The Sergeant's Lady

ISBN: 0765305062

Author: Swarthout, Miles Hood

Condition: Used

From BooklistReminiscent of a John Wayne movie-- appropriate since Swarthout adapted his father's story The Shootist for film--this good old-fashioned cavalry yarn features a host of wily Apaches, a crusty veteran general and his reliable sergeant, a beleaguered rancher, and an intrepid young woman/love interest. All these familiar characters are interwoven into a compelling--if recycled--tale of passion and valor on the western frontier. Set in the wilds of post-Civil War Arizona, the narrative pits the U.S. cavalry--represented in fine fashion by General Nelson A. Miles and his sidekick Sergeant Ammon Swing--against Geronimo and his band of fierce and experienced warriors. Caught in the middle of the conflict are rancher Jacob Cox and his plucky sister, Martha. When romance blossoms between Ammon and Martha, the stakes grow suddenly higher for all concerned. Inspired by a short story penned by the author's father, novelist Glendon Swarthout, this stirring adventure is a writer's tribute to both his old man and a time-honored literary and film genre. Margaret FlanaganCopyright American Library Association. All rights reservedProduct DescriptionDeep in the untamed Southern Arizona Territory, the United States Army embarks on a final campaign to rid the area of the remaining Apache warriors and capture and kill their famed war chief Geronimo. Legendary for their relentless battle tactics and astounding survival skills, the Apache make a fearsome enemy, able to cut down man, woman, and child in silence, and transverse undetected throughout the rocky terrain.General Nelson A. Miles is determined to bring a swift end to the war against the Apache. He is also a seasoned Indian fighter, having defeated the Comanche, Sioux, and Cheyenne to the sound of his creed: "Always advance." On his side is Sergeant Ammon Swing and a unique, experimental communications system designed to keep the brigade alert to surrounding dangers. Caught in the middle of the Army and the Apache is Jacob Cox, a rancher trying to bring peace and a new life to his hard patch of land, and to his sister, Martha.Martha is a woman perfectly suited to her wild new home, able to shoot down an Indian and match wits with any soldier. In the unforgiving desert and treacherous mountains of the Arizona frontier, an unexpected love grows between Martha and Sergeant Swing. The affair leads Martha, her brother, and the army towards a harrowing encounter with the Apache, where some will meet their ends with the bullet from a Springfield, while others will rise to become honored heroes.Review"A beautifully written novel filled with historical facts concerning both men in the Army and the Apaches. Interwoven with Swarthout's account of the final campaign against the Apaches under Geronimo, is the tender love that develops between Sergeant Ammon Swing and Miss Martha Cox, a woman on the sunny side of forty. There is not a weak point in The Sergeant's Lady. The dialogue is authentic and occasionally amusing to our modern ears; the characters are complex and three-dimensional; the sense of place is as strong as an unwashed Private of Cavalry."Doris Meredith, the Roundup"Swarthout based his novel on a short story his father published in 1959. The author paints excellent word pictures, and the story moves at a rapid pace through its short chapters. The character development is many cuts above most genre novels. Minor characters such as Sgt. Swing's men and the fierce Apaches are all distinct individuals. Swarthout imparts much interesting information about Apache and Cavalry life without force-feeding the reader. An outstanding Western, worthy of many re-reads."B .J. Sedlock, Historical Novels Review"This good old-fashioned Cavalry yarn features a host of wily Apaches, a crusty veteran General and his reliable Sergeant, a beleaguered rancher, and an intrepid middle-aged woman/love interest. All these familiar characters are interwoven into a compelling tale of pa