Westerns Books

This is the original story by Annie Proulx as well as the movie script. Great for fans of the film as a collector item.

I had to purchase this book for a college course, otherwise I probably would never have read it. I found it boring and realized that it's probably better suited for either men who like cowboy stories, or people who are into studying how to create a screenplay from a move. The screenplay stays very true to the short story. The best part about this book is the essay in the back by Proulx. I suggest you read it before you read the short story as it answered my main question, which is why a straight woman in her 60s would write a story about rough cowboys who were having trouble accepting their sexual orientation.

This item took you through the entire life of the book to the screenplay to the movie. It was great reading what the writers said about the project and how it was a labor of love for everyone involved. It was wonderful reading how devoted everyone was to the project. Much how the two main characters were devoted to each other.

In an effort to check out my approach to writing a book adaption to screenplay, I thought it would be a good exercise to experience how others have done it. After reading the Brokeback Mountain short story, then reading the shooting script, then watching the film, I knew I was right on target. It is invigorating to experience and understand the progression from story to screenplay to film. The book also includes backround information from the short story writer, Annie Proulx and the two screenwriters, Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana, which tops off the value of this book. Reading it is a great process, and once you've read the book, you'll appreciate the film even more.
-Catherine Busch-Johnston-

This is an excellent addition to anyone's book collection - not only do you receive Annie Proulx's wonderful story, but you can experience Larry McMurtry's and Diana Ossana's sweet, lilting and poignant screenplay. Ennis and Jack jump off the page, fictional characters who have somehow become real, as we are transported with them through the most beautiful twenty years of their star-crossed lives. No, it is not a story about gay cowboys....it is a story about two young men who find love and happiness in an unlikely relationship, and simply don't know how to handle it. The part of this story that always grabs me is that through a simple twist of fate, the entire ending could have been different.

I suggest this book couple with the movie - seeing the screenplay come to life through Heath Ledger's and Jake Gyllenhaal's performances is spell bounding.

It was a fascinating read to see the short story move from Annie's simple prose to screenplay. And the chapters at the end which discuss the story and the filming of this heart-wrenching story is worth the price. I highly recommend it. Thanks for listening.

The text is the classic Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem, and the paintings give it new life for the visually-oriented kids of today. This book will help them visualize what the poem is talking about, which becomes more important as time passes and kids are less accustomed to reading the words of older poems. If you want kids to really appreciate this famous poem, this book should help them connect with it.

A great introduction to Longfellow and the roots of this great Country. The artwork is beautiful. A good book for young children learning to read.

For the last two days I have read Paul Revere's Ride by Longfellow to my 4 and 7 year old. We have learned the history, vocabulary words, the different methods the artist used to illustrate the poem, and many other interesting facts. They are begging for more! What are great book! Longfellow makes history come to life. You can just feel the night air in Revere's face as he so courageously warns the people.

It had good information for my report in the back of the book. It had true history of the ride. I liked the illustrations. My moms friend did the design layout.

Just a point of correction on the review given by Seidur above--the Ted Rand illustrated edition not only contains the complete Longfellow poem, it is also correctly titled (contrary to two erroneous criticism made by Seidur). It is, I think, the best edition of this wonderful poem.

This is a very good book. As a person whom reads many different varieties of books, I found this to be a good read. I also have read the next book in this series and it is worth reading also.

Historical fiction is my favorite Christian fiction genre I believe. It is how I got started reading Christian fiction, one problem with it, is that some how I seem to have started with the best and often have a hard time finding anything that really meets the par. Things are great and enjoyable, but not quite as exciting as those first Liz Curtis Higgs or Tracie Peterson and even Francine Rivers' Redeeming Love. Well, boy is that not the case with Mary Connealy! Welcome to my favorites' shelf! (Literally I do have a favorites' shelf, if my mom didn't have half my books from it, I'd post a picture). (Ugh, it was a library book... I'll have to get a copy to put on my favorites' shelf....)

Petticoat Ranch is everything that a good historical fiction should be, and I'm glad to have read it. I'm a southern gal through and through, and I'd like to think myself a Southern Belle. I'm really invested in my genealogy, and I have my family tracked for years to the late sixteen century in the Carolinas, and Virginia, and then later Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Texas. I guess one way to put it, is to say that I'm completely biased. I love the bumper sticker that says "North 1 South 0 Half Time". Not that I'm saying "yay to slavery", but I know the stories, and have read journals of my own family members and have seen how cruel some of the North was against them. Not saying the South were angels, but I'm partial to my rebels, as they are my own blood. With that said... It's often hard for me to ever feel much for a story with Norther ties and empathy.

