<P> In November 2010, The Overlook Press published a movie tie - in edition of True Grit . </P> <P> The novel is narrated by Mattie Ross, churchgoing elderly spinster distinguished by intelligence, independence, and strength of mind . She recounts the story of her adventures many years earlier, at 14, when she undertook a quest to avenge her father's death at the hands of a drifter named Tom Chaney . She is joined on her quest by Marshal Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn and a Texas Ranger named LaBoeuf (pronounced "La - beef"). </P> <P> As Mattie's tale begins, Chaney is employed on the Ross's family farm in West - Central Arkansas, near the town of Dardanelle in Yell County . Chaney is not adept as a farmhand, and Mattie has only scorn for him, referring to him as "trash" and noting that her kind - hearted father Frank only hired him out of pity . One day, Frank Ross and Chaney go to Fort Smith to buy some horses . Ross takes $250 with him to pay for the horses, along with two gold pieces that he always carried, but he ends up spending only $100 on the horses . Later, Ross tries to intervene in a barroom confrontation involving Chaney . Chaney kills him, robs the body of the remaining $150 and two gold pieces, and flees into Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) on his horse . </P> <P> Mattie hears that Chaney has joined an outlaw gang led by the infamous "Lucky" Ned Pepper and wishes to track down the killer . Upon arriving at Fort Smith, she looks for the toughest deputy US Marshal in the district . That man turns out to be Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn, an aging, one - eyed, overweight, trigger - happy, hard - drinking man . Mattie is convinced that he has "grit" and that he is best suited for the job, due to his reputation for violence . </P>

Where does the movie true grit take place