Where the Rivers Run North

Where the Rivers Run North

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Editorial Reviews

Winner of the Wyoming State Historical Society Award in the Historical Fiction category

Experience the untamed beauty of early America in Where the Rivers Run North, a new historical novel from Sam Morton. Morton's extensively researched fiction carries the reader through three eras in the history of Abraska, or what is now southern Montana and northern Wyoming. From the days when Native American tribes dominated the landscape to the hardships of fledgling pioneer life to times of fast-paced modern development, Where the Rivers Run North introduces a shifting cast of characters as intriguing as they are diverse. One thread runs throughout--the figure of the horse, whether running wild on the plains or competing on the racetrack.

Where the Rivers Run North has won a first place award in the publications division from the Wyoming State Historical Society. Morton accepted his award at the Society's annual meeting in Gillette, Wyoming on September 6th, 2008. He was nominated by the Sheridan County Historical Society. The committee chose the book as 'a well-written epic for its story of horses; the widely diverse peoples who raised, used, and sold them; and the land that shaped them all." According to the nomination, the author spent over seven years in research and provided much primary source material never before published.

Customer Reviews

WY and MT History

Reviewed by Alice Beimer, 2009-09-15

I grew up in WY but do not ever remember learning about the Indians of that area or the expertise they had with horses. This book gave me a great insight as to their existance, courage, and Godly spirit. I am currently reading the second Part II and look forward to learning more about the people of my home state. Thank you Mr. Morton for giving me this opportunity to review your book. Alice Beimer

A wonderful visit to a remote part of our country

Reviewed by Mark Johnson, 2009-08-14

I shall probably never visit the part of the world Sam Morton describes in Where Rivers Run North, but now I can imagine being there as if I were floating over the hills and streams. The history of the various settlers, Indians, English, Cowboys, is fascinating as is the history of the use of the horse. For instance, I had never thought of the thousands of horses that were shipped out to serve in WWI or what happened to them or where they came from. After reading this book go to Google Earth and you will be able to see where Morton's English horse breeders lived and raced. And you can pick out your own guess as to the mountain his yellow horse called home.

Disjointed and frustrating read

Reviewed by ACL, 2009-07-22

I chose this book ahead of a camping trip to Montana. I wanted something that would give me a greater appreciation of the landscape and the history of the place. This book failed to come close. There were parts that were quite good. The story of Crazy Horse was a major highlight. The importance of horses to the culture is also conveyed early on and is maybe the only constant in the book.

Unfortunately for me, the disjointed nature of the book overwhelmed the positives. For chapters at a time (it felt like a quarter of the book) characters would be introduced and leave in the space of a page or two. Lists of rodeo wins were as painful as a history textbook and did not seem relevant at all. The cast of characters grew to the point of being meaningless. I was constantly searching for names I could place with a background - Noll Wallop, for example.

The author attempts to tie completely unrelated time periods together through a herd of horses led by a yellow stallion. After Crazy Horse, the stallion is mentioned so rarely it seems contrived, and the closing storyline of the herd falls flat.

This may be a book appreciated by locals familiar with the names and places mentioned, but it did little for someone looking to gain insight into the region.

this is a fascinating account of a part of America I knew little about

Reviewed by Elizabeth Martin, 2009-05-12

I was wary of this book when I saw it was labelled "historical fiction." In fact, it is an obviously carefully researched history of an area in America I don't know, except for a few road trips passing through. I found it very informative, skillfully constructed, and very entertaining. The author spends his winters in an area of Florida where a lot of polo is played. I had no idea that polo enthusiasts lived in the cowboy country around Sheridan! His account of the horses, the Indians, and the lives of the early settlers are extremely interesting. I'm inspired to make another trip through there, and take longer this time, with his book in hand. Thank you, Mr. Morton. PS There are quite a few "typos". This book, and the work that went into it, deserve better.

Makes me want to go home

Reviewed by Ryan Bulkley, 2009-03-19

This is an amazing book that I enjoyed very much. I grew up on the Powder River with my family raising thoughbred horses and cattle over some of the area Mr Morton writes about. We sold many horses to Bob Tate for polo prospects and know several of the people in the book. It was so fun to read about Indians and Soldiers riding a trail from Powder River to Hanging Woman creek and knowing right where he was talking about. Or riding down Otter Creek to Ft Howes. I am a little dissapointed in myself that I grew up there and now, at 31 years old and living in Colorado, I have read a book that has taught me so much about where I was from. I have trailed cows to Ft Howes and saw the little rock building on top of the nob, but never asked why it was called that or why it was built. I have spent my whole life saying,"Powder River Let 'er Buck." Without knowing the full meaning of the saying or where it came from. I grew up taking for granted that I lived in an area where cowboys rode broncs and used thoughbreds to chase cows, and it wasn't uncommon to have high society from all over the world come into town playing polo, or visiting a dude ranch. Mr Morton also did such a great job of making the characters come to life that I wept when they died. My only complaint with the book is the proofreading. Other than that, this is a wonderful book that kept me captivated thoughout. Every night after reading it I would call friends and tell them about parts that I found so incredible. I am going to buy several copies to send to friends and family. I would recomend this book to anyone how loves the American West and horses, but especially to anyone from Absaraka. Reading it makes me feel like the Powder is calling me home. Thank you Mr Morton for teaching me so much about my "Home" and making me feel I was right there again.