Riders of the Purple Sage [B1517]

191? HC, a clean and fully legible Grosset & Dunlap early reprint of the 1912 Harper & Brothers original, with some wear to the cover and binding. Set in set in the cañon country of southern Utah in 1871, Riders of the Purple Sage is a classic western tale of justice, revenge, and love. It follows the story of a young Mormon woman, Jane Withersteen, who is being persecuted and threatened by an influential religious leader, Elder Tull. As Jane's situation becomes increasingly dire, she turns to a mysterious rider, Lassiter, for help. Lassiter is a gun-toting, silver-spurred avenger with a mission of his own. As the two set out on a journey of revenge and redemption, they form an unlikely bond and find themselves entangled in the dangerous politics of a Utah town. This beloved novel has been captivating readers since 1912, and its thrilling plot and vivid characters make it a timeless classic.

Note: Apparently, the novel ends rather abruptly. The fate of Jane and Lassiter and their adopted daughter is revealed in 'The Rainbow Trail', a 1915 sequel to 'Riders of the Purple Sage'. Both novels are notable for their protagonists' strong opposition to Mormon polygamy, but in 'Rainbow Trail' this theme is treated even more explicitly.

From recent MIXED Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Great Western with mix of adventure and romance. The book keeps your constant attention with many surprises and landscape descriptions."; "I appreciate this book's place in the development of the Western, but man, there's a lot of long-winded, purple prose in here!"; "Well, this was fun. It's two romance novels, one from the man's point of view, and one from the woman's. Throw in a few horse chases and a couple of gun fights, and call it a western."; "My first classic western novel and I loved it! Beautifully written with enough action to keep you entranced."