True Grit(novel)

True Gritis a 1968 novel byCharles Portisthat was first published as a1968serialwithinThe Saturday Evening Post.The novel is told from the perspective of an elderly spinster named Mattie Ross, who recounts the time a half century earlier when she was 14 and sought retribution for the murder of her father by a scoundrel, Tom Chaney. It is considered by some critics to be "one of thegreat American novels."True Gritis included in theLibrary of Americaof Portis'Collected Works.

True Grit

Front cover of the 1968 Simon & Schuster hardback 1st edition ofTrue GritbyCharles Portis.
Author	Charles Portis
Language	English
Genre	Western
Publisher	Simon & Schuster
Publication date	1968
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (hardback & paperback)
Pages	215

The novel was adapted for the screenplay of the 1969 filmTrue GritstarringJohn Wayne,Kim DarbyandGlen Campbell.Six years later, in 1975, Wayne reprised hisAcademy Award-winning role as the tough hard drinking one-eyed lawman in the sequel filmRooster Cogburn.In 2010,Joel and Ethan Coenwrote and directedanother film adaptation ofTrue Grit.In November 2010,The Overlook Presspublished amovie tie-in editionof the second film version ofTrue Grit.

Plot summary

The novel is narrated by Mattie Ross, churchgoing elderlyspinsterdistinguished by intelligence, independence, and strength of mind. She recounts the story of her adventures fifty years earlier, in 1878, when she undertook aquestto avenge her father's murder by a drifter named Tom Chaney. She is joined on her quest byMarshalReuben J. "Rooster" Cogburnand aTexas Rangernamed LaBoeuf (pronounced "La-beef" ).

As Mattie's tale begins, Chaney is employed on the Ross's family farm in West-CentralArkansas,near the town ofDardanelleinYell County.Chaney is not adept as a farmhand, and Mattie has only scorn for him, referring to him as "trash" and noting that her kind-hearted father, Frank, hired him only out of pity. One day, Frank Ross and Chaney go toFort Smithto buy some horses. Ross takes $250 with him to pay for the horses, along with two gold pieces that he has always carried, but he ends up spending only $100 on the horses. Later, Ross tries to intervene in a barroom confrontation involving Chaney. Chaney kills him, robs the body of the remaining $150 and two gold pieces, and flees intoIndian Territory(nowOklahoma) on his horse.

Mattie hears that Chaney has joined an outlaw gang led by the infamous "Lucky" Ned Pepper and wishes to track down the killer. Upon arriving atFort Smith,she looks for the toughest deputy US Marshal in the district. That man turns out to be Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn, an aging, one-eyed, overweight, trigger-happy, hard-drinking man. Mattie is convinced that he has "grit"and that his reputation for violence makes him best suited for the job.

Playing on Cogburn's need for money, Mattie persuades him to take on the job, insisting that she accompany him as part of the bargain. During their preparation, aTexas Rangernamed LaBoeuf appears. He has been tracking Chaney for four months for killing a senator and his dog inTexas,and he hopes to bring him back to Texas dead or alive for a cash reward. Cogburn and LaBoeuf take a dislike to each other, but after some haggling, they agree to join forces in the hunt, realizing that they can both benefit from each other's respective talents and knowledge. Once they reach a deal, the two men attempt to leave Mattie behind, but she proves more tenacious than they had expected. They repeatedly try to lose her, but she persists in following them and seeing her transaction with Marshal Cogburn through to the end. Eventually, she is jumped by Cogburn and LaBoeuf, who had hidden themselves from view, and LaBoeuf begins to whip Mattie with a switch. Mattie appeals to Cogburn, and he orders LaBoeuf to stop. At this point, Mattie is allowed to join theirposse.

Together, but with very different motivations, the three ride into the wilderness to confront Ned Pepper's gang. Along the way, they develop an appreciation for one another.

Film and television adaptations

In 1969, the book was adapted as a screenplay byMarguerite Robertsfor theWestern filmTrue Gritdirected byHenry Hathawayand starringKim Darbyas Mattie Ross,Robert Duvallas "Lucky" Ned Pepper,Glen Campbellas LaBoeuf,Jeff Coreyas Tom Chaney, andJohn Wayneas Rooster Cogburn (a role that won John WayneBest Actorat theAcademy Awards).

A film sequel,Rooster Cogburn,was produced from an original screenplay in 1975, withJohn Waynereprising his role, andKatharine Hepburnas an elderly spinster, Eula Goodnight, who teams with him. The sequel was not well received, and the plot was considered a needless reworking of the plot ofTrue Gritcombined with elements ofThe African Queen.

A made-for-television sequel aired in 1978 entitledTrue Grit: A Further Adventureand starringWarren OatesandLisa Pelikan.TheTV-moviefeatured more adventures of Rooster Cogburn and Mattie Ross.

In 2010,Joel and Ethan Coenreleased another film adaptation of the novel, also entitledTrue Grit,with thirteen-year-old actressHailee Steinfeldas Mattie Ross, veteran actorJeff Bridgesplaying Rooster Cogburn,Matt Damonas LaBoeuf,Barry Pepperas Lucky Ned, andJosh Brolinas Tom Chaney. Their version, focusing on Mattie's point of view, follows the novel more closely than the 1969 film. The Coen movie is shot in settings more typical of the novel. (The 1969 film was shot in the Colorado Rockies and the Sierra Nevada, while the 2010 film was shot inSanta Fe, New Mexico,as well asGrangerandAustin, Texas.)

In November 2010,The Overlook Presspublished amovie tie-in editionofTrue Grit,featuring an afterword byDonna Tarttto accompany the 2010 film adaptation. It reached #1 onThe New York TimesBestseller Liston January 30, 2011.

Further reading

• Matthews, Kristin L. (2018). "True Grit:A Radical Tale ".Journal of American Culture.41(4):370–384.doi:10.1111/jacc.12959.S2CID149589080.
• Nauenberg, William. (2020)."True Gritby Charles Portis ".The Objective Standard.Summer 2020.