Parsons Public Library

The Last Cattle Drive is also the last book discussion program in our Kansas Literary Heritage series presented by the Kansas Humanities Council. Here’s how they describe the book.

The Last Cattle Drive, written in 1977, focuses on these characters:
Spangler Tukle, a rancher;
Leo, the greenhorn from Kansas City
Jed, the last real cowboy
Opal, Spangler’s wife and the brains of the outfit
Heather, Leo’s ex-girl friend

Spangler is a victim of circumstances in the modern world. He attempts against all odds to drive his cattle from the western Kansas town of Gorham to the Kansas City stockyards. We learn about the cattle drive and Leo’s initiation into cowboy life through Leo, who relishes delivering his tall tale. After all, cowboys aren’t cowboys unless they can sit beside an open fire chewing tobacco and weaving stories about their exploits. Perhaps Day is really reminding us not to forget the rich history and traditions of the cowboy and of western Kansas.

Come by the library today to pick up a copy of the book. Read the book and then join us on Thursday, May 10 at 6:30pm.