Lord Grizzly

Manfred takes what is known about Hugh Glass, a legendary mountain man who was left for dead and survived, and brings Hugh to life. The author includes amazing details about how people lived at the time. In a preface, the author summarized the real Hugh Glass' story, which I had read about in novels by Blevins. I was reluctant to read this book because I knew the ending, but there is a lot more to Hugh's story-- especially as told by Manfred. The novel is in the third person, through Hugh's eyes. This gets the reader very involved. I was reminded of The Border Trilogy, three novels by Cormac McCarthy-- All the Pretty Horses, the Crossing, and Cities of the Plain. Lord Grizzly became part of 5 part series. I was disappointed in Scarlet Plume, but I haven't read all the others yet.

I don't know why the novel often seems to go out of print. I've always thought this was Manfred's best. The characters are well-defined (as in all his novels) and the narrative itself is compelling. Some subject matter is not for the squeamish, but it certainly reads as believeable and authoritative. Though this is thought of as a "western" novel, it's not really about range wars or Indian battles; it's about betrayal, the desire for revenge (perhaps the positive side of it?), and forgiveness. It's about how deep a person has to dig within himself in order to survive. You won't regret reading this novel, even if you don't like novels in the "western" genre.

This is one particularly unique western set in a time when the Midwest was untamed; it's probably like no other western ever written. I have read maybe two-hundred westerns, but I was naive until I read Lord Grizzley.

Actually, this book should be about 4 1/2 stars, but I'll round up. It is a captivating book that is part history and part (probably the biggest part) fiction centered around an historic figure. I imagine old Hugh did go through very similar experiences during his time in hell. This book gives a great depiction of what life probably was like for a mountain man in the early 1800s. It reminds me of the sheer luxuries we all take for granted in every day life compared to those who lived before us. Hugh Glass is portrayed as a determined man who was about as tough as any creature on the planet could be. I imagine he was. For a glimpse of how the West was before white men poured in, what life consisted of then, and the inspirational feats of a colorful mountain man, read this book. It's hard to put down.

Having veiwed the Hugh Glass Monument at the forks of the Grand River in NW South Dakota several times as a boy growing up within 15 miles of the site, I was pleased when Frederick Manfred published his book about Hugh Glass. Because of the flooding of the Grand River forks after the installation of Shadehill Dam, the monument was moved to the top of the nearest hill where it still stands today, about 15 miles southwest of Lemmon, SD Manfred came to Lemmon ,SD after his book was published and conducted a seminar at the Library there about his research on Glass and the historic 200 mile crawl he made. Having grown up in the area and rode many of these same hills horseback trailing horses or cattle, I can tell you he did a wonderful job of describing the area like it is yet today. The book has a little local color added I'm sure, but that only makes for a lot better reading. The dates and facts of this true story about a mountain man and pioneer are recorded history. Manfred turned that part of the Northern Plains history into a very readable novel. In 1923, 100 years after the story takes place, many local homesteaders and pioneers placed a monument on the site. They all signed a manuscript, dated it and enclosed it in a copper tube and covered it with the concrete for the monument. It is to be opened in 2023, 200 years after the saga of Hugh Glass (Lord Grizzly) took place. My Grandparents ,mother and aunts and uncles were there on the 100th anniversary. I hope to be there for the 200th.