True Grit - Paperback

by Charles Portis (Author), Donna Tartt (Afterword by)

#1 New York Times bestseller
"An epic and a legend." --Washington Post
"Quite simply, an American masterpiece." --Boston Globe
"Charles Portis had a wonderful talent--original, quirky, exciting." --Larry McMurtry

Charles Portis has long been acclaimed as one of America's most enduring and incomparable literary voices, and his novels have left an indelible mark on the American canon. True Grit, his most famous novel, was first published in 1968, and has garnered critical acclaim as well as enthusiastic praise from countless passionate fans for more than fifty years.

This story of danger and adventure in the old west became the basis for two award-winning films, the first starring John Wayne, in his Oscar-winning role, as Marshall Rooster Cogburn, and the widely praised remake by the Coen brothers, starring Jeff Bridges.

True Grit tells the story of Mattie Ross, who is just fourteen when the coward Tom Chaney shoots her father in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and robs him of his life, his horse, and $150 cash. Filled with an unwavering urge to avenge her father's blood, Mattie finds and, after some tenacious finagling, enlists one-eyed Rooster Cogburn, the meanest available US Marshal, as her partner in pursuit, and they head off into Indian Territory after the killer.

True Grit is essential reading. Not just a classic Western, but an undeniable classic of American literature as eccentric, cool, funny, and unflinching as Mattie Ross herself. For fans of either the John Wayne classic or the more recent Coen brothers' movie, it's a chance to relive the story of Mattie and Rooster and experience their story as it was originally told. For fans of taut, funny storytelling, it will be a joy to experience in its original form.

This edition includes an afterword by bestselling author Donna Tartt (The Secret History and The Goldfinch) and a reading group guide.

Author Biography

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.