Beyond the Rio Gila

Beyond the Rio Gila is, quite simply, a compelling coming-of-age story that brings history to life. It's highly recommended reading that should be in any collection strong in historical novels.
-D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

An epic adventure of hardship and endurance, Beyond the Rio Gila follows Moses Cole, a young Virginia farmboy, who runs away from home to join the First Dragoons and their expedition from Pennsylvania to California during the Mexican-American War. He discovers mentorship under a fellow private, Abner Black, a former professor chased by personal demons. A concurrent journey by Latter-day Saints fleeing religious persecution-the Mormon Battalion, which includes four laundresses, two of whom were pregnant-soldiers through the longest march in U.S. infantry history. Their stories converge in the daunting wilderness of the American southwest, where man was not master of the landscape, and the sanity, courage, and perseverance of each is tested.

Based on events preceding the American Civil War, this literary historical novel places readers in the vast frontiers of the west ablaze with battles over land, religion, and politics.

As an enthusiastic history buff, I was captivated by the retelling of this epic military expedition and its significance in the unfolding formation of the United States.

-Susan Brown, Pacific Book Review

“... a scrupulously researched book... attention todetail is meticulously thorough... the profusion of factual informationbrings... this not-so-widely-known time in history to life. As an enthusiastic historybuff, I was captivated... -Pacific Book Review ... acompelling coming-of-age story that brings history to life. It's highlyrecommended reading that should be in any collection strong in historicalnovels and early Mormon history alike. -Midwest Book Review Scott G. Hibbard offers us anastonishing, vivid, meticulously researched morality allegory... an elaboratetapestry made authentic as Hibbard nails period dialogue, inner and spoken thatis consistently and completely credible. I've not appreciated the fights humanspick in such unforgiving landscapes so thoroughly since Cormac McCarthy's BloodMeridian. - TomHarpole, author of Regarding Willingness Scott Hibbard... understands the pastis a foreign country and knows the gritty reality of the nineteenth-centuryWest in his bones. He has a positive genius for plotting and pacing forgottenbut compelling stories inhabited by believable, engaging characters whose charmand humanity are sure to win your heart. - WillBagley, historian and author of The Mormon Rebellion, with David L.Bigler ScottHibbard's... gorgeous writing puts the reader right there, whether surviving onmesquite beans, panting through a parched throat across the scorching desert,or giving birth in primitive conditions. - Margaret Rodenberg, author of Finding Napoleon: A Novel Scott's... writingdoes what every good writer wishes: It lifts you off the page. -Yvonne J. Seng, author of Men in Black Dresses Beyond The Rio Gila will transportyou to a time in our history that Scott Hibbard skillfully breathes new life into... his compelling characters come alive in a flowing narrative that places youfirmly in each scene. -Mike Torreano, author of The Reckoning, The Renewal, and The Trade Fine writing and a gripping story... with hardship anddanger you can feel in your teeth. A deeper level touches the courage andvulnerability of the women... In the tradition of greats like A. B. Guthrie andJames Welch, by an author born and raised a Montana rancher. -Neil McMahon, author of LoneCreek and Dead Silver Beyondthe Rio Gila is not just a historical novel; it is classic, a well-craftedstory with sophisticated characters, a smartly written plot, and humor thatsinks its teeth to the very core of the reader. -FiveStar review by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite Beyondthe Rio Gila is a highly literate piece of compelling historical fiction... Theexquisite prose... lends an incredibly authentic voice to this intrepid tale... Awonderful and complex historical recollection. - Five Star review byJoel R. Dennstedt for Readers' Favorite”

Infused with historical and military detail ... this is a rich story of everyday soldiers.

