Lost Pueblo

by Zane Grey

The daughter of a Long Island millionaire learns to love the untamed Arizona desert after helping in an important archaeological discovery

Genres: Westerns, Fiction

359 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1927

About the author

Pearl 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.

Reviews

[Shep]

Complicated feelings about this one.

By today’s standards it’s grossly misogynistic, but that may be the cultural standards of the time, when a woman could be “ruined” that the author is responding to and not advocating for. I’m not sure I want to write off entire periods of literature just on principle. And for all that Janey was a victim of her time, she had a surprising amount of agency, pride and skills. She manages to turn the tables on those who sought to teach her a lesson, while still learning a lesson and showing a bit of growth.

There’s some beautiful description of the Arizona desert, and I was intrigued by what the heck Janey thought she was doing, so it wasn’t all bad. The Western isn’t really a genre I have explored before, so I’m not really sure what to judge it against. I’m not sure that based on this I’ll be venturing back into the genre any time soon.

[Steve Prentice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am embarrassed to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a straightforward battle of the sexes romance reminiscent of 1930s Hollywood when sex in film was taboo. The plot was a series of absurd scenarios, mainly mildly comic in which the heroine Janey is kidnapped by Phil, the archaeologist hero, at the bequest of her Dad to scare her into marrying him.

Needless to say the plot goes wrong and Janey gets some measure of revenge before, of course their love for each other results in a happy ending.

Does the book have any merit? Probably not but if you happen to like this kind of story, well - you'll enjoy this. I certainly did!

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful entertaining listening 🎶🔰

Another will written classic western with good 👍 and bad 👎 guys romance and family adventure by Zane Grey. They have left New York City to come to Arizona but she is bored until she is kidnapped by her father planned son-in-law. The fun begins with lots of action, adventure, and horror as they travel in the canyons and desert of Arizona. All ends will. I would recommend this novel to readers of westerns. Enjoy the adventure of reading or listening. 2022👒😮🏡🐂

[John Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here are my reasons for three stars. I measured this book against Grey’s Riders of the Purple Sage. Riders is a book that impacted me internally in ways I have trouble explaining. By comparison this book was silly. Also, I will never support corporal punishment (spanking) of anyone. This book is a snapshot in time concerning our history of attitudes toward women. I hope our society has grown since then.

[Braddock Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel kept me wondering where the story was going. So much deception woven into the heart of the story. The reading to the end was worth the wait and the deception as clear as mud throughout the book became crystal clear at the end. Wow, what a profound example of what love can and should be.

[Frank Maurer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A romance with some comedy

This is not realistic but the plot is fun.

You will like the western settings at Arizona digs. The man becomes the victim of a surprise. The central female is extremely clever.

[Michael D. Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mysterious are Women!

Zane Grey has the ability to mix romance, love, and the old west to create a story of man, woman, desert, quest of legends to be discovered! Triumphant search of total story bringing all to an expected end! Great story, romantic ending!

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining but far from Grey’s best.

Fairly typical: Eastern female heads West and finds true love with a twist.. Light reading but okay. Setting (archeological dig) was unusual

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the most interesting book by this author. It seemed to be rather amateurish. If I didn't know better, I'd have sworn it was one of his earliest works.

[Lidik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice light read, made me laugh several times.

[Anthony Emmel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yikes! Holy misogyny, Batman! "Kidnapping" a woman against her will with her father's approval because she needs married to areal man and not an effete NYC socialite?!! This did not age well.

[S.L. Hawke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Horribly vaudevillian antics were portrayed, but I kept on reading. Offensive sexual and racial stereotypes were conveyed, but I kept on reading. Lines and descriptors that encompassed things like "Black Dick ejaculated.." and other such twenties style prose kept the laughter at a minimum and in a bittersweet way reminded one that long ago, people really did enjoy a gay lifestyle among the ruins of the once non Roswellian New Mexican desert.

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

So this was what popular fiction looked like in the 1950s. Part Western and part Bodice-ripper, it is difficult do judge this without 21st century sensibilities. While the expanse and majesty of the American Southwest is well done, the rest is often unintentionally hilarious or offensive. As an artifact to bygone times or just a curiosity, it was worth a glance, but not much else.

[Jordan Kinsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zane Grey is a grossly under-appreciated author. I have no problem storing him on the same shelf as my Faulkners, Joyces, and Hemingways. That's all I'm gonna say.

[John · Rating 1 out of 5]

just read this for the second time, forgot that I had read it 9 years ago, still a one 🌟