Inspired by a long drought in the 1950s – at the time, the longest and most severe in living memory—that pressed West Texas ranchers and farmers to the outer limits of courage and endurance. In the story, the government offers help but the main character, Charlie Flagg resists the siren call as he fights to hold his land. Flagg agreed with a sentiment expressed by former President Ronald Reagan who once said the scariest words in the English language were “I am from the government and here to help”. This book is a salute to the individual and a tribute to the indomitability of human spirit and has been judged “one of the dozen or so best novels written by an American in [the twentieth] century.” Elmer Kelton was particularly proud of it and felt certain it would stand the test of time. It will.

Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1973. 1^st edition. 373 Pages. Hardcover with dustjacket. The book has minor wear and small isolated areas of uneven coloration; overall, VERY GOOD plus some. The dustjacket is price clipped, has an old (and small) price sticker attached next to the area where the dj price was clipped, and has some wear to its edges and faint soiling to the rear panel but the color is vibrant – in a word: fantastic. Overall, the dustjacket is VERY GOOD.