The Wonderful Country (Texas Tradition Series) (Volume 33) Paperback – March 21, 2002

Don't know why it took me so long to read this. A man with his heart in two worlds has to find his way home a vivid picture of that particular time and place in the story of Texas.

Good

The book was more worn than I expected but the storyline is great. I loved the movie and had to get the book.

I read this book and fell in love with it 40 years ago, in my 20s.So happy to find and read it again. Unlike many of the books I read back then, it has stood the test of time. Beautifully written, still touches my heart.

When I ran across this book and read it, I couldn't believe they'd never made a movie out of it. Well, guess what! They did, and Robert Mitchum starred in it. Maybe not the best choice but not bad.... If you can find that movie I recommend it too cuz it does a good job following the book (for the most part) which I found VERY enjoyable till I got to the end because it ENDED (prematurely) and there hasn't been a sequel. Tom Lea didn't write much fiction but in my opinion he did a great job catching the true spirit of the west and it's times. I highly recommend this book to any and all western readers!

There was a book sellers market in El Paso two years ago. I saw an old copy of one of my favorite novels, in my mind the first really adult western. When I saw the opportunity to get a copy through Amazon I was elated. The Wonderful Country is a great addition to my collection. The movie was fantastic, with Tom Lea as the hired killer after Martin' Bredi. But it did not capture the emotion and beauty and sadness of the book. I will always cherish this book. "Goodbye Lagrimas. You know I will be afoot now. You know that. Leaving you I will be afoot for the rest of my life."

The author is masterful. Amazing detail. Never boring. I read few novels, but I couldn’t put this down. The drawings are impressive also! I read the Kindle version, on my 12” iPad Pro. This is different than the movie version, which I also enjoy.

We are happy and would really not like to have to type this everytime..tthen be told to write more?? I am happy and don't always have time to do this.Can't we just rate it?

Got interested in this one because it served as the basis for a somewhat underappreciated movie in the late 1950s. Glad the film led me to it. The book has probably faded from view because there aren't a lot of copies available and because the taste for westerns has passed. It deserves more attention: interesting characters, realistic action, very strong descriptive writing about the people and the landscape around the Texas-Mexico border, sound basis in the history of the El Paso area. Lea's drawings add to the appeal and make the book lyrical as well as hard driving. The main character, Martin Brady, has perhaps one or two more adventures than necessary but that's a minor qualm and a debatable one. It's a good question whether to read the book or see the movie first: Robert Mitchum presented a convincing interpretation of Brady. Whether seen before reading the book or afterward, the movie helps make an already believable character even more vivid.

I first read this book many many years ago and remember that I thought it was a cut above the usual ‘Western, novel. I also know that I was disappointed with the (1960s?) film interpretation. However, I could not really remember the story in any detail after the 50+ years since the first reading.I was quite pleased to find I agree with my teenage self’s opinion of the book. It is the story of a man caught between the 2 cultures of Mexico and Texas at a time when the Apache could still roam the area. Some of the descriptive passages are lyrical in a way that reminds me somewhat of my favourite Russian classic novels. Even Tom Lea’s own pen and ink sketches that mark each chapter are stunning. This is a great read.