Men and Jackasses: The Journey of Frank Marks and His Brother Howard
Updated: Aug 8
A couple of weeks ago—and apropos nothing—this was loaned to me by a friend of mine. Handing it to me, he let me know that it was his favorite book. We were having a birthday party for my brother, Adam, so I didn’t stop to ask about it or inquire as to why it was his favorite. I simply put it on the shelf without much thought as to when I’d get to it. As it turns out, my next interlibrary loan was taking longer than usual, so I had time to sneak this one in.
Men and Jackasses is the true story of brothers Frank and Howard Marks, and the team of burros with which they travel (complete with photos). The journey begins in New Mexico where Frank, tired of the cowboy life, decides to move back home to Connecticut. He acquires a covered wagon, trains a pack of burros to pull it (no small feat), and sets off on his three-month journey. Once home, news of Frank’s trip becomes a media sensation (as one might expect of a burro-drawn wagon traveling through the cities and towns of post-Prohibition America), and he and his rig quickly begin getting offers to advertise one product or another. Frank sends for his brother, Howard, to join him, and the two travel all over the country as a rolling billboard for, primarily, Wilken Family Whiskey.
Told in a series of short, self-contained vignettes, each one not more than a few pages, this is a simple story simply told. Travisan’s style is clear and uncluttered, and is well-suited to these uncomplicated characters. This isn’t high literature, but fans of Steinbeck, David Lynch’s The Straight Story, or Robert Zemeckis’s Forrest Gump will find much to enjoy here.
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