Alan Geoffrion

Broken Trail by Alan Geoffrian is a deceptively simple book told in a straight forward, heart-felt way. Set in the 1890’s, two cowboys, a crusty older man and his younger, stronger, silent partner and nephew, invest all their savings into buying a herd of horses in eastern Oregon and delivering them to Sheridan, Wyoming. Along the trail the men have various adventures and met a variety of characters, some good and some bad. They rescue a group of young Chinese girls from a slaver and then try to find them a safe place to live.

The author wrote the book with Robert Duvall in mind for the older character, and I am guessing he was over the moon when Robert Duvall agreed to play the part in the movie that was made. I have to admit a great part of the enjoyment of this book for me was imagining Robert Duvall as “Uncle Print” Ritter.

I enjoyed this book and found it a great escape read and I would certainly read anything else by this author that I could get my hands on.… (mer)