Posted on 11/02/2021 2:33:22 PM PDT by ammodotcom
To tell the tale of Louis L'Amour is to tell the tale of a bygone America, one where freedom was much easier to come by, though just as dangerous to defend.
L'Amour documented the world of frontier liberty, with all its perks and pitfalls, in an extensive manner that no one else can boast, penning over 100 Western novels. While his books were fiction, L'Amour knew the cowboy life second hand, growing up at a time when remnants of the Old West frontier were still very much alive in pockets of the country.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammo.com ...
In addition to his surroundings and daily life, L'Amour was also taken with his grandfather's tales of combat during the United States Civil War and against hostile Indian tribes during the taming of the American West. What's more, education and learning were well prized in the LaMoore household. The young L'Amour, an avid reader of Jack London, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and Robert Louis Stevenson, sopped up information like a sponge on topics ranging from literature to animal husbandry.
At 15, the LaMoore family fell on hard times and Louis was forced to leave school. Over the next eight years, L'Amour would make money skinning cattle, working in mines, baling hay, and lumberjacking.
When the family needed a little extra money to move to the next town, L'Amour would try his hand at boxing. He continued to coach fighters even after his career was over, including a team from the Army who made it to the Tournament of Champions under his tutelage.
Later, he struck out on his own, finding work as an itinerant laborer and living the hobo life. His travels took him all the way to Egypt, Borneo, Japan, China, and Panama.
Louis L’Amour was a prolific writer period. He wrote hundreds of novels about everything from sports to bare-knuckle tramp steamer captains.
And he had the personal experience and knowledge to do so!
But the Westerns made him the most money and garnered him the most fame.
Loved the Sackett books growing up.
Quite a fellow. I still like to read a book by him from time to time.
The bookstore in my home town had an entire wall dedicated to his western novels. He was still writing at the time and I remember thinking to myself ‘that wall isn’t going to be big enough.’
I’ve never read anything by this guy or Zane Grey.
Which book of L’Amour’s does anyone recommend?
I’ve read all his westerns… twice.
Any of the Sackett books
Sitka
Hondo
Bendigo Shafter
Mustang Man
The Broken Gun
Absolutely awesome writing!!!
Dallas Cowboys Coach, Tom Landry was a big fan of his. He told Louis once, “Just write, Louis. Just write!”
There are some great collections for Kindle. All of his non-Western stuff is collected and bundled.
Many years ago, I saw the entire L’amour library at a garage sale and stupidly passed it by.
You do not know what you missed. Any of the Sacketts. Take your pick.
Not a western, but Last of the Breed is excellent. The last sentence is stellar
Thanks to all of you who responded.
I might have picked that up if the price were right. We already have well over 6,000 books, though, and not enough shelf space as it is.
Lasr of the Breed was a stunning book - one of my all time favorites and the only one of his I’ve ever read.
I was introduced to Louis by reading FLINT. Loved it and now have dozens and dozens.
Bendigo Shafter has always been one of my favorite L’Amour book hands down. But any of the Sackett books are good. His private detective stories are good as well.
One book I wanted to read but never have is The Walking Drum. I think it was his last big book before his death.
Donated.
Zane Grey. Border Legion
Spellcheck sux. Conagher for Louie
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