Manhunters
by Elmer Kelton
Afterword by Bill Crider

As he flees to the sanctuary of Mexico, Chacho Fernandez is unaware of the fuel he has added to the already simmering racial hatreds in and around the quiet town of Domingo, Texas. Through events set in motion by a misunderstanding, Chacho becomes a folk hero to his people and a dangerous fugitive to a group of zealous lawmen.

Manhunters, the tale of Chacho’s legendary flight, was inspired by the story of controversial Mexican fugitive Gregorio Cortez. In 1901, Cortez, a young horseman, shot a sheriff during an argument, leading to the largest concerted manhunt in Texas history.

Elmer Kelton’s 1974 novel is alive with the idiom of his native West Texas and freely punctuated with his trademark wry humor. Kelton’s characters, both the ignorantly petty as well as the quietly strong, ring true to life.  

ELMER KELTON is the author of over forty novels. Several have won Spur Awards from Western Writers of America and Western Heritage (Wrangler) Awards from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. He has been honored by the Texas Institute of Letters, WWA, and the Western Literature Association for lifetime achievement.

Texas Tradition Series: Number 22