Title: A Story About a Man Called Ants Once A Cowboy: As Told to Gary E.J. Kain by Ansel Anderson Earley
Author: Gary E.J. Kain
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ASIN: B0B24BWFPD
Pages: 284
Genre: Military History / Historical Fiction
Reviewed by: Tony Espinoza
Pacific Book Review
You can hear it often said that history is written by the victors. Every century or so, one major conflict has arisen to give readers and so many others like them the context they need to understand how life was during particular times in history. The truly special books and narratives will bring readers into the voice and heart of the times, making the history lessons we were taught as young kids.
In author Gary E.J. Kain’s A Story About a Man Called Ants Once A Cowboy: As Told to Gary E.J. Kain by Ansel Anderson Earley, the author takes a healthy dose of true American history and mixes in some characters and towns which may or may not have existed to tell the story of life during and after the Civil War. A long and storied tale given to the author at a young age by an aging neighbor, the story follows several historical events during the war and after, and hones in on everything from the horrors of war to the pride and strength of the Indian nations which must always be preserved – and so much more.
The author did an incredible job of finding that right balance between storytelling and historical accuracy. The attention to detail and world-building the author employed in this book was remarkable, making the reader feel transported to the days of outlaws and war on American soil. The imagery in the writing felt gritty and determined, as if the author brought the reader into an Old Western film. The realism and heart related to the cast of characters in this book and their interactions with one another added authenticity to the book’s setting and overall tone.
This is the perfect read for those who enjoy both non-fiction and fictional works, especially books that are a perfect blend of the two worlds and showcases the realism of the era the book is set in, while adding new and exciting elements. The history, the adventure, and the knowledge which is utilized and explored in this book are vibrant and alive on the pages, and keeps the reader engaged as the story itself progresses. The language and the atmosphere the author created also felt natural and insightful for the era the narrative was set in, and allowed the story to take center stage.
Memorable, thoughtful, and entertaining, author Gary E.J. Kain’s A Story About a Man Called Ants Once A Cowboy: As Told to Gary E.J. Kain by Ansel Anderson Earley is a must-read history and historical-fiction read. The twists and turns in the narrative, the long-reaching story across so much terrain and historically significant eras, and the captivating characters both real and fictional made this a remarkable story to behold.
