The Ghost by Max Brand (1944)
The Ghost is a classic Western novel by Max Brand, first published in 1929. It tells the story of a mysterious stranger, known only as the Ghost, who rides into the small town of Red Valley, Arizona. He is a mysterious figure, with no past and no identity, and he quickly becomes the talk of the town. The Ghost is a man of few words, but he quickly makes an impression on the townsfolk. He is a master of the gun, and he quickly proves himself to be a formidable opponent in any gunfight. He also has a mysterious past, and the townsfolk are intrigued by his mysterious identity. The Ghost soon finds himself embroiled in a conflict between two powerful families in Red Valley. He is hired by one of the families to help them in their fight against the other, and he quickly proves himself to be a valuable asset. But as the conflict escalates, the Ghost finds himself in the middle of a dangerous game of power and politics. The Ghost must use all of his skills and cunning to survive the conflict and protect the innocent people of Red Valley. In the end, the Ghost must make a difficult decision that will determine the fate of the town and its people.
By Max Brand · First published 1944 · Genre: Western, Adventure, Romance · 4,204 words
First lines
The gold strike which led the fortune-hunters to Murrayville brought with them the usual proportion of bad men and outlaws. Three months after the rush started a bandit appeared so consummate in skill and so cool in daring that all other offenders against the law disappeared in the shade of his reputation. He was a public dread. His comings were unannounced; his goings left no track. Men lowered their voices when they spoke of him. His knowledge of affairs in the town was so uncanny that people called him the "Ghost."
What this Textopian page supports
The Ghost is listed on Textopian as a novel by Max Brand, dated 1944 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Max Brand
- Date: 1944 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Western, Adventure, Romance, Mystery
- Length: 4,204 words
- Structure: 1 section, 104 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Ghost by Max Brand
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Ghost?
- How does this novel by Max Brand fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Western first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Ronicky Doone by Max Brand
- Northwest by Harold Bindloss
- Hole In The Wall Barrett by Max Brand
- Leixlip Castle by Charles Maturin
- Trailin by Max Brand
- Black Jack by Max Brand
Genres
- Western — The Ghost is a classic Western novel by Max Brand, set in the American West and featuring a cowboy protagonist.
- Adventure — The Ghost is an action-packed adventure novel, with the protagonist facing numerous obstacles and challenges on his journey.
- Romance — The Ghost features a romantic subplot between the protagonist and a female character, adding an extra layer of drama to the story.
- Mystery — The Ghost contains elements of mystery, as the protagonist attempts to uncover the truth behind a mysterious figure from his past.
Tags
Western · Adventure · Mystery · Supernatural · Ghosts · Action · Historical · Suspense · Drama · Romance · Betrayal · Isolation