True Grit - by Charles Portis (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The Young Readers Edition of Charles Portis's #1 New York Times bestseller, with over two million copies in print, comes complete with the full text of the classic novel, an afterword by Leonard S. Marcus, and a readers guide with discussion questions.

True Grit tells the story of Mattie Ross, who is just 14 when the coward Tom Chaney shoots down her father in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and robs him of his life, his horse, and $150 in cash. Determined to avenge the killing, Mattie enlists the help of Rooster Cogburn, the meanest available US Marshal, and pursues the killer into Indian Territory.

As Mattie outdickers and outmaneuvers the hard-bitten types in her path, her vitality and resourcefulness amuse, impress, and touch the reader. What happens to Mattie, to the gang of outlaws unfortunate enough to tangle with her, to Rooster and the swaggering Texas Ranger LeBoeuf rings with the dramatic rightness of legend.

An instant bestseller and critical success upon its first publication and the basis for two highly praised, award-winning films, True Grit is an American classic through and through.

"Quite simply, an American masterpiece." --Boston Globe

True Grit is a selection of the National Endowment for the Arts Big Read Library.

Review Quotes

"An epic and a legend."-- "Washington Post"

"Charles Portis is an original, indescribable sui generis talent . . . Rereading Portis is one of the great pure pleasures--both visceral and cerebral--available in modern American literature."--Ron Rosenbaum "Esquire"

"Charles Portis's True Grit captures the naive elegance of the American Voice."-- "Jonathan Lethem"

"Charles Portis's True Grit is a masterpiece."--Anthony Bourdain "New York Times Book Review"

"How to describe the indescribable? Probably the best description I can give of True Grit is that I've never given it to any reader -- male or female, of any age or sensibility -- who didn't enjoy it." --Donna Tartt "New York Times Book Review"

"I've always thought Charles Portis had a wonderful talent--original, quirky, exciting."-- "Larry McMurtry"

"It's possible that True Grit is the genuine article--a book so strong that it reads as myth."--Ed Park "The Believer"

"Quite simply, an American masterpiece."-- "Boston Globe"

"Rollicking . . . a beaut narrated in the unforgettable voice of Mattie Ross . . . Portis has crazy-cool literary swagger."-- "Entertainment Weekly"

"Skillfully constructed, a comic tour de force."-- "New York Times Book Review"

"The dialogue in True Grit is exquisite."--David Mamet "The Week"

About the Author

Charles Portis (1933-2020) is celebrated as one of America's most distinctive and original literary voices. Best known for his classic novel True Grit, Portis combined sharp wit, deadpan humor, and a keen eye for the absurdities of everyday life to create stories that are both timeless and deeply American. His novels--including Norwood, The Dog of the South, Gringos, and True Grit--have earned cult status for their offbeat characters, comic brilliance, and narrative charm.

Beyond fiction, Portis was an accomplished journalist and essayist, producing incisive reportage and cultural commentary that reveal his unmatched gift for observation and language. His collected nonfiction, short stories, and plays in Escape Velocity showcase the full range of his talent, from satirical humor to poignant reflections on American identity.

Portis's work continues to captivate readers who value originality, wit, and storytelling that transcends genre. Whether through his iconic Western or his eccentric road novels, Portis remains a writer whose voice is unmistakable and whose influence endures.