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The Iron Orchard  By  cover art

The Iron Orchard

By: Tom Pendleton
Narrated by: Ned Van Zandt
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Publisher's summary

Originally published in 1966 under the pen name Tom Pendleton, The Iron Orchard garnered a cult following for its authentic representation of the people and business of the Texas and American Southwest oil fields.

Now available as an audiobook, The Iron Orchard tells the story of a young Texan, Jim McNeely, who is desperate to make a name for himself in the oil fields of Texas. Told from the inside by a man who knew the oil fields intimately, it is a vibrant, brutal story of the men who labored, sweated, lusted, and gambled their money and spirits to pump oil out of the earth.

It is the adventure of violent men among other violent men. And it is the story of perseverance and love in the midst of one of America’s most dramatic industries. The Iron Orchard is magnificent and memorable listen.

The Iron Orchard was a co-winner of the 1967 Texas Institute of Letters Jesse H. Jones Award for Best Work of Fiction along with Larry McMurtry’s The Last Picture Show. The Iron Orchard film premiered at the 2018 Dallas International Film Festival.

©1966 Estrellita Publishing Company (P)2019 Estrellita Publishing Company and Santa Rita Film Co.

What listeners say about The Iron Orchard

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Probably one of the best books ever read.

This book was well written and kept its audience captivated. I would listen to it again. I enjoyed it so much I hated when I had to turn the audio off.

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Loved it

I loved it but I'm partial because I'm from Big Spring TX and that is where the movie was filmed. Loved the movie also thought really different from the book.

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fascinating and forward looking

on the order of Giant by Edna Ferber, this seems to be an unrecognized gem of a book. Time, place, culture and action. Highly enjoyable

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