When 12-year-old Daniel appears at Dark Creek ranch, the owner, Matt, takes him in. But this is Texas, 1861, the Civil War is raging and soon Matt leaves to join up. Accompanied by an elderly Mexican cowhand, No-head Nolan, an eccentric vaquero, Beto and Matt's daughter, Daniel is left to drive the cattle along the Shawnee Trail 680 miles to Kansas. It is a hazardous journey, across flooded rivers, through dangerous Indian territory, and facing ruthless banditos - this is the story of that incredible trip. A vividly drawn, historical adventure from this Booker shortlisted author

Author Biography

An internationally known and admired writer and biographer, Martin Booth was also an acclaimed novelist - his THE INDUSTRY OF SOULS having been shortlisted for the 1998 Booker Prize. His penultimate book was CANNABIS: A HISTORY, and he died in February 2004 shortly after completing GWEILO.