The Wonderful Country

Description

Author: Lea, Tom  (1907-2001)

Publisher: Little Brown

Pub Date: 1952  (First edition?)

Binding: Hardcover

Condition:  Book: Fair to Good.  Binding tight.  No marks, tears, bends or folds.  Dust Jacket: Fair.  Price clipped (?  The clip is at the bottom of the front flap, a place where it usually says “Book Club Edition. ”  There are no other BCE indications so it may indeed be a First Edition).   Numerous chips, small tears primarily to upper front and rear edges.  Chipping to head and foot of spine.  Now in mylar.

Notes:  Fiction.  The principal character, Martin Brady, is an American orphan adopted in Mexico, and his series of adventures on both sides of the Rio Grande, in the period approximately 1870-1880, at about the time of the founding of El Paso (called Puerto in the book) and Porfirio Diaz’s second presidential term.  Because he is able to speak Spanish fluently, Brady is valuable to the Americans, and his ability to speak English makes him valuable to the Mexicans.  The woodcut chapter and endpaper illustrations by Tom Lea, the artist and author, are wonderful.  It’s not Lonesome Dove, but it’s certainly on a par with the western novels of Elmore Leonard.