{{Short description|Western novel by Luke Short}} {{more citations needed|date=May 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox book | name = High Vermilion | author = Luke Short (writer) | country = United States | language = English | genre = Western fiction | publisher = Collins | release_date = 11 March 1948<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/luke-short-3/high-vermillion/|title=Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction|website=Kirkus Reviews}}</ref> | media_type = Print (Hardback) | pages = 217 | isbn = | image = File:High_Vermilion.jpg }}
'''''High Vermilion''''' (1948) is a Western novel written by the American author Luke Short. It is set in the mountains of Colorado in the fictional mining town of Vermilion. The book was later made into a film.
==Plot== Dutch Surrencey has a problem. An assay report tells him the mine he is leasing contains a pocket of rich silver ore that promises to make him rich. But the lease on the mine runs out in ten days and Dutch has barely enough time to extract the ore. Then the unscrupulous owner of the mine starts to sabotage his efforts. Larkin Moffatt, who conducted the assay, could help as he is also a skilled mining engineer. But he has a hidden past which comes to light when two new arrivals in town reveal his earlier misdeed. Will he run away, as he has before, or will he stay and help Dutch and his pretty daughter and lay the ghosts of his past to rest?
==Publication== An edited version of the story first appeared as a serial in the ''Saturday Evening Post'' In 1947.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Short |first1=Luke |title=High Vermilion - Part 6 |journal=Saturday Evening Post |date=5 July 1947 |pages=38–40 |url=https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/ |access-date=13 May 2021}}</ref> It was accompanied by illustrations by the artist Harold von Schmidt.
''High Vermilion'' was published in its entirety by Collins in 1948. Since then multiple editions of the novel have appeared in the United States and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web |title=High Vermilion |url=https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL447666A/Luke_Short?q=High+vermilion |website=Open Library |publisher=Internet Archive |access-date=13 May 2021}}</ref>
The book was reprinted in 1949 as ''Hands Off''.<ref>Books Published Today, ''New York Times'' 15 July 1949: 17.</ref>
The story was filmed as ''Silver City'' (1951) starring Edmond O'Brien and Yvonne De Carlo.<ref>{{cite web |title=Silver City (1951) |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044036/?ref_=fn_al_tt_3 |website=IMDb |access-date=13 May 2021}}</ref> The film was released with the title of ''High Vermilion'' in Australia.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Amusements - High Vermilion |journal=The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser |date=1 September 1952 |page=5 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/194176752?searchTerm=%E2%80%9CHigh%20vermilion%E2%80%9D}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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Category:1948 American novels Category:Western (genre) novels Category:Novels by Luke Short Category:Novels set in Colorado Category:Novels set in the 19th century