Telegraph Days: A Novel

It’s entertaining but full of historical errors. I’ll cite just two examples. 1) Wild Bill is said to be discussing Billy the Kid (Hickok was killed 4 years before McCarty (Kid) was known to anyone. And, 2) the telegraph announcing Hickok’s death reports Deadwood to be in South Dakota. The Dakota territory wasn’t divided until both attained statehood in 1889— 13 years after Hickok was killed. Additionally, the effect of having all the celebrities of the Old West know each other, and the central character, is to be immersed in a Forrest Gump does the Old West kind of tale. A cute story, but a FAR cry from Lonesome Dove AND reality.

just fell in love with it

What a great book every bit as good as Lonesome dove! Mr. McMurtry is a writer of master piece frontier fiction that makes you feel lost and engaged in the world of the old west! Thank you McMurtry

I've read/listened to several Larry McMurtry books and I guess nothing is going to measure up to Lonesome Dove. In spite of that, this one was not too bad. Its a fictional autobiography by a very unsual woman who seemed to be a partcipant or eyewitness to many of the significant events of the old west. As usual, the author gives us a very stark and unromantic slice of the old west. Different, but worth a read (or listen).

I don't read many westerns, but the story line was interesting. Who hasn't hear of some of the famous characters in this book? And who could not love hearing Annie Potts. Mr. McMurtry was so fortunate to have her narrate this book. She was fabulous, great character representation.

McMurtry should have hung it up with Lonesome Dove - a real masterpiece. Anything else since then pales by comparison. I listened to the first disk and then sent it back - the writing is junvinale at best and not at all entertaining. Story structure doesn't make a lot of sense and is a light year from reality.