Book & DVD Reviews

Pub. Date 04/01/2011

216 pages; ConRoca Publishing

Editor, Kevin Abreu

ISBN 9781892617163 (Paperback Version)

ISBN 9781892617170 (Digital Version)

Excerpt taken from the book’s Acknowledgements. . . .

“To say this novel is primarily about the demise of the American mustang would be misleading. While it is true that one of the story’s central themes entails the systematic killing off of our horse populations during the 1930s, the plot, itself, digs far deeper and, some would contend, far darker than just the issue with the mustangs. At its core, this story is about human tragedy, one that happens to parallel that of the horses. It is a tale about one man’s search (Billy Bartell) for meaning and inner peace during an epoch coming of age period (1939) in American history. In a very real way, seventeen-year-old Billy Bartell represents that America—inexperienced and innocent to a world about to embark on a journey through hell. Perhaps that is why I cast him as a wandering-but-lost soul, much in the same vein as Dante in his search for heaven.

Likewise, one has to wonder what sort of people in 1939 would have allowed the mass slaughter of such a majestic and innocent creature as the mustang. After all, those same animals helped Americans settle the West, helped plow farmlands, deliver mail, provide basic transportation, and transform the nation into greatness. Horses were truly that generation’s friends and allies. Sadly, however, from 1914 to 1939, over four million mustangs were rounded up, and processed into chicken feed and dog food in what became known as ‘the great removal.’ Less than one hundred thousand mustangs remained alive by the end of that pivotal year.

It was while reading an article in National Geographic on the subject that it struck me (like a ton of bricks) how, in the mad rush to mechanize everything, our country turned its back on the wild mustang herds. The truth is in 1939, no one cared about the slaughter that was taking place. Thus, I felt compelled to journey to the source of what has become today a contentious battle between our Federal government (i.e., Bureau of Land Management) and the protectors of the last great herd on Pryor Mountain in Montana. The fruit of that journey is this story.” David Martin Anderson

“One of the best stories ever written on the exploitation of our mustang herds. David Martin Anderson weaves a gripping and emotional tale of murder and betrayal in Montana.”

— G. Ray Field, Director, Wild Horse Foundation

“David Martin Anderson’s compelling novel takes the lid off nostalgic illusions about wild mustangs being part of the ‘Proud Heritage’ of the American West. Anderson reveals a depth of human brutality and greed, and places before us a crisis of conscience over the violence towards horses, slaughter, and profiteering that continues today. ‘The Last Good Horse’ takes us out of our comfort zone and demands that we look squarely at our mercenary past. . . . and reminds us of the forgiveness, beauty, selfless service and grace granted to us throughout history by the horses.”

— Alicia Nation, President, NM Mustang & Burro Association

“An absolutely brilliant tale. . . . one of the first to tell it the way it really happened.”

— Albert Botha, President, Save the Mustang Foundation

“David Martin Anderson has done a remarkable job bringing together the mysterious spirit of the mustang and man’s cruelty to his partner and friend for so many years, intertwining fiction with historical fact.”

— David Hesse, Ex. Dir., Mustang & Wild Horse Rescue of GA

“. . . Anderson’s tale masterfully guides the reader to discover (or re-discover) the unique and sacred bond between man and horse that has been passed on for centuries.”

— Boerne Business Journal

“It’s time for this country to see what has been happening and going on in the cold underworld of horse slaughter. . . .”

— Madeleine Pickens, President, Saving America’s Mustangs

This book has been endorsed by —

Wild Horse Preservation League

Mustang & Wild Horse Rescue of GA

Saving America’s Mustangs

Save the Mustang Foundation

NM Mustang & Burro Association

Wild Horse Foundation

American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign

While he was born in Hawaii, Mr. Anderson was raised in Des Moines, Iowa. He attended Southern Methodist University (‘72/’77) and has lived the past forty years in Texas and New Mexico. He spends his winters at his Hill Country ranch forty miles north of San Antonio with his wife, Mary. After a career as a telecommunications executive, he began the craft of writing (twelve years ago). To date, he has written six novellas and three novels. His first success was the novella The Cowboys of Haddington Moor, which was optioned for a screenplay by James Coburn. Other books include: John From, Four-Bagger (a collection of novellas), Marx Texas, and Apologies.

He is an avid supporter of preserving and saving America’s wild mustang heritage.

The Last Good Horse was a finalist for the distinguished 2010 William Faulkner-Wisdom award and has been nominated for both 2011 SPUR and IPPY awards in the category of historical fiction.