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I first became aware of West from a rave review in The Sunday Times. Its editor Andrew Holgate said that he hadn't felt as strongly about a novel since Golden Hill, and given how much I enjoyed that wonderful book, I had to see if he was on the money again.

The action takes place in America of the early 19th century. In the opening chapter, Cy Bellman, a mule breeder, is saying goodbye to his young daughter Bess. He has read a newspaper article describing enormous bones discovered in Kentucky, and cannot rest until he sees these giant beasts for himself. He leaves Bess with his disapproving sister and sets off from his Pennsylvania home, promising to be back within two years. Bess pines for her father while he is away, watching out for his letters and imagining the wild adventures he is having. Cy's journey takes some unexpected turns and he endures his fair share of setbacks. There are times when he wonders if he made the right choice:

"You had so many ways of deciding which way to live your life. It made his head spin to think of them. It hurt his heart to think that he had decided on the wrong way."

It's a short book, just 160 pages long - minimal in style, yet epic in scope. We follow Cy's perilous journey across the great American plains, hoping against hope that it will prove fruitful. Yet there is an undercurrent of disquiet throughout, a sense that things won't end well. But I have one major problem with the story (view spoiler)[I never truly believed that a poor, widowed rancher would leave his only daughter behind for such a reckless and foolish pursuit. The author never really convinced me of this. (hide spoiler)] The plot moves at a fair clip and it really speeds up in the last few chapters - I was flipping the pages in a frenzy to get to the end. Overall, West is entertaining, lyrical historical fiction. I did enjoy it and I do think it's worth reading, but the heavy praise has a me a little bemused.