This book is the 872nd greatest fiction book of all time as determined by. Zane grey 1872 1939 the year is 1871, and wealthy ranch owner jane withersteen is in trouble. Told by a master storyteller who, according to critic russell nye, combined adventure, action, violence, crisis, conflict, sentimentalism, and sex in an extremely shrewd mixture, riders of the purple sage is a classic of the western genre. Told by a master storyteller who, according to critic russell nye. Arguably zane grey s most popular novel and a forerunner of the western genre, riders of the purple sage tells the story of a mormon woman caught between the persecution of religious zealots and several gentile gunmen seeking to lend her a helping hand. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Riders of the purple sage is a story of heroism, love, brave men and strong women, good dogs and fast horses. It is the story of lassiter, a gunslinging avenger in black, who shows up in a. The beautifully filmed madefortv movie, also available as a dvd at amazon. His work shaped perceptions of the american west and cemented the archetypes and myths of the western genre. In cottonwoods, utah, in 1871, a woman stands accused and a man is sentenced to whipping. Riders of the purple sage by zane grey free at loyal books.
Zane grey 18721939 is the bestselling western author of all time. Originally published in 1912, it was one of the earliest works of western fiction and played a significant role in popularizing that genre. Reading zane grey s riders of the purple sage is a little bit disconcerting. In his depiction of the relationship between lassiter, the hero, and jane withersteen, grey breaks other literary barriers. As i read riders of the purple sage by zane grey, the scenarios in my head were in black and white just as the cowboy movies from my childhood were. Zane grey at last although i have been aware of greys work for many years, my dad was a fan and i inheireted his books, i have never read any of his westerns. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read riders of the purple sage. Chapter i lassiter a sharp clipclop of ironshod hoofs deadened and died away, and clouds of yellow dust drifted from under the cottonwoods out over the sage. Considered by scholars to have played a significant. This story takes place 10 years later, when the wall to surprise valley is finally broken. Zane greys riders of the purple sage is probably one of the most famous westerns ever written, but, despite its popularity since it was first published in 1912, the book may not hold as significant a place in the canon of the american west for the simple reason that, until 2005, many people had never actually read the book that grey wrote. Riders of the purple sage dover thrift editions by zane grey and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
It happens to be a western although im not particularly drawn to this genre. Told by a master storyteller who, according to critic. Riders of the purple sage ebook written by zane grey. The screen play is very well done by gill dennis from the book written by zane grey. I believe these characters played by this particular cast very brilliantly portrayed just as those envisioned by zane grey in his book riders of the purple sage. No book has a better claim to have invented the myth of the american west. Riders of the purple sage by grey abebooks passion for books. Zane grey is noted for his careful research and accurate portrayal of the american west. Along with heritage of the desert these two rank one and two. Fay littered the court with janes books and papers, and other toys her. Make offer riders of the purple sage by zane grey 1912 vintage book harpers zane grey lot 23 hc walter black edition western decor hard cover. Riders of the purple sage by zane grey, paperback barnes.
Riders of the purple sage remains his bestknown book. He ends up taking a job at the ranch belonging to jane withersteen. Grey was famously prolific, publishing nearly ninety books in print sixty of which are westerns in over twenty languages. Riders of the purple sage and millions of other books are available for instant access. It is the story of lassiter, a gunslinging avenger in black, who shows up in a remote utah town just in time to save the young and beautiful rancher jane. The project gutenberg ebook of riders of the purple sage, by zane grey this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. And zane grey is the best author to have ever penned the story of the american west. Riders of the purple sage is one of my alltime favorite novels. Told by a master storyteller who, according to critic russell nye, combined adventure, action, violence, crisis. The action takes place in 1871 and follows the life of jane withersteen, a young mormon woman. It portrays the archetypal lone gun slinger, out to wreak revenge for past wrongs who falls foul of the rich and powerful and finally rides away into the sunset, having rid the town of.
Considered by scholars to have played a significant role in shaping the formula of the popular western genre, the novel has been called the most popular western novel of all time. Grey published a total of 85 books popular adventure novels that idealized the western frontier. Zane grey s story is riveting with a plot that includes love as well as a compelling mystery which comes together and finally is revealed fully at the end. She has incurred the displeasure of her mormon church leaders by refusing to marry a church elder and by befriending gentiles nonmormons. Riders of the purple sage zane grey s most enduring classicthe book that invented the myth of the american west. In the little village of cottonwoods, utah, mormon rancher jane withersteen endures persecution, religious zealots, and cattle rustlers trying to prey on her land. Recently i decided to try riders of the purple sage. The book is of the western genre that zane grey popularized. Set in utah during the nineteenth century, this novel offers an early critique on the. Riders of the purple sage zane grey 1872 1939 the year is 1871, and wealthy ranch owner jane withersteen is. Zane grey s evocation of landscape the canyons and purple sage of utah is superb, and his lengthy descriptions of the secret valley, its wildlife and weather, and venters struggle to survive in it, show a joy in nature which is almost mystical. Blackstone audio here presents the original, uncensored, unabridged novel riders of the purple sage, obtained through the golden west literary agency with the cooperation of zane grey s son, loren grey, and the ohio state historical society. Riders of the purple sage full audiobook by zane grey by.
Riders of the purple sage was one of the earliest works of western fiction, and it played a significant role in popularizing westerns. The project gutenberg ebook of riders of the purple sage, by zane grey this ebook is for. All you can books gives you unlimited access to over 40,000 audiobooks, ebooks, and foreign language. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by. The novel tells the story of jane withersteen and her battle to overcome her persecution by members of her mormon church. The mythology of the wild west began in the second half of the nineteenth century with the introduction of reading has a. Riders of the purple sage is considered to be the most popular western novel ever written. Riders of the purple sage is zane greys bestknown novel. Zane greys story is riveting with a plot that includes love as well as a compelling mystery which comes together and finally is revealed fully at the end.
Further exciting adventure then await jane and lassiter, as well as many new characters. Riders of the purple sage by zane grey before i opened this book, i thought it was just a fundamental cowboy story, and indeed, as i read it anonymous images coaxed from every western movie ive ever seen interjected themselves into the experience. At the end of zane grey s most famous book, riders of the purple sage, the two main characters are left trapped in surprise valley. Without a doubt riders of the purple sage is the best western ever written. Some of greys greatest novels include riders of the purple sage, betty zane, and the last trail. Zane grey 18721939 dubbed the most popular western of all times zane grey s riders of the purple sage was the benchmark by which every other novel in the western genre came to be judged.
February 27, 2017 jana bommersbach the famous purple sage of western lore is made more dramatic by the red sandstone spires that dot monument valley, where zane grey rides below. Grey s first book was published in 1904, and he went on to write more than 50 novels, most of them tales of adventure with a western setting, including the last of the plainsmen 1908, riders of the purple sage 1912, the thundering herd 1925, code of the west 1934, and west of the pecos. He immediately gets caught up in the ranchs struggle against some crooked officials. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Zane grey wrote this splendidly thrilling sequel to riders of the purple sage in 1915, but for almost 90 years it has existed in a profoundly censored version. This page contains details about the fiction book riders of the purple sage by zane grey published in 1912. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg.
Jim lassiter roams from town to town in search for the man who killed his sister and abducted her little daughter. Six western books by zane grey are in this kindle special edit. His passion for the american west was aroused in 1907 when grey toured the west with buffalo jones, a noted hunter and adventurer. Riders of the purple sage is zane grey s bestknown novel. Riders of the purple sage zane grey, jim roberts on. Riders of the purple sage zane grey s timeless novel will be staged as an opera.
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