Sisters author ventures out on the frontier

Jim Cornelius will read from and discuss his book, "Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans," at Paulina Springs Books on Saturday, February 25, at 6 p.m.

"Warriors of the Wildlands" is a collection of 12 biographies, focusing on an eclectic set of individuals who operated on the world's wild and dangerous frontiers. The book covers a broad spectrum in time, from the 1770s through World War I, exploring subjects such as Simon Kenton and Blue Jacket on the early Ohio frontier, to Al Sieber and Pancho Villa on the U.S./Mexico borderlands.

The book also explores the lives and legends of the African frontier experience, such as Deneys Reitz, a Boer commando, and Frederick Selous, a hunter and soldier in the African wilds. The book is an in-depth, gripping, and historically valuable look into the lives of some of those who lived on the edge of civilization, and in many ways helped shape the future.

The Frontier Partisans pioneered what we now think of as special-operations warfare.

"Most of the book's subjects were not professional soldiers," Jim says. "They were highly skilled guys who applied fieldcraft and hunting skills in warfare from the Canadian prairies to Mexico to Africa. When people think of the frontier they often think of North America, but the phenomenon was similar all around the globe."

Cornelius will read excerpts from "Warriors of the Wildlands" and discuss the similar character of the frontier experience around the world, including difficult issues such as race, colonization and conquest.

"I'll probably close with a tune or two - originals I've written inspired by frontier stories," Cornelius says.

Paulina Springs Books is located at 252 W. Hood Ave. There is a cover charge of $5 per group at the door. If you buy the featured book, your $5 will be refunded off the price of the book.

For more information contact Cornelius at 541-390-6973 or Paulina Springs Books at 541-549-0866.