The American Cowboy spans three generations of cowboys in the American West, from the young trailboss of the first cattle drive from Texas to the railroads, to his grandson, born after the open range had been fenced in. As the saga follows the life of Bill, and then his son and grandson, readers see the history of the cowboy unfold. the danger and thrill of life on the frontier in the mid-to-late 1800's gradually changes with the expansion of the cattle business, the growth of the railroads, and the coming of the farmer. The open range is gone, but in The American Cowboy, Will James brings to life the spirit of the cowboy that will never die.

WILL JAMES, Book of Cowboy Stories is a gathering of some of the most entertaining illustrated stories of cowboy life from the Will James collection. This long -awaited reprint of the last Will James book will satisfy readers' nostalgic longiong for the freedom , danger, and adventure of life on the open range. Unlike the original 1951 Scribners edition, the stories in this version are unedited. So sit back on your boot heels, pour yourself a cup of thick, black camp coffee, and let Will James transport you to bygone days of cowpunching, cattle rustling, bronc busting, and drifting in the Amewrican West. 280 pages, 58 black & white drawings

The DARK HORSE - Sent away as a colt because his color did not reflect his fine lineage, Colonel - The Dark Horse - finds himself in a strange land thousands of miles from home. Charro, born in the badlands of the arid Weest and orphaned at a few months of age, is rescued from starvation by a cowboy named Brad. at the Hip-O Ranch on the edge of the badlands, fate brings these two colts together to form a bond that cannot be broken.

At first, the two colts are content to be fed and groomed by human hands. But one day, when someone leaves a corral gate open, Colonel and Charro head off into wild-horse country for adventure and a taste of freedom. Along the way they outsmart four mountain lions, survive a mustang attack, and kick dirt in the face of the mustangers who want to capture them and sell them to the highest bidder.

With forty line drawings and colorful prose, Will James vividly renders two weak-kneed, green colts who become the best of their breeds: Colonel, a race-winning champion, and Charro, the wiliest mustang the West has ever seen.

 

HORSES I've Known - Fourteen short stories capture the quirky and peculiar behavior of the horse, both good and ornery. You'll meet buckers, tricksters, and trusted partners: Bearcat is "not just a plain crazy hardheaded bucker...but a wise, cool-headed cross between a whirlwind and a ton of brick," Joker is "full of the old nick and plenty of snorts," and Little Eagle is the "seeing eye" for the blind cowboy. First published in 1940, HORSES I've Known contains some of Will James's most acclaimed short stories.