Zane Grey, Riders of the Purple Sage

[cowboycopus]

I read the book many years ago and loved it. A few weeks ago I came across a movie version with Ed Harris and Amy Madigan. It is pretty good, filmed in 1996 and it got me thinking about the book. So, I just finished reading it again.
And as usual the book is much better than the movie. I think it was Zane Grey's first big hit (1912) and I found out it was made into a movie five times. Two of them silent films. This has me searching for more of his novels. Fortunately the public library has many if not all.
This kind of weather has me reading a lot.

 

[dobegrant.45]

He wrote a lot of good westerns and a few hunting and fishing books.i think there were 70+ movies based on his westerns.Zane Grey hired Elmer Keith to guide him and after learning about Keith’s long range pistol shooting he added that to his book Thunder Mountain.

 

[WanderLust]

Try and find "Tales of Lonely Trails" in both volumes 1 and 2. Good personal stories from him about his traveling and family. You can see where he would
find a source for his stories in some of them.

 

[turd]

Grew up reading Zane Grey. Great books.

 

[Jeepnik]

If you haven't read it the book "Rainbow Trail" is a sequel to "Riders of the Purple Sage". Turns out these is a way in and out of the other than the one blocked at the end of Riders.

 

[JackBull]

"On the UP Trail" is a great Grey book.

 

[jimbo1096]

I had about two dozen Zane Grey books but haven't seen them in a few years. They must have been part of a "collection" somebody published. They were a light beige cover with a red spine. Now I'm wondering where I put them. I'll have to go on a treasure hunt to try to find them. I have most of the Louis L'Amour and read them on a revolving basis.

 

[cowboycopus]

They were a light beige cover with a red spine.

My local library has about a dozen of them from that collection. Purple Sage is in it.

 

[kmoore]

Early 70s that was a required book to read in high school. At 16 or so I was not interested in it. I had seen part of the movie I think made in 1996 as mentioned, about 10 years ago. Now older, I thought it was good and looked up the book on Kindle. Read it again and really liked it.
Side note: 1998, I was on a task force that was chasing down dangerous felons. I had arrested a crook named Zane Grey, he was released and wanted again. I ended up spike stripping his vehicle on the freeway. He crashed and bailed out with an Uzi about 50 yds away and tried to kill me. When he pointed it at me I jumped over the cement barrier, He jumped over also, I jumped back over as 4 lanes of traffic sped by. I crawled closer and finally peered over seeing him running off the freeway. I called out SWAT and checked out the abandon vehicle finding the loaded Uzi mag. on the ground about where he started aiming at me. It was all filmed by a news chopper. My wife watched the story unknowing it was me.
SWAT got him, had he ditched the gun and gave up. I interviewed him and he said he was trying to shoot me but released the magazine by accident. Luckly, he had an empty chamber. My blood pressure went up just remembering and typing this event.
Yep, I met Zane Grey 2 times.

 

[AJGUNNER]

Early 70s that was a required book to read in high school. At 16 or so I was not interested in it. I had seen part of the movie I think made in 1996 as mentioned, about 10 years ago. Now older, I thought it was good and looked up the book on Kindle. Read it again and really liked it.
Side note: 1998, I was on a task force that was chasing down dangerous felons. I had arrested a crook named Zane Grey, he was released and wanted again. I ended up spike stripping his vehicle on the freeway. He crashed and bailed out with an Uzi about 50 yds away and tried to kill me. When he pointed it at me I jumped over the cement barrier, He jumped over also, I jumped back over as 4 lanes of traffic sped by. I crawled closer and finally peered over seeing him running off the freeway. I called out SWAT and checked out the abandon vehicle finding the loaded Uzi mag. on the ground about where he started aiming at me. It was all filmed by a news chopper. My wife watched the story unknowing it was me.
SWAT got him, had he ditched the gun and gave up. I interviewed him and he said he was trying to shoot me but released the magazine by accident. Luckly, he had an empty chamber. My blood pressure went up just remembering and typing this event.
Yep, I met Zane Grey 2 times.

Now that's a great story!!! Love it when the good guys come out on top.