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The Homesman

A Novel

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The Homesman

By: Glendon Swarthout
Narrated by: Candace Thaxton
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About this listen

 Now a major film directed by and starring Tommy Lee Jones and co-starring Meryl Streep, Hilary Swank, and John Lithgow, this classic Western novel captures the devastating realities of early frontier life through the eyes of one extraordinary woman.

Now a major motion picture directed by Tommy Lee Jones, The Homesman is a devastating story of early pioneers in 1850s American West. It celebrates the ones we hear nothing of: the brave women whose hearts and minds were broken by a life of bitter hardship. A “homesman” must be found to escort a handful of them back East to a sanitarium. When none of the county’s men steps up, the job falls to Mary Bee Cuddy—ex-teacher, spinster, indomitable and resourceful. Brave as she is, Mary Bee knows she cannot succeed alone. The only companion she can find is the low-life claim jumper George Briggs. Thus begins a trek east, against the tide of colonization, against hardship, Indian attacks, ice storms, and loneliness—a timeless classic told in a series of tough, fast-paced adventures.

In an unprecedented sweep, Glendon Swarthout’s novel won both the Western Writers of America’s Spur Award and the Western Heritage Wrangler Award. A new afterword by the author’s son Miles Swarthout tells of his parents Glendon and Kathryn’s discovery of and research into the lives of the oft-forgotten frontier women who make The Homesman as moving and believable as it is unforgettable. Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Movie, TV & Video Game Tie-Ins
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This version of the story is better than the movie. The narratation is clear and draws you in to the tale. It makes more sense than the film but is also more hardhitting. It isn't surprising that some critics refer to this as the first feminist western - but it might be better to refer to it as the first nihilist Western. Happy Ending Territory this ain't.

The Reality of Winning the West

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lLoved it ! Completely transported me to the vast frontier with all its challenges excellent

Captivating Homesman

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Where does The Homesman rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the best novels I have purchased this year. The story is unusual and full of fascinating historical detail about a time and place I was utterly unaware of.

What did you like best about this story?

The premise that in the appalling conditions in which the first settlers in the West endured sent many of them literally mad

Have you listened to any of Candace Thaxton’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No, but I certainly will watch out for her as I thought she was quite execllent

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

There is a film of this book, and I reckon the tag line should be " not as good as the book"

Any additional comments?

Having seen the film and thoroughly enjoyed it I was interested to listen to the book. Having said that what I was delighted to find was that the book itself was a hundred times better than the film, and filled in all the details which I felt were week in the film.

Much better than the film

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