Charles Portis: True Grit (1969, Signet Q3761 NAL)
Paperback, 160 pages
Published Dec. 15, 1969 by Signet Q3761 NAL.
True Grit is Charles Portis' most famous novel--first published in 1968. It tells the story of Mattie Ross, who is just fourteen years of age when a coward going by the name of Tom Chaney shoots her father down in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and robs him of his life, his horse, and $150 in cash money. Mattie leaves home to avenge her father's blood. With the one-eyed Rooster Cogburn, the meanest available U.S. Marshal, by her side, Mattie pursues the homicide into Indian Territory.
True Grit is eccentric, cool, straight, and unflinching, like Mattie herself. From a writer of true cult status, this is an American classic through and through.
Better than I expected though loaded with stereotypical characters. Mattie's response to LeBeouf (paraphrasing) "one's as good as another" is worth a star by itself. Snake scene is great too.
