Breakheart Pass (novel)

Breakheart Pass is a novel by Scottish author Alistair MacLean (1922–1987), first published in 1974. It was a departure for MacLean in that, despite the thriller novel plot, the setting is essentially that of a western novel, set in the Sierra Nevada of the American West in the late 19th century. Fans of MacLean will recognize the usual plots twists, thrill-packed finale, and trademark sardonic dialogue. For American audiences, MacLean was less successful capturing an authentic tone of the western frontier, and the 1975 movie version starring Charles Bronson, Richard Crenna, Ben Johnson, and Jill Ireland, proved to be more popular with the public than the novel.[1][2]

Breakheart Pass
First edition cover (UK)
AuthorAlistair MacLean (1922–1987)
CountryUnited Kingdom (Scotland)
LanguageEnglish
GenreWestern Thriller
PublisherCollins (UK)
Doubleday (US)
Publication date
1974
Media typePrint
Pages256 pp.
ISBN0-00-615805-6
OCLC16481828
Preceded byThe Way to Dusty Death 
Followed byCircus 

Plot introduction

The story begins with a perilous winter railroad journey through the Sierra Nevada in the 1870s in the midst of a blizzard. Aboard the train are Nevada state governor Fairchild and his niece Marica, along with U.S. Army cavalry Colonel Claremont and two carloads of troops. Joining them are U.S. Marshal Pearce, the governor's aide, and Pearce's old Army buddy Major O'Brien. Pearce, a lawman and Indian agent is transporting supposedly dangerous murderer and gunman John Deakin. Their destination is the remote Fort Humboldt deep in the Nevada mountains, whose troops have recently been decimated by a cholera epidemic. (This Fort Humboldt is fictional and has no connection with the Fort Humboldt State Historic Park in California.) Dr. Molyneaux, a tropical disease expert, is also accompanying the group.

As the journey continues we slowly learn that all is not what it seems, and that none of the characters is telling the whole truth. MacLean meticulously obliterates the lines defining exactly which characters are the good guys and which are the bad. As the story winds down, the cunningly devious nature of the plan is finally revealed.

Background

Producer Elliot Kastner says he gave MacLean an office at 20th Century Fox to write the novel as therapy, as he says MacLean was suffering in his marriage and with alcoholism.[3]

Reception

The book became a best seller.[4]

References
  1. "Book listing of Breakheart Pass novel". Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  2. Library of Congress record of Breakheart Pass
  3. Webster, Jack (1991). Alistair MacLean: A Life. Chapmans. pp. 207–208.
  4. BESTSELLERS: FICTION The Observer 12 May 1974: 37


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