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Orphans Preferred - by  Christopher Corbett (Paperback) - 1 of 1

Orphans Preferred - by Christopher Corbett (Paperback)

$15.59Save $6.41 (29% off)

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About this item

Highlights

  • "WANTED.
  • About the Author: Christopher Corbett has been a working journalist for more than twenty-five years.
  • 288 Pages
  • History, United States

Description



About the Book



"Orphans Preferred" is both a revisionist history of the magnificent and ill-fated adventure of the Pony Express and an entertaining look at the often larger-than-life individuals who created and perpetuated the myth. Illustrations.



Book Synopsis



"WANTED. YOUNG, SKINNY, WIRY FELLOWS. NOT OVER 18. MUST BE EXPERT RIDERS. WILLING TO RISK DEATH DAILY. ORPHANS PREFERRED."
--California newspaper help-wanted ad, 1860

The Pony Express is one of the most celebrated and enduring chapters in the history of the United States, a story of the all-American traits of bravery, bravado, and entrepreneurial risk that are part of the very fabric of the Old West. No image of the American West in the mid-1800s is more familiar, more beloved, and more powerful than that of the lone rider galloping the mail across hostile Indian territory. No image is more revered. And none is less understood. Orphans Preferred is both a revisionist history of this magnificent and ill-fated adventure and an entertaining look at the often larger-than-life individuals who created and perpetuated the myth of "the Pony," as it is known along the Pony Express trail that runs from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California. The Pony Express is a story that exists in the annals of Americana where fact and fable collide, a story as heroic as the journey of Lewis and Clark, as complex and revealing as the legacy of Custer's Last Stand, and as muddled and freighted with yarns as Paul Revere's midnight ride. Orphans Preferred is a fresh and exuberant reexamination of this great American story.



Review Quotes




"A lively and conversational probe that lays out the real facts about this stirring slice of Americana."--Albuquerque Journal

"A rollicking tale of frontiersmen, showmen, hustlers, hucksters, and frauds."
--CNN

"It's the West in microcosm, and Corbett's breezy writing turns what we thought we knew into a compelling search for fact . . . It's a romantic story that won't die."
--Denver Post



About the Author



Christopher Corbett has been a working journalist for more than twenty-five years. A former news editor and reporter with the Associated Press, Corbett has also written for the New York Times, Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, and Boston Globe. The author of the novel Vactionland, he lives in Baltimore and teaches journalism at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.
Dimensions (Overall): 8.12 Inches (H) x 5.19 Inches (W) x .64 Inches (D)
Weight: .47 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 288
Genre: History
Sub-Genre: United States
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
Theme: 19th Century
Format: Paperback
Author: Christopher Corbett
Language: English
Street Date: September 14, 2004
TCIN: 91164256
UPC: 9780767906937
Item Number (DPCI): 247-42-4972
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
If the item details aren’t accurate or complete, we want to know about it.

Shipping details

Estimated ship dimensions: 0.64 inches length x 5.19 inches width x 8.12 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.47 pounds
We regret that this item cannot be shipped to PO Boxes.
This item cannot be shipped to the following locations: American Samoa (see also separate entry under AS), Guam (see also separate entry under GU), Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico (see also separate entry under PR), United States Minor Outlying Islands, Virgin Islands, U.S., APO/FPO, Alaska, Hawaii

Return details

This item can be returned to any Target store or Target.com.
This item must be returned within 90 days of the date it was purchased in store, delivered to the guest, delivered by a Shipt shopper, or picked up by the guest.
See the return policy for complete information.

Q: What is the main theme of the book?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 16 days ago
  • A: The main theme revolves around the history and myth of the Pony Express and its significance in American culture.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 16 days ago
    Ai generated

Q: Who is the author of this book?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 16 days ago
  • A: The book is written by Christopher Corbett, a seasoned journalist with over twenty-five years of experience.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 16 days ago
    Ai generated

Q: What historical period does this book focus on?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 16 days ago
  • A: This book focuses on the 19th century, particularly the era of the Pony Express.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 16 days ago
    Ai generated

Q: What type of illustrations does the book include?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 16 days ago
  • A: The book includes illustrations that enhance the reader's understanding of the Pony Express adventure and its characters.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 16 days ago
    Ai generated

Q: What writing style can readers expect from Corbett?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 16 days ago
  • A: Readers can expect a lively and conversational writing style that makes the historical narrative engaging and accessible.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 16 days ago
    Ai generated

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