Inspired by the life and adventures of his own great-great grandmother, Betty Zane was Zane Grey's first novel and launched his career as a master writer of rousing frontier and Western adventures. Betty Zane is the story of the events culminating in the last battle of the American Revolution, when two hundred Redcoats from British-controlled Detroit along with four hundred Shawnee Indian attacked the small, wood-palisaded Ford Henry on the western...

It is summer at River Cottage and the vegetables are thriving, so much so that Hugh decides to enter The Beaminster Horticultural Society's annual competition, with the Tomatillo as his secret ingredient. Hugh also fishes for spider crabs.

It is eel migration season, and Hugh learns how to weave a unique basket trap to catch them in the river. He also joins the Chideock Cider Circle for the fall apple harvest, learns the art of cider pressing, and attends a pheasant hunt.

Hugh discovers that mice are a formidable pest to contend with. Spurred on by this experience, he joins Jan Andrews on a hunt for deer. Hugh then strolls down memory lane with the Cheeseman family and creates a Japanese prawn tempura dish.

Film star Sharon David travels to the Wind River country convinced that she was adopted at birth from the reservation.

With a failed hay harvest, Hugh conceives a cunning plan to supplement the winter feed he will need for his animals by throwing a party, but instead of a bottle he asks his guests to bring a bale. Hugh also agrees to an unusual request.

Hugh embarks to sell his entire tomato harvest at the Farmer's Market by offering a diverse range of products under the brand name: The River Cottage Glutton. Hugh also makes a bet with a rival grower as to who will sell more at market.