—The Denver Post

This tale of two battalions as they cross the deserts of New Mexico into southern California provides an exciting story of survival. —Historical Novel Society

…a scrupulously researched book…attention todetail is meticulously thorough… the profusion of factual informationbrings…this not-so-widely-known time in history to life. As an enthusiastic historybuff, I was captivated… —Pacific Book Review

A compelling coming-of-age story that brings history to life. It's highlyrecommended reading that should be in any collection strong in historicalnovels and early Mormon history alike. —Midwest Book Review

With his debut novel, Hibbard stakes a claim in the lineage of adept chroniclers of the American West, such as A.B. Guthrie and Richard S. Wheeler . . . while rising to dazzling heights with unforgettable characters and pulse-quickening drama. —Big Sky Journal

This deeply researched depiction of the U. S. military's longest march, told in evocative prose, brings a little known yet uniquely American story to life. —Montana Historical Society

Scott G. Hibbard offers us anastonishing, vivid, meticulously researched morality allegory… an elaboratetapestry made authentic as Hibbard nails period dialogue, inner and spoken thatis consistently and completely credible. I’ve not appreciated the fights humanspick in such unforgiving landscapes so thoroughly since Cormac McCarthy’s BloodMeridian. —TomHarpole, author of Regarding Willingness

 Scott Hibbard…understands the pastis a foreign country and knows the gritty reality of the nineteenth-centuryWest in his bones. He has a positive genius for plotting and pacing forgottenbut compelling stories inhabited by believable, engaging characters whose charmand humanity are sure to win your heart. —WillBagley, historian and author of The Mormon Rebellion, with David L.Bigler

 ScottHibbard’s…gorgeous writing puts the reader right there, whether surviving onmesquite beans, panting through a parched throat across the scorching desert,or giving birth in primitive conditions. —Margaret Rodenberg, author of Finding Napoleon: A Novel

 Scott’s…writingdoes what every good writer wishes: It lifts you off the page. —Yvonne J. Seng, author of Men in Black Dresses

 Beyond The Rio Gila will transportyou to a time in our history that Scott Hibbard skillfully breathes new life into…his compelling characters come alive in a flowing narrative that places youfirmly in each scene. —Mike Torreano, author of The Reckoning, The Renewal, and The Trade

 Fine writing and a gripping story…with hardship anddanger you can feel in your teeth. A deeper level touches the courage andvulnerability of the women… In the tradition of greats like A. B. Guthrie andJames Welch, by an author born and raised a Montana rancher. —Neil McMahon, author of LoneCreek and Dead Silver

 Beyondthe Rio Gila is not just a historical novel; it is classic, a well-craftedstory with sophisticated characters, a smartly written plot, and humor thatsinks its teeth to the very core of the reader. —FiveStar review by Romuald Dzemo for Readers’ Favorite

 Beyondthe Rio Gila is a highly literate piece of compelling historical fiction… Theexquisite prose…lends an incredibly authentic voice to this intrepid tale… Awonderful and complex historical recollection. — Five Star review byJoel R. Dennstedt for Readers’ Favorite

Scott G. Hibbard is a fourth generation Montanan where his family has owned and operated a cattle and sheep ranch for over one-hundred years. Scott attended public school in Helena and received a B.A. in English Literature from Williams College and two graduate degrees, an M.F.A in Creative Writing and an M.B.A., from the University of Montana. He worked for the family ranch for a number of years, and while continuing his involvement with the ranch he provided management and consulting services to other ranches. He lives near Helena, Montana.

Beyond the Rio Gila is, quite simply, a compelling coming-of-age story that brings history to life. It's highly recommended reading that should be in any collection strong in historical novels. --D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review An epic adventure of hardship and endurance, Beyond the Rio Gila follows Moses Cole, a young Virginia farmboy, who runs away from home to join the First Dragoons and their expedition from Pennsylvania to California during the Mexican-American War. He discovers mentorship under a fellow private, Abner Black, a former professor chased by personal demons. A concurrent journey by Latter-day Saints fleeing religious persecution--the Mormon Battalion, which includes four laundresses, two of whom were pregnant--soldiers through the longest march in U.S. infantry history. Their stories converge in the daunting wilderness of the American southwest, where man was not master of the landscape, and the sanity, courage, and perseverance of each is tested. Based on events preceding the American Civil War, this literary historical novel places readers in the vast frontiers of the west ablaze with battles over land, religion, and politics. As an enthusiastic history buff, I was captivated by the retelling of this epic military expedition and its significance in the unfolding formation of the United States. --Susan Brown, Pacific Book Review

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