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The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (Abridged) Audiobook
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(4.18) - 17 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
“Recalls the literature of Americana by John Steinbeck, Erskine Caldwell, Willa Cather, and Hamlin Garland . . . Hansen has broadened our perception of the West in much the same way as the best historians . . . and proven himself one of our finest stylists of American historical fiction.” —Christian Science Monitor
Bestselling author Ron Hansen recreates the real West with his imaginative telling of the life of the most famous outlaw of them all, Jesse James, and of his death at the hands of the upstart Robert Ford.
Jesse James was a fabled outlaw, a charismatic, spiritual, larger-than-life bad man whose bloody exploits captured the imagination and admiration of a nation hungry for antiheroes. Robert Ford was a young upstart torn between dedicated worship and murderous jealousy, the ""dirty little coward"" who coveted Jesse's legend. The powerful, strange, and unforgettable story of their interweaving paths—and twin destinies that would collide in a rain of blood and betrayal—is a story of America in all her rough, conflicted glory and the myths that made her.
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"I first listened to this book through Overdrive via my local library. I enjoyed it so much that when I started using this service I decided to purchase it. I found that the book held my attention so much that I had a very hard time putting it down. Ron Hansen's voice was perfect for this story. You really felt like he was the old west, telling you a tale. "
— April (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“One of our finest stylists of American historical fiction.”
— Christian Science Monitor -
“This book is a wonderful achievement.”
— San Francisco Chronicle -
“Hansen has turned low history into high art. This is a terrific book.”
— Newsday -
“Here is the James book…Put Hansen on your bedside table.”
— Richmond News-Leader
Awards
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A 1984 PEN/Faulkner Award Finalist
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford Listener Reviews
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" A good book if you like cowards. "
— Mike, 2/14/2011 -
" It truely is a shame that historians have to rely on the accounts of poorly educated journalists. "
— Andrew, 2/3/2011 -
" well written and interesting, but ultimately too detail-oriented and drug on.... "
— Balika, 2/3/2011 -
" I need to revisit this book. I read it, and then found the movie for cheap. Watched it, and absolutely fell in love. The prose had similar strengths, but it went completely over my head. "
— Jonathan, 10/18/2010 -
" I picked up this book a while back because i saw the trailer for the movie and thought it looked good. The book is great. The movie was made too similar to the book without the amazing narration which made it seem to drag on forever. "
— Paul, 7/2/2010 -
" beautifully written account of the live of two men forever entwined in history. I did not want the book to end. "
— Kiley, 5/11/2010 -
" Haunting, lyrical, fascinating, and true to the time period. "
— Adrian, 4/10/2010 -
" Just a great fucking read, hypnotic, wonderful and lame words of praise. "
— Alex, 2/16/2010
About Ron Hansen
Ron Hansen is the author of many novels—including Mariette in Ecstasy, Desperadoes, and A Wild Surge of Guilty Passion—and two short-story collections, among them She Loves Me Not. His novel The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award. He graduated from Creighton University in Omaha and went on to the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop where he studied with John Irving. He is now Gerard Manley Hopkins SJ Professor in Arts and Humanities at Santa Clara University in northern California.
About Sam Freed
Sam Freed is an actor, voice talent, and audiobook narrator.