High Rider
About the Book
Winner of a 2016 Independent Publisher Book Award
Born a slave on a rice plantation in South Carolina, John Ware (1845–1905) became one of the most successful independent ranchers in southern Alberta through the sheer force of his will and through his incredible skill at the cowboy trade.
This fascinating historical novel details his adventures, as well as his trials and tribulations, on the long road that took him from South Carolina to Texas to Montana and finally north to Canada. High Rider is the compelling story of a truly great, yet unsung, Canadian hero.
Reviews
“This story is historical writing at its best, with details of everyday life in the West, the heartfelt troubles John faced throughout his travels, and interactions that provide depth and life to every character. If you want to comprehend the pain that former slaves endured after the Civil War, become enlightened with this book.” —Historical Novels Review
“Gallaher’s novel is easily compared to Joe R. Lansdale’s wonderful Paradise Sky (2015), though Ware is a far gentler character than Nat Love, and Gallaher avoids turning him into a myth. He draws much of his material from a 1960 biography, John Ware’s Cow Country, by Grant MacEwan, and his fictional departures are never flamboyant or satirical, but, rather, restrained.” —Booklist, starred review