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54-40 or Fight by Emerson Hough is a historical novel set during the mid-19th century, focusing on the intense political struggle between the United States and Britain over the Oregon Territory. The novel takes its title from the popular expansionist slogan, capturing the spirit of Manifest Destiny. Hough blends romance, adventure, and political intrigue, dramatizing the events surrounding the border dispute and offering a vivid portrayal of American frontier life.
Emerson Hough (1857-1923) was an American author best known for writing western stories and historical novels. Hough began a trilogy on America when he published 54-40 or Fight in 1909, dedicated to Theodore Roosevelt. He dedicated the second volume, Purchase Price, to U.S. Senator Albert Beveridge of Indiana in 1910 and the third, John Rawn, to Woodrow Wilson in 1912.
About the author
American writer Emerson Hough (1857 1923) was well-known for his large body of historical writing, essays, and novels, especially in the western fiction genre. Hough, who was born in Newton, Iowa, on June 28, 1857, was greatly impacted by the American West's scenery and people. He briefly practiced law after earning his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1880 before deciding to become a writer. Hough's early western-themed writings, such as "The Story of the Cowboy" (1897), launched his literary career and solidified his status as a western fiction author. His books "The Mississippi Bubble" (1902) and "The Covered Wagon" (1922), the latter of which was made into a popular silent film, won him significant praise. Hough wrote on the spirit of exploration, adventure, and hardy individuality of the American frontier throughout his life. His writings contributed to the romanticization of the West in American literature by frequently capturing the struggles and victories of settlers, cowboys, and pioneers.
