The Drift Fence

A Western Story

By: Zane Grey

Narrated by: John Traven

Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Business ain't easy when the locals stand to lose it all.

Although he doesn't know cattle or cowboys, Missourian Jim Traft finds himself as the foreman of a tough Arizona outfit tasked with fencing a hundred miles of open cattle range. Brought on by his wealthy uncle, he faces this difficult trial with youthful aplomb.

But Traft faces a community that stands to suffer because of this new drift fence, and he must walk a fine line in order to honor his uncle's business while not incurring the wrath of longtime residents. The Drift Fence shows how this tender young man struggles to overcome the odds he faces and ultimately wins over the heart of the beautiful young lass, Molly Dunn.

©1929 Zane Grey. Foreword © 2016 by Joseph Wheeler, PhD (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

What a story!!

This is a wonderful western. Not all fists and guns and predictable plot. The characters are well developed and fully fleshed out people the reader can empathise with. The plot is excellent and holds up to the end.
The narrator keeps his characters’ voices true throughout. I think it’s the best western I’ve ever read. I’ve enjoyed every minute.

I Want to be inside this book.

John Traven reads this book so well. I feel like I know the characters from the ranch, and at the same time I wish I could hang out with them and work the range. Superb book and reading.

The Drift Fence

Being a lifelong Zane Grey fan, I found this story, which I've listened to from NLS, still just as interesting and entertaining a western story as is possible. My interpretation of the American West is partially the fault of Zane Grey. Even some of the roughest characters in his stories have some good. Slinger Dunn is one such character. i enjoy stories that have substance in their characters, not just old stiff stereotypes. Thanks Audible and Zane Grey.

Don't fence me in!

A historical fiction tale told by an expert. Drift Fence chronicles some of the first barbed-wire fencing put up on the open range in Arizona. The fencing made sense from the owner’s perspective by preventing cattle from drifting into the breaks, where they were soon to disappear by finders-keepers cowhands. In reality, it angered ranchers who had lived under the open range concept. It precipitated a few range wars here and there over the installation of such fences. The story relates an excellent perceptive of the cowhands and what they thought of the fences. There’s romance in the air as well with the young Molly Dunn and Jim Traft, the tenderfoot from Missouri put in charge of installing the fence by his grandfather.

One of my favorites in print

Overall good. It did take time to get past the narration and into the story but John Traven does a good job overall. I wouldn't mind more Zane Grey titles performed by him.

The drift fence

I love a good cowboy story! this one has something for everyone, including a very gentle romance.

American West Rancher drama

Great story. Hey, it's Zane Grey. Character development and description of beautiful Arizona are definitely up to par; with some truly comical moments thrown into all the drama.
Wonderful narration!

great western and lovestory

loved it and so did the wife. She would ask me, can we turn on the book?

Another great

Great book great reader what more is there to say. I always enjoy the longer books that don’t feel drawn out.

About as Zane Grey as you can get

Grey was 20 years into his writing career when this was published, and he had his style nailed down. The Drift Fence is a great example of of what is “typical” about his westerns, yet still really well done and worth checking out.