Zane Grey [1872-1939] at 'Readers of the Purple Sage'

Zane Grey, called "the man who made the West famous" and “the Balzac of the range”, was born Pearl Zane Gray [the family name was later changed] on 31 January 1872, in Zanesville, Ohio. He was athletic all his life and received a baseball scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in dentistry in 1896. He played amateur baseball before opening a dental practice in New York City in 1898. He spent much time, however, in rural Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania, where he met young Lina Elise Roth, whom he called 'Dolly'. She encouraged him to write; his first published article appeared in 1902; he self-published the historical novel "Betty Zane" in 1903. He and Dolly were wed in 1905; their honeymoon trip in 1906 was Zane's first visit to the West.

His first Western novel, "The Heritage of The Desert" (1910) was a success, followed by his best-known work, "Riders of The Purple Sage" in 1912. By 1915, he had 15 books in print. His influence on the public's fascination with the West was enhanced by his choice of illustrators, which included young protegé Lillian Wilhelm Smith and Frederick Remington.
Their three children – Romer, Betty, & Loren – were born during this time.

The family moved to California in 1918, establishing a home in Altadena (near Pasadena), and later a home on Catalina Island, and cabins in Payson, Arizona, and in Rogue River, Oregon. Many silent films were produced from Zane Grey's works, some via his own Zane Grey Pictures production company.
He wrote prolifically, even while spending much time in the outdoors: He maintained yachts for his fishing adventures, the Fisherman (1924) and Fisherman II (1931) and at one time he held 13 all-tackle world records for big game fish.

Zane Grey died 23 October 1939, leaving a legacy of over 80 books,
including 20 manuscripts that were published after his death.
Dolly died in 1957, and their combined ashes were interred in Lackawaxen, PA.

"The Desert Crucible" [2003]
the unabridged version of "Rainbow Trail"

"The real sequel to 'Riders of The Purple Sage'."
Leisure Books mass pb [9/2004] for $6.99

Lassiter, the main character in "Riders of The Purple Sage" [1912] and the sequel "The Rainbow Trail" [1915],
also starred in a series of pulp Westerns in the 1960s & 1970s and another series in the late 1980s,
which are now being reissued in paperback.
Zane Grey's 'Lassiter' Books Page

"Wanderer of The Wasteland" [1923]

An honest cowhand confronts his younger brother about his gambling; the latter is accidentally shot, the cowboy is horrified that he has killed his own brother, and he flees into the desert. He changes his name and wanders alone for fourteen years, becoming a legend. Upon making peace with himself for his crime, he returns seeking his brother's grave, only to learn that his brother was merely wounded, and married the girl that they both wanted.

Wanderer of The Wasteland novel by Zane Grey

Amereon hardcover for $30.94
Harper pb [10/90] out of print/used

Film Credits from IMDb: 1924 silent | 1935 credits | 1945 credits
Lionsgate b&w DVD of 1945 movie [9/2006] for $9.98

"Desert Crucible" [2003] is first publication of the unabridged version of "The Rainbow Trail" [1915],
sequel to "Riders of The Purple Sage" [1912] - see above

Readers of the Purple Sage BookstoreZane Grey

Readers of the Purple Sage Bookstore
Zane Grey