Not at all the case with this book. I so feel for the characters, they are completely real to me, and I'm fully on their side! This book was incredible. I cannot count the times that I giggled, or rolled my eyes. I have no recollection of how many times I scoffed or said, "MEN!". I am quite unsure of how many times I snickered and had a little evil laugh, feeling I'm sure the emotions of Sophie and her girls. In all cases, it was plenty, and I definitely was smiling through out this novel. That is, when I wasn't scowling and wanting revenge for my own self. The sermons were perfect and powerful, and so true to how God works. The reactions of the characters was real, and the men were not overly flowery, but were such "men". (A problem often found with women authors, but not so with this book in my opinion. With that said, usually male authors have problems with their female characters in my mind too.)

Sophie is such a strong woman, struggling to keep it all together, and I just love her personality. The girls are fabulous, and I really giggle and evil giggle with Beth loving what she's up to. I really cannot praise this story enough, now that I think about it. So many different personalities are captured within the different characters, and the main two commandments of Love from Jesus Christ reverberate through the pages. Even the most stubborn of a person can see a little insight into themselves through these pages.

oh this is book is on my top 5 of best books ever. and trust me i've read quite a few books. but this books is seriously the best book EVER. a must have/ must read. if u havn't read it already this is a perfect book to buy!

This book reminded me of the style of one of my favorite Regency romance writers, Barbara Metzger. The exagerated characters, their off-th-wall reasoning, and the perfect comedic timing. Mary Connelly captured that same zany humor, developed it in an entirely different setting, and added the God-fearing undergirding with just the right touch to brighten the story and not overwhelm it. Mrs. Connelly, may never have read a Metzger book, but she has the same type of distinctive voice that captures and pleases a reader. Bravo!

PETTICOAT RANCH is a fun, entertaining read about Sophie Edwards and her determination to survive the difficulties of living the life of a frontiersmen while protecting herself and her four girls. The difference in PETTICOAT RANCH is the way it is written with such a whimsical flow. Even when difficulties arise, you know quick-thinking Sophie will battle through whatever comes her way.

A light read. And though I felt some areas needed to be explored deeper, (i.e. her immediate relationship with the brother of her deceased husband), I enjoyed the carefree pace of the book.

book is worth reading; although any of mantak chia's book's take a long time to digest; but i think it is worth the effort

not a beginners book from Mantak....you should at the minimum know how to do all the basic healing animals and Iron shirt and universal doa, smile etc.....

This is a very excellent introduction to the fusion system. I admit, I really didn't start to get much out of the fusion system until I read Fusion 2 Cosmic Fusion, but this book is essential. I don't recommend reading this until you have practiced the microcosmic orbit and Iron Shirt 1 for some time, however, Iron Shirt works much better after the Fusion of Five elements have been practiced.

I rate this 4 stars because it has all the information necessary for the introductory practice, although I subtracted 1 star because I feel as if there could have been a little more information about the physical internal movements that mirror the visualization and 'funnels' the movement of 'chi'. Still, everything you need is still there. Don't let the esoteric sounding nature of the book turn you off, the elements, animals, and everything else are an important identification/visualization system to get something very real working.

IMO, Mantak Chia books are the best out there.

Mantak Chia's book, "Fusion of the Five Elements" provides readers with powerful meditation and energy working tools for transforming the top five negative emotions (anger, impatience, anxiety, depression, and stress) stored in five of our body's main organs into their most positive counterparts (kindness, love & joy, openness, courage and gentleness). While the basic Taoist principles behind this healing process may seem straightforward to some, the techniques themselves are refreshingly unique and memorable, such as breathing the purest form of gentleness into the shape of beautiful deer with antlers, for example. Chia explains that since the original Taoist animal offspring utilized in energy work for clearing the five elements / organs might seem rather unusual in this day and age, it is possible to substitute other symbols in their stead.

