ARIZONA: The Action-Filled Romantic Western of a Young Woman Who Made Pies, Money and American History Based on a True Story - She was Faster with a Gun than Most Men

Basis for the Classic 1940 Western movie, 2 Oscar Nominations; 1 Win

KELLAND'S MOST ASTONISHING, TOUCHING, AND PERSONALLY REVEALING WORK - WITH A HARD-HEADED HEROINE WHO CONQUERS A STATE - FILLED WITH ENOUGH MYSTERY, ROMANCE, AND GUNPLAY FOR TEN AVERAGE WESTERNS, PLUS PIE!

"Kelland has done a masterful job weaving fact and fiction together. An ambitious undertaking." -The Arizona Republic

The epic story of the first European settlements in Arizona, and the woman who led the way, as only Kelland could have told it.

"Kelland's Phoebe Titus stays true to her name (Phoebe was the moon titan in Greek mythology). This Phoebe is a titan in the early days of Tucson. Although she does slowly fall in love with Peter Muncie (there is always an element of romance in Kelland's books), she does not turn into a girlie-girl just to win his affections. In fact, he respects and loves her for her strength and stubbornness. There's a scene right about the middle of the novel where bandits break into Phoebe's ranch, tie her up, threaten her life and rob her life's savings of $15,000. I cringed, expecting this to be the chance for Peter Muncie to return and rescue his now damsel in distress girlfriend. But he doesn't! He arrives late. She has to survive on her own wits and strength. Does this robbery change her mind from being a rancher in lawless Tucson? No. She changes her tactics slightly but she continues pressing on to make a living in a city she loves. Phoebe manages to stay true to herself and still find love and start a family (because she wants to, not because she feels she has to). Once again Kelland has delighted me with a novel full of realistic and interesting characters." –5stars Sarah Sammis, Goodreads
Arizona is one of Clarence Budington Kelland's best and most important novels, replete with mystery, thrills, historical accuracy – and in the romance of the two lead characters a touching and charming portrait of the passionate, amusing, and completely off-beat relationship of his own mother, herself a hardheaded businesswoman, and father, an easy-going geek who worshiped her with all his heart.
"Arizona is an exciting and rapid action yarn of life around Tucson in the early days of that settlement. Quite against the rule for such tales Mr. Kelland makes a woman his central figure. She is a true Kelland heroine who combines comeliness and a strong, resourceful nature. When Phoebe Titus and her old father reach Arizona on their way to California they are held up there by the sickness of Mr. Titus and are practically without funds. Phoebe makes pies and sells them for a dollar per pie; when enough dollars have accumulated she branches out into freighting and mining on the side and proves herself to be one of the best men of the lot. Mr. Kelland has placed his central story against a background of Indian fighting, scouting, double dealing, and all the other accessories of Western life in the 1860s when the Civil War was adding to the general involvements and handsome Government officers were crossing the plains and so furnishing heroes for Western romances. Phoebe marries one of them but it is her career of business conquest rather than love which gives "Arizona" its briskly individual quality." –The Saturday Review of Literature