Legends of the Fall Book Review

Legends of the Fall: Life, Violence, and Tragedy

Jim Harrison's Legends of the Fall is a violent, masculine, and tragic collection of three novellas. The first is Revenge, a tale of love, consequences, and, you guessed it, vengeance. The story follows Cochran, a young veteran pilot, who, after being brutally beaten and left to die following an affair he had with a married woman, embarks on a quest to find his lover and exact his revenge. He travels across Mexico with a knife and a .44 to face down the powerful Mexican gang lord, Tibby. Harrison focuses on the violence unleashed by Cochran's actions and the ultimate price both he and Tibby pay. Although the novella carries the reader to terrific heights in the early stages, Harrison fails to end the story with any sort of a bang. Perhaps the end is meant to signify the tragic conclusion the fight had to end in, but the reader can't help feeling at least a bit disappointed. 

The second novella, The Man Who Lost His Name, is a slower, more reflective story about an aging man in a midlife crisis. Nordstrom, a wealthy and successful family man, wants to give away his money and live a simple life as a chef by the ocean. His wife has recently left him, and he attempts to find himself through dancing, partying with his daughter, and traveling. His crisis culminates when his family is put into danger and he is forced to take to violence to put a stop to it. The novella is heavily masculine and thought provoking, and although it is tedious and even boring at parts, the end is fast paced and satisfying. 

The third and final story, Legends of the Fall, is by far Harrison's best. In its brief 74 pages, Harrison packs tragedy, revenge, life, love, and loss. The main character is Tristan, one of three brothers born to Colonel Ludlow, veteran of the Indian Wars. Ludlow fought with George Custer and, disgusted with Indian policy, retired to Montana. His sons Alfred, Tristan, and Samuel leave for Canada to enlist in the “Great War”. It isn't long before tragedy strikes, and Tristan has to fight for those close to him. The adventure is fast and exciting and Harrison does an excellent job of telling the story while engaging the reader. Legends of the Fall is a powerful tale able to touch our emotions and connect readers to the characters by immersing us in their world. 

Jim Harrison was born in 1937 in Michigan, and grew up in both Michigan and Arizona. He started writing poetry, then was compelled to write a short story after he fell off a cliff while bird hunting. He wrote the three novellas of Legends of the Fall in the 1970s and they were published in 1979. Aside from writing poetry and short stories, Harrison loves to paint. He draws inspiration from the landscapes of rural America, including the Southwest and the Rocky Mountains. His enthusiasm for preserving nature and the outdoors is one of the main reasons for his art and writing. Harrison lost his father and sister in a car crash when he was 21, and his sense of tragedy pervades his works. He was also motivated to write Legends of the Fall to convey emotions and themes such as love and masculinity. 

I certainly recommend Legends of the Fall, especially the title novella. It is a quick and easy read, but still deep and packed full of action. The epic work is uniquely American and masculine from the violent front lines of World War I to the soaring Rockies. Both the tragic events and the scenes of anger and vengeance come alive in Harrison's compact story. The book is rife with brutal emotions that reflect mankind's innate character, and Harrison weaves the dominating tale with force and elegance making it a very worthy read.