When Johnny Lancaster comes into Bonney's Place, he
hopes to find answers. Somebody stole a sum of money
from his father and he wants retribution. At least,
he wants the money back. It's his inheritance. And it
surely looks as though the person doing the stealing
was Bonney McCamey himself, except Bonney's not the
type of person to steal from an old man, is he? Johnny
decides to hang around awhile and find out.
What Johnny discovers—along with the limits of his personal
endurance—is that passing judgment is a perilous endeavor.
This Texas tavern and the unforgettable characters for whom
it provides recreation and, in some cases a reason for living,
reflect a far more complex reality than Johnny had anticipated.
And in the person of Bonney himself, Johnny finds a man who
is more than capable of stretching small truths and shading
small sins, in order to prevent a larger miscarriage of justice.
This classic novel immerses the reader in a richly layered
and vivid assemblage of rural Texas characters such as Rose-
Mama, Turnip, Slat, Samuel Wilkerson Hobbs, Jr., and, of
course, Bonney himself. Often hilariously funny, Bonney's
Place is a world of obvious weaknesses, enduring strengths,
and the many small exaltations of life.
_________________________________________________________
LEON HALE is the author of ten books, including two novels;
four column collections, including regional bestseller Home
Spun; and an award-winning memoir, Paper Hero. He has won
the Lon Tinkle lifetime achievement award and Jesse H. Jones
best novel award from the Texas Institute of Letters, along
with numerous column writing awards from the Headliners
Foundation, United Press International, and the Associated
Press. Hale writes a thrice-weekly personal essay column for
the Houston Chronicle and divides his time between Houston,
Washington County, Texas, and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
