Last Man (1921)
Riksin sarja oli WSOY:n julkaisema pehmeäkantinen kirjasarja, jossa julkaistiin viihderomaaneja vuosina 1950-1960. Riksin sarjan nimi on peräisin vanhasta Ruotsin rahayksiköstä riikintaalerista eli ”riksistä”, joka oli sata äyriä. Riksin sarjan myyntihinta oli aluksi 100 markkaa, jota kutsuttiin puhekielessä ”riksiksi”.[1]
Erityisen paljon sarjassa julkaistiin Agatha Christien, James Oliver Curwoodin ja Zane Greyn romaaneja.
Antikvariaateista Riksin sarjaa löytyy yhä paljon ja monilla Riksin sarjan kirjat ovat kesämökkien vakiolukemista.
Romanttista hömppää länkkäriaikaan sijoittuen, en pitänyt kovin kummoisena kirjana.
Zane Grey - Viimeiseen mieheen
(Riksin sarja 43, Wsoy, 1959, 7.painos)
Alkuperäisteos: To the Last Man (1921)
Riksin sarja oli WSOY:n julkaisema pehmeäkantinen kirjasarja, jossa julkaistiin viihderomaaneja vuosina 1950-1960. Riksin sarjan nimi on peräisin vanhasta Ruotsin rahayksiköstä riikintaalerista eli ”riksistä”, joka oli sata äyriä. Riksin sarjan myyntihinta oli aluksi 100 markkaa, jota kutsuttiin puhekielessä ”riksiksi”.[1]
Erityisen paljon sarjassa julkaistiin Agatha Christien, James Oliver Curwoodin ja Zane Greyn romaaneja.
Antikvariaateista Riksin sarjaa löytyy yhä paljon ja monilla Riksin sarjan kirjat ovat kesämökkien vakiolukemista.
March 16, 2021
It is perhaps a little unfair to be critical of a novel because it was not what you expected .
I in , what appears to be naivety, thought Zane Grey was to deliver a good old western frolic , full of gun slingers shoot outs and camping out on the range.
I got a little of this but a fair helping of Mills and Boon melodramatic romance .
Now, one wouldn't expect a cast of Rhodes Scholars , but darn it some of these guys were powerful dumb.
I got mighty sick of every second sentence containing , Wal ( well ) shore ( sure ) y'u ( you ) aboot ( about ), And Zane was not immune to getting all four in together.
My 5 novel omnibus, with 3 to read , I hope contains a bit more cowboy action and a far less melodrama
I in , what appears to be naivety, thought Zane Grey was to deliver a good old western frolic , full of gun slingers shoot outs and camping out on the range.
I got a little of this but a fair helping of Mills and Boon melodramatic romance .
Now, one wouldn't expect a cast of Rhodes Scholars , but darn it some of these guys were powerful dumb.
I got mighty sick of every second sentence containing , Wal ( well ) shore ( sure ) y'u ( you ) aboot ( about ), And Zane was not immune to getting all four in together.
My 5 novel omnibus, with 3 to read , I hope contains a bit more cowboy action and a far less melodrama
May 6, 2021
Ed Sala convincingly does a multitude of voices in this fictional account of the Pleasant Valley war of the 1890s. Zane Grey got the locals to warm up to him over the course of three campers between 1918 and 1921, who fed him the remnants of the account of this war that left one survivor in a war between a family of cattle herders and sheep rearers. The difficult parts come when he romanticises the scenery of the Tonto basin (though I should very much like to see what the rim looks like today a 100 years later), and when he narrated the soliloquy in Ellen's head as she grapples with discovering her feelings and her womanhood that has been abased by the rough Texan company she has grown up amongst.
Without that dead weight it would have been a shorter novella.
Without that dead weight it would have been a shorter novella.
March 18, 2011
bout a son coming to Arizona to help his cattle-ranching father for a pending feud with sheepherders in the 1870's. On the way there he meets a woman sheep herder and falls in love--only to discover later that she is the daughter of his father's arch enemy.
As the tale unfolds its mixture of action and romance, the book becomes impossible to put down. The detail in which he describes the action scenes leaves you feeling like you are right there in the middle of the gun fight. The romance is sweet and endearing.
At times, some of the descriptions of the landscape seemed a bit wordy, but did not detract from the overall story.
As the tale unfolds its mixture of action and romance, the book becomes impossible to put down. The detail in which he describes the action scenes leaves you feeling like you are right there in the middle of the gun fight. The romance is sweet and endearing.
At times, some of the descriptions of the landscape seemed a bit wordy, but did not detract from the overall story.
March 3, 2017
This is an enjoyable western romance novel. It's main motives are love and revenge, and all the way it dances on the very edge of becoming really cliched, but fortunately, writers plotting skills compensate for that, and make the reader to turn his view away from some lacking and predictable plot twists. Although it is sometimes unequally paced plotwise, and some of plot elements have no function whatsoever (for instance, main character's dog, which runs away, appears, and runs away again), but, despite obvious unpolishness of this work, it is still an enjoyable page turner, and sometimes that is all you can ask for. Let's not be pretentious about literature. It is an enjoyable book.
