Folly and Glory

Volume 4 of The Berrybender Narratives

By: Larry McMurtry

Narrated by: Alfred Molina

Length: 8 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

In the final volume of The Berrybender Narratives, Tasmin and her family are under arrest in Mexican Santa Fe. Tasmin, who would once have followed her husband anywhere, is no longer even sure she likes him, or where to go next. Captain Clark, of Lewis and Clark fame, is puzzled by the great changes sweeping over the West, replacing red men and buffalo with towns and farms.

Jim Snow, Kit Carson, and one of Lord Berrybender's many illegitimate offspring make their way back to Santa Fe. But even they are unable to prevent the Mexicans from carrying the Berrybender family on a long and terrible journey across the desert to Vera Cruz. Beset by Indians and hounded by their Mexican guards, the Berrybenders endure all the horror of the Jornado del Muerto: the legendary Dead Man's Walk. The Mexican commander of the party falls in love with Tasmin, with unhappy consequences.

Starving, dying of thirst, they finally make their way to New Orleans, where Jim Snow has to choose between Tasmin and the great American plains. And after all her adventures, Tasmin must finally decide where her future lies.

Westward ho: listen to the rest of Larry McMurtry's Berrybender series.

©2004 Larry McMurtry. All rights reserved (P)2004 Simon and Schuster Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"As always, McEwan manages his own idiom with remarkable grace and inventiveness." (Guardian)

amazing use of dialog

Would you listen to Folly and Glory again? Why?

This is the second time I have listened to this book. There is much character development that one likes and knows the people. Also, the listener gets a taste of how difficult like would be trying to stay alive in the West. The violence of the time, the sickness and threats were part of your day to day.

What other book might you compare Folly and Glory to and why?

Larry McMurtry does a great job with all his old west tales. The biggest difference between his books and others of this time is his beautiful use of language and his turn of a phrase in dialog.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

The narrator does a great job. I did find it difficult to put it down and listened while at the gym, grocery storage and driving.

Any additional comments?

I loved this series. Best would be to start at the beginning though.

a very unique story

Couldn't wait to get started on this last book of the series. Very strange twists and turns, nothing like I had expected it to be. Very sad to be left hanging at the end but with Mr. Mcmurtry's passing I suppose that's all there will be.

Folly and Glory

If this whole series is not a mini-series soon, or maybe I missed it, then it should be. It would have to be edited, naturally, but what a story. It is in the order of the "Lonesome Dove" but with many more interesting characters. I have enjoyed all of McMurtry's work and hope to see the English family on screen some time before long. Its on a level with L'Amour's "How the West Was Won".

Great story, great characters

I thoroughly enjoyed this saga, all four books. McMurtry did not disappoint with great characters, tying in historical characters and events, and bringing the harsh reality of the frontier to life. Alfred Molina was perfect as well. I'm just sorry it's done.

Berrybenders

I have read these books and have listened to them twice. The whole series is fantastic! I have cried when I came to the end each time. Love just about all of McMurtry’s books!!!

Read the whole series!

This book is not readily understandable without the background of the earlier 3 in the series. Together they are a howl and a hoot combined. This one alone might not be so hot.

fantastic

great series. it took a while to get going but finished very strong. this narrator is the best I've heard.

a McMurtry classic

This is every bit as good as Gus, Call and the boys. An adventure into indian country prarie with the english lord and his family, meeting historical figures of the frontier along the way. I am trying to think ok of a story to compare to this, but I cannot. well, I am familiar with the situation of being captured in Santa Fe by a crazy Mexican officer, then going on a journey across the frozen tundra as a captive, while people start dying from the rigorous conditions.. Berrybender and crew sees the Palo Dura canyon, and the Sin Killer's horse "walks on the clouds". Mc Murtry is a genious.

unusual western

I found the entire series enjoyable. Particularly the fact that it was done from the viewpoint of a woman and the long periods of waiting that were required. I enjoyed that it traveled huge swaths of the West and included historical characters even though historical facts had been ignored in favor of plot. The main characters started off somewhat dislikable and difficult to endure but you came to love them in the end as they had to endure and change in order to survive.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Barrybender series.

Any additional comments?

I was sorry when I had finished listening to the last book in the series and had to leave that world. I hope McMurtry will continue the series.
I really have to wonder if he wove in actual quirky happenings from the Old West along with his imagination.