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Zane Grey
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The Riders of the Purple Sage Paperback – September 1, 2004

by Zane Grey (Author), 1st World Library (Editor)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 256 ratings
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Purchase one of 1st World Library's Classic Books and help support our free internet library of downloadable eBooks. Visit us online at www.1stWorldLibrary.ORG - - Jane Withersteen gazed down the wide purple slope with dreamy and troubled eyes. A rider had just left her and it was his message that held her thoughtful and almost sad, awaiting the churchmen who were coming to resent and attack her right to befriend a Gentile. She wondered if the unrest and strife that had lately come to the little village of Cottonwoods was to in-volve her. And then she sighed, remembering that her father had founded this remotest border settlement of southern Utah and that he had left it to her. She owned all the ground and many of the cottages. Withersteen House was hers, and the great ranch, with its thousands of cattle, and the swiftest horses of the sage. To her belonged Amber Spring, the water which gave verdure and beauty to the village and made living possible on that wild purple upland waste. She could not escape being involved by whatever befell Cottonwoods.
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  1. Print length
    416 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    1st World Library - Literary Society
  4. Publication date
    September 1, 2004
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.93 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1595405348
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1595405340
  8. Lexile measure
    1000L
  9. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ 1st World Library - Literary Society (September 1, 2004)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1595405348
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1595405340
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1000L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.16 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.93 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 256 ratings

About the author

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Zane Grey

Zane Grey

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Pearl Zane Grey (January 31, 1872 – October 23, 1939) was an American dentist and author best known for his popular adventure novels and stories associated with the Western genre in literature and the arts; he idealized the American frontier. Riders of the Purple Sage (1912) was his best-selling book. In addition to the commercial success of his printed works, they had second lives and continuing influence when adapted as films and television productions. His novels and short stories have been adapted into 112 films, two television episodes, and a television series, Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by Chalupa at cs.wikipedia [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
256 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

HMS Warspite
5.0 out of 5 stars The mother of all westerns...
Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2021
Verified Purchase
Zane Grey's 1912 classic "Riders of the Purple Sage" is still in print. It has all the dramatic elements that would populate countless Western stories, television and movies. It even includes the illustrations from a 1921 edition of this book. Saddle up for a good story.

In a mythical town in frontier southern Utah, a woman clings to her cattle ranch and her independence, under pressure from the local Mormon authorities to conform to their ways. To her assistance will come two mysterious riders, the young Venter and the older Lassiter. Each has his own purposes to serve. Together, they will find allies and enemies in the purple sage of the cattle lands.

As another reviewer has noted, the old style dramatic language of the story can be a bit of a challenge. Patience is encouraged, for the narrative has lots of twists and turns, and good guys versus bad guys never really gets old. Well recommended as a fun read.
3 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Zane Grey's Riders of the Purple Sage
Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2020
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A book written about a small settlement of Mormons and Gentiles who were ostracized and persecuted by the local bishop who wanted a weathy ranch woman for a 3rd wife. She doesn't want to be a third wife and also raises his ire by being friendly with and hiring a few gentiles to work on her ranch, conflict in the settling of the West. There's the plot. Another reason for reading the book is Zane Grey's beautiful descriptions of the land, the plants, the weather, the locale. Mr. Grey makes Southern Utah come alive and visible to the reader.
3 people found this helpful
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Lostdog1
4.0 out of 5 stars Follow up..
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2021
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I had just finished Riders of the Purple Sage, so it was a no brainer that I should finish up the story. I think I enjoyed it more. I still sometimes have difficulties with his descriptions of the landscape, but the depth of his “cowboy stories” is is definitely a step up. The Mormon question also stirs some interesting thought. Good book, I almost gave the book a 5 star rating.
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Michelle Loud
5.0 out of 5 stars This book was a gift for my father
Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2023
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This was a gift for my father. He enjoyed reading this book
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Kay
5.0 out of 5 stars You feel like you are in the caves with them!
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2022
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Zane Grey style of writing is so descriptive you are with all the characters as they go through the trials and tribulations in the story. A great read!!!
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aeroman
5.0 out of 5 stars Cannot put it down
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2020
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All the drama of Western living is captured in this thrilling book. It is a story of love and hate among cow rustlers and a strong willed woman.
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars I'm glad I read this book, but it was close.
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2021
Verified Purchase
On the whole, I'm glad I read this book, but it was close. I'm also glad to be done. I found the old style to be somewhat tiring. The narrative consisted of nuggets of action buried between pages and pages and pages of landscape descriptions, exposition of characters' emotional conflicts, and then the characters themselves yakking about their emotional conflicts. The two-dimensionality of the mormon characters is somewhat of a weakness too, though not one I would have cared to have remedied according to the author's style.
2 people found this helpful
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Jane Kerschner
4.0 out of 5 stars A fun western
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2020
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I was delightfully surprised with Riders of the Purpose Sage! I fell in love with the characters and the descriptions of the environments. It was fun to be reminded of the westerns that I grew up with even though they are so inappropriate today.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

elizabeth Arthur
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 26, 2021
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Well written story which is a good read.
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Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Nor Gripping
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 14, 2021
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My first read of a Zane Grey book. I expected this to be a gripping 'Western' but it was slow and un-thrilling. Don't think I will try this author again.
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