March 24, 2021
Gray's colorful and poetic language made me feel like this was a romance written for men. It's a range war, a Hatfield and McCoy feud, woven in with a forbidden romance akin to Romeo and Juliette. I marveled at how well Gray portrays the ignorance that tiny thinly spread communities have as they struggle to pioneer in a new area and inform themselves on hear-say, local legend, and the gossip from those passing through the ranch or lonely homestead. The awkwardness of dealing with cultural differences, the opposite sex, and presumed abilities. Your blood family is equally your refuge and your greatest burden. Blood becomes your basis for honor and your most painful source of betrayal.
October 4, 2011
This is sort of a Romeo and Juliet story set in the old west between two ranchers. One rancher gets his cattle by rustling and shady deals, the other rancher has sworn vengence against him for the deaths of family members and his cowhands. The son of the second rancher comes home but meets the daughter of the outlaw rancher before he knows what has happened. Settling the feud and saving the girl keeps the book moving at a lively pace. The story was based on an actual feud in Arizona that Zane Grey researched.
February 7, 2014
The reason I picked up this book was because I had just read the true story of the Arizona Pleasant Valley War and the real life feud between the Graham and Tewksbury families. I thought it would be interesting to read Zane Grey's fictionalized version of these events. However, his novel contains a gratuitous Romeo/Juliet love story that is pure fabrication and which I found distracting, amateurish and containing stilted dialogue. The real-life story is much more interesting and a better read. In this case, fact is indeed better than fiction.
January 13, 2016
Where is the 4.5 star rating?!?! Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book on Audible. Jim Gough was another excellent narrator.
The story is like many westerns. Set in the later part of the 19th century; has mention of cattle, Texas and guns; and includes a dimension of romance.
During parts of this book I caught myself imagining this as a western version of Romeo and Juliet. However, this book heavily favors one family over the other. But then again, both sides have their own share of faults.
Character and plot development was spot on. Zane Grey is one terrific author.
The story is like many westerns. Set in the later part of the 19th century; has mention of cattle, Texas and guns; and includes a dimension of romance.
During parts of this book I caught myself imagining this as a western version of Romeo and Juliet. However, this book heavily favors one family over the other. But then again, both sides have their own share of faults.
Character and plot development was spot on. Zane Grey is one terrific author.
January 14, 2018
This book is a lot like a western Romeo and Juliet but with the opposite ending. Obviously with a title like "To The Last Man" we all know that it is going to be a fight til only one man lives. Also to the last man doesn't include women.
I really enjoyed how the story kept going back and forth from where Jean was to where Ellen was. That way when Jean did something amazing or heoric, it was told to Ellen. This allowed her to marvel at him, and furthered her affections for him without making him seem like a show off.
I really enjoyed how the story kept going back and forth from where Jean was to where Ellen was. That way when Jean did something amazing or heoric, it was told to Ellen. This allowed her to marvel at him, and furthered her affections for him without making him seem like a show off.
July 20, 2021
Third times a charm. This is the best of the three Zane Grey books I’ve read so far but there was still a few times that I had to remind myself that it was written in a different time like when Jean hit Ellen, or how he referred to her as child several times, or how her reputation was ruined because a few rough rustlers forced (not by choice so why is she being punished?) themselves on her (not to mention her dad did not do much to protect her). It was just how it was back then. All in all, it was a good story line and I’m glad Jean and Ellen were able to get together in the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2021
This western had more ejaculations than any erotica I've ever read.
This was my second, and likely last book by Zane Grey. Like with Riders of the Purple Sage, he overwrote scenes and dragged out action and just became boring. The characters weren't likeable and the introduction made a big deal about this story being an account of a real feud, but then most of it was just Romeo and Juliet in frontier Arizona.
And yes, people kept ejaculating instead of saying their lines. A clear case of why creative writing teachers advise to use "said" for all dialogue tags.
This was my second, and likely last book by Zane Grey. Like with Riders of the Purple Sage, he overwrote scenes and dragged out action and just became boring. The characters weren't likeable and the introduction made a big deal about this story being an account of a real feud, but then most of it was just Romeo and Juliet in frontier Arizona.
And yes, people kept ejaculating instead of saying their lines. A clear case of why creative writing teachers advise to use "said" for all dialogue tags.
March 14, 2023
A Romeo/Julliett story (Montegue/Capulet) set in Arizona (the old west). Jean Isbel is the son of a rancher, and Ellen Jorth, the daughter of a sheep herder. The two families engage in a range war, and the two protagonist met, fall in love, and are on opposite sides of this conflict. In many ways tragic, the story is a great capture of the tension in the west between cattleman, and sheep ranchers. I read this book as part of the Zane Grey Megapack.
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