WRITTEN WITH FIRE

Devotees of serious western lore will be interested in the story of cattle branding and the particular aspects of American history it reveals. Unlike what one may expect, this is not a description of the mechanics of an unpleasant necessity. Rather it explores the origin of American and Spanish brands, the development of brand symbols and the fascinating stories of how particular brands came to be. Descriptions of round-up time and the art of expert branding touch on the substance of what a cowboy's life is all about.