Savage Country
by Robert Olmstead
Release Date: September 26th, 2017
Genre
Western
Appeals of the
Book
• Strong Characters
• Richly Detailed
• Dramatic Situations
Synopsis
Michael Coughlin returns to Kansas to attend the funeral of
his brother, David. Michael’s sister-in-law, Elizabeth, wishes to go south on a
major buffalo hunt her husband had planned to earn his family a fortune.
Michael assists Elizabeth on this expedition, with the help of several friends
and hired workers, but where they go is a savage land where you risk your life.
Beware not just the animals, but the people you meet as well. Who are the real
animals among them?
Characteristics
That Fit Into Western
- Setting is the Great Plains of the West in the time period between 1865 and 1900.
- Storyline involves buffalo hunting, but at the same time trying to survive in the harsh West and has a sense of resolution (Saricks 318-319)
- The hero “arrives to right wrongs” (Saricks 315). However, the hero’s motives go beyond this traditional aspect. He wants to use his skills to help family, using “strategy before guns to win arguments” (Saricks 315). Saricks explains that some main characters have a mythic aspect to them, which this main character has because he has been all around the world and has so many skills that he can do almost anything and knows almost anything. (Saricks 316-317).
- Reflections on the past, both good and bad, are present. Therefore, it has a bit of nostalgic tone, but features a dark tone at time (Saricks 320).
- Rich details of the western landscape.
- Midway between leisurely and fast-paced. Not too much action happening.
Read-A-Likes
The High Divide by
Lin Enger*
The Last Crossing
by Guy Vanderhaeghe*
Mudbound Hillary
Jordan**
Devil's Dream by
Madison Smartt Bell**
* Recommended by NoveList
* Recommended by Kirkus
Review
Works Cited
Saricks, Joyce
G. The Readers' Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction. Chicago, IL: ALA,
2009.
