THIS VIOLENT LAND

by William Jacobs ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 4, 1959

A superior Western, this is set in Arizona at the time of Wyatt Earp, and the story embellishes the Cain theme with variations of love, lust and popular psychology. The two Malibar brothers are in sharp contrast:- Travis, the younger, is a compliant member of the community and in love with the widow Zoanna; Bowie, the older wandering brother, violent and quick on the draw, kills their father. Travis sets out to kill his brother in an effort to prove his manhood and to assuage his agony at his fiancee's turning passionately to Bowie. Redemption comes for Bowie in sacrificing himself to Travis' bullet, but Travis in turn dies when Zoanna's twelve year old son, in defense of his mother, kills him. Within a framework of limited characterization and routine motivation, typical of the genre, this Western of violence siring violence emerges with surprising conviction and gusto.

Pub Date: May 4, 1959

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Frederick Fell

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1959

Categories: FICTION