[3] Abbey includes the following paragraph to introduce this book: The story which follows was inspired by an event which took place in our country not many years ago.

The story of his resistance to being thrown off his land and his death is told through the eyes of his grandson, who is visiting the ranch for the summer.

However, Abbey still opposed the private sector from developing on natural lands, arguments which were explored in later books such as The Monkey Wrench Gang through the novel's antagonist, which put him at odds with aspects of these ideologies.

The novel was adapted into a 1981 television film of the same name, which was directed by Donald Wrye and written by John Sacret Young.

Singer-songwriter Laura Veirs wrote a song called "The Ballad of John Vogelin" from her 2003 studio album Troubled by the Fire.