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Gunman's Rhapsody
Robert P. Walker Book Review

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Plot Summary of Gunman's Rhapsody
"
Robert B. Parker
Putnam, May 2001, 22.95, 304 pp.
ISBN: 0399147624

    In 1879 thirty-one years old Wyatt Earp, his spouse Mattie, several of his brothers, and their wives leave Dodge City to relocate in Tombstone. Three days pass in their new town when Wyatt sees traveling actress Josie Marcus for the first time. He cannot help but compare the vibrant, beautiful woman to his own wife. He realizes that Mattie, who was fun as an alcoholic whore, is a pathetic domestic. Wyatt did not desire Mattie long before his eyes feasted on Josie.

    Josie is not only beyond Wyatt's reach, he sees her with Johnny Behan. Worse to come is when Behan introduces Josie to Wyatt as his fiancee. Johnny tells Wyatt that Pina County will probably split in two. He wants to become sheriff of the newly formed Cochise County when it is formed. He needs Wyatt to resign his current position as under sheriff so that he can accept it as a stepping stone when the split happens. Regardless of Wyatt's decision the woman and the job forces a dangerous feud to form.

    Mixing history with his legendary story telling abilities, Robert B. Parker effortlessly switches genres to provide readers with a powerful tale of the old west. The exciting story line centers on Wyatt, turning him into more than just a dime store character. The plot allows the cast to appear real and the rivalry to develop without slowing down the plot for even a moment. GUNMAN'S RHAPSODY shows that Mr. Parker has the talent to become a superstar in a second genre.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Gunman's Rhapsody
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Story of personal feelings? - search for identity
The enemy is... - White People
Famous real-world personality in story? - Famous Lawman
Kind of story? - lawman keeping the peace
Who is good, who is bad? - Whities good - Whities bad
Misc Cliche Subplots - Barroom brawl?

Main Character
Gender: - Male
Profession/status: - police/lawman

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - cowboy
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an average amount

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 4 ()
Small town? Yes
Small town people: - nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee - sinister, like an X-Files Gomer Pyle
Time book takes place in: - 19th century

Style
overall quality of this book? - 8
Person - mostly 3rd
How much gore? - 3 ()
How much suspense/how unpredictable? - 7 ()
How much action? - 7 ()
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Happy ending? - somewhat happy
How much dialogue/talking among characters? - 6 ()
How much non-dialogue descript of thoughts & feelings? - 7 ()
How much romance? - 2 ()
Is there a theme to the dialogue? (optional) - verbal fencing with characters
Non-dialogue thoughts/feelings primarily about: (optional) - thinking about plan of action
Minor characters feature lots of: - cowboys - Indians - miners - politicians - businessmen - blue collar types - prostitutes

Theme
Justice Yes
Setting things right for: - self
Setting things right by means of: - taking powers in own hands
Search for Truth/Facts: Yes
Search for Truth/Facts: - about events - about self - about others
Most similar books to Gunman's Rhapsody
Lone Star Ranger by Zane Grey
Walking Up a Rainbow by Theodore Taylor
Son of a Wanted Man by Louis L'Amour
Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry
Comanche Moon by Larry McMurtry


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