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The Mysterious Rider

Zane Grey

Book Overview: 

This book has all the elements of a classic Western, including rustling and gunfights, but at its heart is the battle between good and evil, between duty and love, between selfishness and self-sacrifice. The ‘mysterious rider’ of the title arrives at White Slides ranch, and his coming will have major consequences for many of those living there, not least for Columbine who is promised to a man she cannot love.

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Book Excerpt: 
. . .Jack. An' I ups an' told him, if Jack hadn't turned over a new leaf when he comes home, thet such a marriage would be tough on Columbine. Whew, but Old Bill was mad. He jest can't stand a word ag'in' thet Buster Jack."

"Columbine Belllounds," mused Wade. "Queer name."

"Oh, I've knowed three girls named Columbine. Don't you know the flower? It's common in these parts. Very delicate, like a sago lily, only paler."

"Were you livin' in Kremmlin' when Belllounds adopted the girl?" asked Wade.

"Laws no!" was the reply. "Thet was long before I come to Middle Park. But I heerd all about it. The baby was found by gold-diggers up in the mountains. Must have got lost from a wagon-train thet Indians set on soon after--so the miners said. Anyway, Old Bill took the baby an' raised her as his own."

"How old is she now?" queried Wade, with a singular change in his tone.

"Columbine's around nineteen."

Bent Wade lowered his head a little. . . Read More

Community Reviews

Zane Grey knows how to paint the West:

"A dreamy roar of water rushing over rocks rang in the traveler's ear. It receded at times, then grew louder. Presently the forest shade ahead lightened and he rode out into a wide space where green moss and flags and flowers surrounded a wonderful spring-hole.

An enjoyable read with wonderful writing!

A Western Story!

This is a western story with a lot of twists and turns! It deals with a lot of different emotions!

A very satisfying read from Zane Grey. Columbines figure greatly, along with Hell Bent Wade, a man with a gift of seeing the future and making himself part of it.

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The Mysterious Rider

• by Zane Gray (first published 1919)

Late 1800s.
The story of "Collie", Columbine Bellounds, named after the flower. She grew up on her adopted father's Colorado ranch, White Slides along with cowboy-ranch hand Wilson Moore (Wils) who loves her and Buster Jack the owner's son

The Mysterious Rider is a more complex novel about redemption. Still a western romance, the plot centers around a young woman, an orphan named Columbine, who is entrapped by her allegiances into considering marriage to the drunkard son of her adopted father.

"Hell Bent Wade" is the mysterious rider,

I usually love Zane Grey, but not this one. Let me summarize:

columbine: I have to marry Jack! I must for my father
Wils: But I love you
Columbine: I can never marry Jack! It would be wrong! I love you!

twenty pages later:

Columbine: I have to marry Jack! I must for my father!
Wils: But why Columbine? It

As with Grey's other books, his description of magnificent outdoor splendor develops the atmosphere of this novel about conflict and romance on a Colorado cattle ranch. Strangely enough the Mysterious Rider does not initially appear until the stage is set and other characters are introduced. Consequ

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