Richard Hurdis

Richard Hurdis: A Tale of Alabama, the second of Simms's Border Romances, was published anonymously, as was its sequel, Border Beagles. This novel includes realistic portrayals of crime, violence, and immorality that the press had not responded to very positively in Simms' previous work, which could be the impetus behind Simms' decision to publish anonymously. Richard Hurdis received praise for its originality and excellence in its presentation of frontier violence and crime through using a group of outlaws based on the infamous gang led by John A. Murrell. Simms was ahead of his time, showing an anticipation of realism and naturalism that would be significant in later American literature.