The Westerners

This short story collection combines both fiction and non-fiction material spread over a period of 60 years from earliest publication date to the last story published. One can only wonder why it took so long for some of them to be published. The diverse elements and range of the stories can also be found, extending from Death Valley to the movie set of Hollywood, to the coast of Australia; but in what ever region or setting, Zane Grey gives the reader the feeling he is there with his colorful descriptions and detailed nuances of speech and action. The title story, The Westerners, is typical Zane Grey, with a touch of the outlandish. I suppose that is because the story takes place in Reno, Nevada in the 1930's and involves a marriage and a divorce the daughter of the couple involved wants to stop in any way she can. So, easterner Katherine Hempstead enlists the aid of cowboy Phil Cameron to stop the proceedings by, shall we say, unusual methods. You have to read it to believe it. The non-fiction story, Death Valley, relates a hike Zane Grey took across the floor of Death Valley in January 1919. One of many such trips he would make in preparation of writing Wanderer of the Wasteland. It is a marvelous and detailed step by step account of his adventure in this valley of death, and the perils and dangers he faced in doing this. Zane Grey's descriptive qualities and powerful imagery of land and sky and mountain are unsurpassed by any author; and he tells a good story too. Get this collection.