Grey, Zane (1872-1939), ranks as one of the most popular authors in American literature of novels about the Wild West. Grey wrote more than 50 novels.
In Grey’s books, the heroes and heroines overcome the challenges of the West. They learn to tame and use nature, and they fight to protect loved ones. The characters achieve maturity in the process. Grey has been criticized for creating unrealistic characters and predictable plots. But his best novels reflect careful research and provide authentic details about Western life.
In 1907, Grey traveled through the West with a retired buffalo hunter. The trip inspired Grey to begin writing westerns. His first success was The Heritage of the Desert (1910). Some critics have judged his next book, Riders of the Purple Sage (1912), to be the best western ever written. In his last best seller, Forlorn River (1927), Grey created his most memorable hero, Jim (Nevada) Lacy. Grey was born on Jan. 31, 1872, in Zanesville, Ohio. He died on Oct. 23, 1939.
