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The Big Country (Hamilton novel)

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The Big Country
Paperback original
AuthorDonald Hamilton
LanguageEnglish
GenreWestern novel
PublisherDell Publishing
Publication date
1958
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (Paperback)

The Big Country is a Western novel by Donald Hamilton. It was originally serialized in The Saturday Evening Post as Ambush at Blanco Canyon. Published two years prior to Hamilton's Death of a Citizen, which launched his popular Matt Helm series, it explores many of the same themes of self-reliance that dominated the author's work.

Plot summary[edit]

Maryland sea captain James McKay goes west to Texas, to claim his bride, and steps into a violent feud over water.

Film adaptation[edit]

The novel was adapted into a film of the same name in 1958 starring Gregory Peck, Jean Simmons, Carroll Baker, Charlton Heston, Charles Bickford, Burl Ives and Chuck Connors.[1][2] The film adaptation was mostly faithful to the plot of the novel, while simplifying the story and eliminating some characters.[3]

Comic book adaptation[edit]

The Big Country comics

Publication history[edit]

  • 1957, US, The Saturday Evening Post, as Ambush at Blanco Canyon, 2/2/1957, 2/9/1957, 2/16/1957, 2/23/1957, serial (literature)
  • 1958, US, Dell, Dell First Edition B115, paperback, reissued many times
  • 1958, US, Dell Comics, Dell Four Color #946, comic
  • 1958, UK, Allan Wingate, hardcover

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The Big Country". Variety. 1958-01-01. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
  2. ^ Crowther, Bosley (1958-10-02). "War and Peace on Range in 'Big Country'; Gregory Peck Stars in Wyler's Western Action-Packed Film Scores Violence". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
  3. ^ Lucas, Victoria. "Hollywood at Home: Big challenges filming 'The Big Country'". Green Valley News & Sahuarita Sun. Retrieved 2023-04-27.