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| Stephen Bly |
Another Old West True Tale by award-winning western author Stephen Bly
One of my favorite governors was Lew Wallace of New Mexico
Territory (1878-1881). In addition, he was a lawyer, Union general in the
American Civil War, American statesman and author. He's the source for many and Old West true tale. He's best remembered for his
historical novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ.
He hailed from Crawfordsville, Indiana, same as my character
Develyn Worrell of The Horse Dreams Series. I visited the Lew Wallace Museum
and Library in Crawfordsville while doing research for Memories of a Dirt
Road Town, The Mustang Breaker, and Wish I'd Known You Tears Ago.
What I recall most about Wallace: he built a moat around his
study, to keep people from bothering him. One way to insure privacy.
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| Lew Wallace |
He captures my interest for at least two other reasons.
As governor of New Mexico Territory, he offered amnesty to many men involved in the Lincoln County War. In the process he met Billy the Kid. On March 17, 1879, he arranged that the Kid would act as an informant and testify against those involved in the Lincoln County War. In return, the Kid would be "scot free with a pardon in [his] pocket for all [his] misdeeds."
But the Kid returned to his outlaw ways and Governor Wallace withdrew his offer.
While serving as governor, Wallace completed Ben-Hur, one
of the most bestselling American novels of the 19th Century. The book has never
been out of print and has been filmed four times.
The story is told that Wallace set out to study the Bible in
order to prove it wrong. Instead, he claimed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
The novel became a statement of his newfound faith.
I like the Old West true tale idea that the author of Ben-Hur also sat
down with Billy the Kid. It reminds me what interesting, eclectic people
tramped out west back in the early days.
Come to think of it, westerners are still a remarkable,
diverse bunch.
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| Move: Ben-Hur |
Copyright©2009
Stephen Bly
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TWEETABLES:
Old West true tale: the author of Ben-Hur meets Billy the Kid: http://clicktotweet.com/0BYcU
Bestselling novelist Lew Wallace was also governor of New
Mexico Territory: http://clicktotweet.com/OJraT
This writer built a moat around his study, a way to
insure privacy: http://clicktotweet.com/liee6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Horse Dreams Series available at Bly Books website: http://www.blybooks.com/product_category/contemporary-fiction/
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| Memories of a Dirt Road Town |
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| Wish I'd Known You Tears Ago |
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| The Mustang Breaker |
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