Title: The Last Western
Author: Christopher Lee Bowen
Publisher: Author Reputation Press, LLC
ISBN: 9798893303261
Pages: 111
Genre: Literature & Fiction/Historical Fiction/Western
Reviewed by: Tony Espinoza
Hollywood Book Reviews
One thing that many people in today’s world have started to realize is just how great of an impact the past has on the present. The many issues that people face today, from corruption in politics to social unrest, can be traced back to the actions and events of history that have trickled down to the present day. The need to learn from the past and adapt those lessons for the future is more important now than ever before, and examining specific time periods can be crucial to understanding how to change for the better.
In author Christopher Lee Bowen’s “The Last Western”, the author explores effects the Civil War would go on to have on the future. The novel follows a pivotal moment in history, when the nation went through great changes. Towns became cities, farms turned into factories, and the desire to become one’s own person became the need to fight to make minimum wage in order to survive. The Civil War would bring a plethora of problems that continue to plague the present day, from political corruption to the drug epidemic, as morphine and cocaine were used on soldiers during the war.
The author provided an in-depth look into the world of the American West and post Civil War. The dynamics found between the cast of characters in this book was great to see play out, bringing to life the mentality and actions found from people in that era. The author particularly shined a light on the treatment that many people of Native American heritage and women faced during this era, creating a sense of being grounded in reality as the story progressed. The imagery the author utilizes in this book also allowed the era this book takes place in to come to life on the page, and the heavy atmosphere really played a crucial role in the development of the narrative.
This was the perfect read for those who enjoy historical fiction, especially those that focus on a Western feel and in particular Civil War era fiction. The thing that stood out the most was how the author was able to touch upon subjects within the Civil War that are not as widely discussed, such as the use of morphine and cocaine during the war on soldiers. The history and knowledge the author infuses naturally into the story really allows the reader to immerse themselves into the story on a whole other level. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!