A provocative and strikingly original new voice in fiction reinvents the historical novel-along with American history itself-in this wry "what if?" that merges and mashes up four of our most famous and infamous national icons. Historian Otis Pease once remarked that the story of nineteenth-century America could be encompassed in the lives of the two sets of James brothers-William and Henry in the East, Frank and Jesse in the West. "The James Boys" goes further by making all four of them the fruit of the same family tree and ...
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A provocative and strikingly original new voice in fiction reinvents the historical novel-along with American history itself-in this wry "what if?" that merges and mashes up four of our most famous and infamous national icons. Historian Otis Pease once remarked that the story of nineteenth-century America could be encompassed in the lives of the two sets of James brothers-William and Henry in the East, Frank and Jesse in the West. "The James Boys" goes further by making all four of them the fruit of the same family tree and showing how it shakes out. In 1876, the No. 4 Missouri Pacific Express pulls out of Kansas City for Saint Louis. Among those on board is Henry James, the erudite and esteemed novelist and brother of the brilliant philosopher William James. Trying his hand at travel writing, Henry is beset, as ever, by hypochondria-in the form, this case, of dire digestive woes. Suddenly, the train is stopped and robbed-and not by just any bandits but by the legendary James Gang. Taken hostage by the brigands, Henry realizes to his unspeakable horror that Jesse and Frank are in fact "Rob" and "Wilky," his long-lost brothers, who had disappeared during the Civil War and been presumed dead for more than a decade. From there the ride only gets wilder, careening through underbrush and ivory towers, throwing together America's greatest intellectuals and most notorious outlaws in a saga of six-guns and sherry that is peopled by a fascinating roster of passengers, both historical and imagined. Most prominent among them are Elena Hite, a feisty young feminist deeply aroused by the down-and-dirty charisma of the criminal Jesse; Alice Gibbens, the eminently sensible schoolteacher engaged to the sexually inexperienced William, who tempts him to stay put rather than joining Henry out West; and William Pinkerton, the renowned detective hot on all of their trails-especially Elena's. Based on and incorporating actual events, "The James Boys" is a through-the-looking-glass romp that boldly blends both sides of the American character-the brilliant and the barbaric-in one unforgettable family and one seriously entertaining story.
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Add this copy of The James Boys: a Novel Account of Four Desperate to cart. $1.99, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Austell, GA, UNITED STATES, published by Random House Publishing Group.
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Seller's Description:
Very good. A copy that has been read, but remains in excellent condition. Pages are intact and are not marred by notes or highlighting, but may contain a neat previous owner name. The spine remains undamaged. An ex-library book and may have standard library stamps and/or stickers. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.
Add this copy of The James Boys: a Novel Account of Four Desperate to cart. $9.50, good condition, Sold by Montclair Book Center rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Montclair, NJ, UNITED STATES, published by Random House.
Add this copy of The James Boys: a Novel Account of Four Desperate to cart. $11.45, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Dallas rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published by Random House (NY).
Add this copy of The James Boys: a Novel Account of Four Desperate to cart. $12.50, very good condition, Sold by ABC Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Springfield, MO, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Random House.
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Very good in very good dust jacket. First Edition. FIRST EDITION, stated. Hardcover with dust jacket. Jacket is now protected in mylar cover. Boards and spine tight. Nice copy, with little to no wear. No apparent marks throughout this book. Tracking available on most domestic orders.
Add this copy of The James Boys: a Novel Account of Four Desperate to cart. $35.09, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Random House.
Add this copy of The James Boys: a Novel Account of Four Desperate to cart. $63.59, new condition, Sold by Just one more Chapter rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Miramar, FL, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Random House.
Add this copy of The James Boys: a Novel Account of Four Desperate to cart. $65.18, new condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Random House.
Add this copy of The James Boys: a Novel Account of Four Desperate to cart. $79.45, new condition, Sold by GridFreed rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from North Las Vegas, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Random House.
