The Dry Divide

Ralph Moody, just turned twenty, had only a dime in his pocket when he was put off a freight in western Nebraska. It was the Fourth of July in 1919. Three months later he owned eight teams of horses and rigs to go with them. Everyone who worked with him shared in the prosperity - the widow whose wheat crop was saved and the group of misfits who formed a first-rate harvesting crew. But sometimes fickle Mother Nature and frail human nature made sure that nothing was easy. The tension between opposing forces never lets up in this book. Without preaching, The Dry Divide warmly illustrates the old-time virtues of hard work, ingenuity, and respect for others.

The Ralph Moody who was a youngster in Little Britches and who grew up without a show more father and with early responsibilities has become a man to reckon with in The Dry Divide. show less

This one made me wonder some. Moody's so unwaveringly bright, so much more insightful than any other character in the book, so adept at every task he puts his hand to- he's a better loan officer than the banker, a better bookkeeper than the accountant, a better horseman than the rancher, a better milker than the dairymaid, and so on. It got somewhat monotonous, listening to this 20-year-old kid teach everyone else their business.

I understand that he's using his life to illuminate the wonders and rewards of hard work and sheer grit. I get it. I just don't know that I believe it all, especially since a little research shows that he didn't write this series till he was well into his 50s. I suspect a little bit of euphoric recall crept in show more after he married a woman who wouldn't allow him to do any ranching at all.

Still an interesting historical perspective, but not my favorite. show less

This book really reveals a lot about Moody's growing character. Where many men would be looking out only for themselves, Ralph has a streak of honor and compassion a mile wide. And the knack of good business sense and no fear of hard work.

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