Bitter Trail

Name: Bitter Trail
Brand: Macmillan Audio
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)
Author: Elmer Kelton
ISBN: 9781427215666

Author: Elmer Kelton

Narrator: Jason Culp

Unabridged: 6 hr 47 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Published: 07/19/2011

Categories: Fiction, Western

Synopsis

In Bitter Trail, Kelton tells the story of a tough teamster named Frio Wheeler whose wagons haul cotton from Texas to Mexico.

Sounds like a peaceable enterprise?

The problem is that the Civil War is raging throughout the South and Wheeler's cotton is to be sold for gold--gold used to buy guns and ammunition for the Confederate army.

And, added to his balky mules, the broiling heat, and killing drought of the Mexican dessert, Wheeler has even more serious matters to contend with: His wagons are attacked, his cotton bales are burned, he is captured and tortured by bandidos in league with Union sympathizers, and he is betrayed by his best friend--his former partner and brother of the woman he loves!

About Elmer Kelton

Elmer Kelton (1926-2009) was the award-winning author of more than forty novels, including The Time It Never Rained, Other Men’s Horses, Texas Standoff and Hard Trail to Follow. He grew up on a ranch near Crane, Texas, and earned a journalism degree from the University of Texas. His first novel, Hot Iron, was published in 1956. Among his awards were seven Spurs from Western Writers of America and four Western Heritage awards from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. His novel The Good Old Boys was made into a television film starring Tommy Lee Jones. In addition to his novels, Kelton worked as an agricultural journalist for 42 years. He served in the infantry in World War II. He died in 2009.

About Jason Culp

Jason Culp has been acting since the age of ten, and his credits include a variety of television, theater, and film roles. He is best known for his role as Julian Gerome on General Hospital. In addition to voiceover work in national commercials, Culp has narrated audiobooks by bestselling authors such as Louis L’Amour, Danielle Steel, John Irving, and David Weber. He has been recording since 1996 and has nearly 35 audiobooks under his belt. Culp has also narrated documentaries for National Geographic and the History Channel.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Jeff on January 31, 2019

Another good Kelton historical western about Texas. This one tells the tale of Brownsville, before, during, and after it is occupied by Union soldiers. The story shows the affect of the war on families and friends, each of them thinking that they are right and the other side is wrong. Recommended to......more

Goodreads review by Eric on April 07, 2015

3.5 stars Classic western story. Predictable in parts and still a good story.......more

Goodreads review by John on December 31, 2022

Frio Wheeler hauls cotton from Texas to Mexico during the Civil War. The story begins when some of his mules are stolen. When he gets to Brownsville he sees them in a pen for sale. He buys them from El Gordo then, sends some of his men to rob El Gordo of the cash. General Bee flees Brownsville ahead......more

Goodreads review by Tate on March 13, 2017

Classic Elmer Kelton. Definitely a good read. This book does a good job of illustrating the vast range of relationships that existed on the Rio Grande during the civil war. It explores the reasons that war exists and the turmoil it causes personally, interpersonally, statewide, and nationally. Inter......more

Goodreads review by Jason on January 24, 2025

A story about the civil war, and two friends working with either side of it. Frio is running cotton across the river for gold, largely helping the confederates. While his old friend Tom is working with the Union. Add in some bandidos and it's a whole mess near the border. This had everything you'd ex......more

Quotes

“Elmer Kelton is an authentic American voice.” —John Jakes