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The Big Country (Hamilton novel)

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(Redirected from Ambush at Blanco Canyon)
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

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

Film adaptation

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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

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The Big Country comics

Publication history

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  • 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

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  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.