Heart of the Country

by Greg Matthews

Book Overview

Outcast and wanderer, Joe Cobden, a half-breed hunchback, becomes Joe Buffalo, famed Kansas buffalo hunter of the 1870s until the buffalo herds diminish and he must learn to live a conventional life.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393022897
• ISBN13: 9780393022896
• Release Date: January 1986
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 532 Pages
• Weight: 2.14 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Geg Matthews Is The Best (And He's Also An Aussie!!!)

Once again Australian born writer Greg Matthews delivers the goods in this epic book. It concerns a young man, Joe Cobden who has more than his share of strikes against him from the outset. He is illegitimate, half White and has a spinal deformity. Joe realizes at an early age that his life will be difficult and he is proved right.We see him bravely tackle the obstacles that life throws at him and he never gives up on his quest to find a measure of acceptance and peace of mind in the world. I am totally in awe of Mr. Matthews.This book is a Modern Classic and you will cheer for Joe as he bravely faces what many people would easily surrender to.A Masterpiece by the Master Of His Craft.

Exceptional Read

I picked up this book at a library sale, having never heard of Greg Matthews, but I love to try new authors. What a great find! This book should be a classic. It is in a league with "Of Human Bondage". The character development is expectional. The central character, Joe the hunchback buffalo hunter was exceptional, as was every single character in this book. Not only did we learn about the frontier, the period of the buffalo hunters, and later the bone gathers, but we met and became close to wonderfully developed characters. I couldn't put it down and want to read every one of his books. That's why I love to explore books I have never heard of. Every once in a while you find a real gem.

Better than Lonesome Dove

I read this book a couple of years ago, and I have just recently started to read it again. As much as I liked Lonsome Dove and Larry McMurtry's ability to wrenches your heart by eliminating characters you fall for; Greg Matthews stings your senses with the characters he develops.

Enthralling, picture-painting novel of western frontier life

This is one of the best books I have had the honor or purchasing! I have bought it a total of 5 times already, and whenever I loan it out to a friend, it seems to keep on traveling, much as does Joe, the hunchback. As unlikely as the main character may be, his actions, trials and travels become quite believable. Matthew's writing is so clear as to paint a vivid picture of frontier life, as it truly was and as a lively fictional country. This book is for both fictional and non-fictional historical book lovers.

Hey, Amazon.com! Where is the 25-star button?

The narrative power of Gary Jennings. The bizarre characters of Dickens. A story that you will remember forever. Joe Cobden's life as a buffalo hunter is fascinating, as are the other characters' lives. Once you read it, you will wonder why this book hasn't sold 5,000,000 copies. Amazing!