Colorado State Professor Reads from New Historical Novel Based in Estes Park

Colorado State University English professor James Work will shed a different light on a 126 year-old mystery as he reads from his new novel, "The Tobermory Manuscript," at 7 p.m. June 21 at the Estes Park Area Historical Museum, 200 Fourth St.

"The Tobermory Manuscript" is a historical novel that focuses on legendary regional characters including James "Rocky Mountain Jim" Nugent, Isabella Bird, Lord Dunraven and Enos Mills. The book explores the curious circumstances around Rocky Mountain Jim’s death and the disappearance of a manuscript he had been working on before he died.

The book is based on original research completed in Estes Park, London and Tobermory, Scotland. It is filled with period detail as well as insight into the mystery of Rocky Mountain Jim’s death and his missing manuscript.

Work’s other publications include the standard anthology of Western American literature, "Prose and Poetry of the American West"; a critical edition of Jack Schaefer’s "Shane"; "Following Where the River Begins," a personal memoir; "Ride South to Purgatory," a myth-based Western novel; and a collection of short stories titled "Gunfight!"

Work is a native Coloradoan who grew up in Estes Park. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Colorado State and his doctorate from the University of New Mexico. He teaches Western American literature at Colorado State.

The reading is free and open to the public and will be followed by a discussion and book signing. For more information, call the museum at (970) 586-6256.