Originallypublishedin1966underthepennameTomPendleton,TheIronOrchardgarneredacultfollowingforitsauthenticrepresentationofthepeopleandtheindustryintheoilfieldsofTexasandtheAmericanSouthwest.Nowavailableagaininanewedition,TheIronOrchardtellsthestoryofayoungTexan,JimMcNeely,whoisdesperatetomakeanameforhimselfintheoilfieldsofTexas.Toldfromtheinsidebyamanwhoknewtheoilfieldsintimately,itisavibrant,brutalstoryofthemenwholabored,sweated,lusted,andgambledtheirmoneyandspiritstopumpoiloutoftheearth.Itistheadventureofviolentmenamongotherviolentmen.AnditisthestoryofperseveranceandloveinthemidstofoneofAmerica’smostdramaticindustries.TheIronOrchardismagnificentandmemorablereading.TheIronOrchardwasaco-winnerofthe1967TexasInstituteofLettersJesseH.JonesAwardforBestWorkofFiction,alongwithLarryMcMurtry’sTheLastPictureShow.TheIronOrchardfilmpremieredatthe2018DallasInternationalFilmFestival.
