âNorth of 36â is another magnificent novel by the author of âThe Covered Wagonâ. This is just a good old-fashioned western about the first cattle drive from Texas to Abilene. Emerson Hough (1857-1923) was an American author best known for writing western stories and historical novels. Houghâs literary career grew out of his taking camping trips and writing about them for publication. His body of work eventually included 27 novels and hundreds of short stories and articles. Houghâs early works included âThe Singing Mouse Storiesâ, for children, and the nonfiction âThe Story of the Cowboyâ. He had his first major success in 1902 with his novel âThe Mississippi Bubbleâ, which became a bestseller. Several of his works were adapted for film, including âNorth of 36â which was first published in 1923.