Vocal Republican, accomplished gardener, lover of large cars, Ernest Haycox was nothing if not three-dimensional. Despite a haphazard childhood that included abandonment by his parents, Haycox (1899-1950) decided early on to be a writer. Once he began he did not stop, approaching writing with both an unparalleled passion and a keen business sense that included normal business hours in a downtown Portland office.

Until now little has been written about Haycox, the famed "Collier's" and "Saturday Evening Post" contributor who wrote twenty-four novels and more than two hundred short stories. Bridging the gap between the formula Western and the literary western novel, Haycox frequently incorporated actual historical events into his works: "Trouble Shooter" documents the building of the Union Pacific railroad, "The Border Trumpet" covers the Apache wars in Arizona, and "Bugles in the Afternoon" draws upon the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Director John Ford adapted Haycox's work for "Stagecoach" (1939, starring John Wayne), as did Cecil De Mille for "Union Pacific" (1939, starring Barbara Stanwyck).

Ernest Haycox Jr. describes his father's life, work, and views on the craft of writing. In a remarkably candid biography, original photographs of Hollywood stars and excerpts from Haycox's correspondence, including letters from the last years of his life, round out this incisive look at a literary giant.

This is a new release of the original 1942 edition.

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

Ernest Haycox was a prolific writer of Western fiction, and a best-selling author of the early 20th century. His 1937 story, 'Stage to Lordsburg', was adapted two years later by John Ford into the movie Stagecoach, which featured John Wayne in his breakout role. Many of the Western stories, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

Rumors of a campaign against Sitting Bull cut through the ranks like a cold wind. Who would lead the charge? In "Bugles in the Afternoon," legendary Western writer Ernest Haycox relates a compelling tale of Custer's famed Seventh Cavalry and its fate at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in a balanced mix of action, exposition, and history.

Originally published in 1943, this classic work is now back in print in a new paperback edition. Historian Richard W. Etulain examines the novel's history and Haycox's impact on a timeless genre in an original foreword. Ernest Haycox Jr. provides unique insight into his father's writing regimen and commitment to authenticity in his introduction.