'Firebrand' Trevison

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26951

Title

'Firebrand' Trevison

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In the wake of a railroad's arrival in the West, cattleman 'Firebrand' Trevison clashes with the encroaching industrial age and a ruthless rival, Corrigan. When law fails, Trevison and a band of vigilantes take justice into their own hands, leading to a dramatic showdown that tests honor, love, and the very definition of civilization.

Summary up to 500 words

Charles Alden Seltzer's *'Firebrand' Trevison* chronicles the gritty transition of the American West from open range to industrialized settlement, centering on the rugged cowboy 'Firebrand' Trevison. The narrative opens with Trevison riding his magnificent black horse, Nigger, near the newly constructed railroad town of Manti. This settlement represents the encroachment of corporate greed and civilization upon the traditional cattle frontier, threatening the livelihood of ranchers like Trevison. His struggle is personified by the villainous businessman Corrigan, who seeks to seize Trevison's land and corrupt the local judiciary. Corrigan's crimes escalate rapidly, including the murder of a deputy and the intimidation of Judge Lindman, who is forced into complicity. Trevison finds himself isolated and haunted by his past, particularly the return of Hester Harvey, a woman from his former life whose reappearance complicates his relationships and his rigid code of honor. Meanwhile, his current romantic interest, Rosalind Benham, faces her own turmoil as Corrigan's influence grows. As Corrigan's tyranny intensifies, a group of vigilantes, operating outside the law, steps in to protect the weak. The tension culminates in a violent, hand-to-hand confrontation between Trevison and Corrigan. The fight is interrupted by the vigilantes, who capture the defeated Corrigan and administer summary justice, effectively ending his reign of terror. In the aftermath, Trevison reflects on the heavy cost of such extralegal violence and the complex nature of true justice in a lawless land. The novel resolves Trevison's romantic entanglements, revealing that Corrigan was manipulated and ultimately spared by the vigilantes for Trevison's sake. The story concludes with a reaffirmation of Trevison's commitment to protecting the frontier against unchecked power, while acknowledging the moral ambiguities inherent in the struggle between individual honor and the emerging industrial order.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fiction
• Western stories