The delightful surprise in "Fusion of the Five Elements" is the way the range of feelings from each of five major organs (liver, heart, lungs, kidneys, spleen) is described, along with marvelous tables and illustrations that accompany the energy work meditations. I was very positively impressed with the associations provided with how good awareness between each of these five primary organs and the associated opening (eyes, tongue, nose, ears, mouth) can help to reduce the various temptations of each of these areas. Readers familiar with the concept of the five elements will find much to appreciate in this book, as many of the advanced exercises have the capacity to benefit all energy practitioners, from beginners to the most advanced.

"Fusion of the Five Elements" covers Chia's concept of creating pearls that form the energy body extremely well. Anyone wishing to continue on with Chia's other books will appreciate the clarity of his words and illustrations which are devoted to describing how one can best create, maintain, and control one's chi body as it evolves to his highest form.

This is an excellent book, which will allow you to delve further into the energy work techniques that Chia teaches. To get the most out of this book, you need to do the exercises. I think it's important to slowly integrate each additional step after you feel confident with learning the prior step. I will say that I've already noted some positive results for myself.

This is the book that each and every educator must have! And read! If teachers and educational administrators were competent enough to drive students toward "peak experiences", we will have a happier world!

Very difficult reading about the nature of self-actualization and higher human values, but if you like authoritative credentials, you can't get much better than Maslow's.

--Richard Brodie, author, Virus of the Mind: The New Science of the Mem

....about the possibilities of becoming fully human. This was one of the books that inspired me to study psychology. An eminently sane look at the "higher reaches" from the psychologist who dared to wonder why we study sickness but not health.

i could not put down this book. the only vague idea i had from Maslow was the classic pyramid of needs, of which i did not think much. I could not have been more wrong! this book lifted the veil from my eyes, i just so thouroughly identify with the author's views. i wish i had read this book 10 years ago. Maslow is so honest, his style so fluid, his statements so powerful. this book is all about what it means to be human, and it gives faith again in human nature, yet we are facing so many hurdles in our world. while reading it on a train journey, i stopped for a second and looked thru the windows of the cabin. there i saw some clouds in the blue sky, and i felt tears coming up to my eyes. I felt like a follower who had just met his prophet...

Overall this is a very good book, but with some significant flaws. The first 100 pages are unbelievably good; as I began reading this book I really felt like I had hit the jackpot, and I quickly concluded I would attempt to read all of Maslow's works. As I got further into the book I was singing quite a different tune. I believe anyone with any interest in psychology whatsoever should buy this book and read the first 100 pages. This section alone is easily worth the price of the book - don't let me scare you away from exploring the ideas of this great man. However, the dropoff in quality after this first section is rather precipitous, and while pages 100-200 were OK, the final 100 pages are an absolute chore to get through and I had to force myself along to finish the book.

Keep in mind that Abraham Maslow died before he was able to make a final edit of this book, and it shows. The second half of the book is almost a verbatim repetition of the earlier sections, and Maslow tends to harp on the same concepts endlessly. Some of it comes across as a very generic self help book designed to be consumed by the masses. In other sections, he seems to start over right from square one, as if some of the essays were meant to stand alone and were not meant to follow other essays that were extremely similar. I would say nearly half of this book should have been relegated to an expanded appendix - but I guess it would be strange to have a book where full half of it consisted of an appendix. I'm sure that Maslow would have fixed these problems had he lived long enough, but we will just have to accept this book for what it is and try as best we can to extrapolate something useful from it.

To conclude, I must still vehemently stress the importance of at least the first half of this book. If you grow bored with it, just stop reading. The editors of this book obviously elected to take a throw-it-all-against-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks approach, and I suppose there is no harm in that. Just remember that the original author was not around to oversee the final editing, and the result is a large dose of disjecta and detritus towards the end of the book. Nevertheless, do not let this minor disclaimer prevent you from exploring the wonderful ideas of this brilliant man.

I had such a great time reading this book! This author definitely knows how to capture your attention and hold it! This one, I would have to say, is one of her best!

I love Westerns, whether books or movies. Just like historicals, they bring you back to a place and time we can only imagine. LLM's books do this with a light reading and a fairly good story. Sensuality is a 9 and you kind of have to get around this for historical fact.

Both Rowdy and Lark were good characters. Rowdy was the perfect man; bad but extremely good inside and out. Lark wasnt a simpering 18 y.o. I dont like books where the heroine is that young. The book was a very good companion on an overnight business trip. Will read more of LLM.

Lark Morgan is a schoolmarm with a secret she can't afford for anyone to learn. New to Stone Creek, Arizona, she teaches in a one-roon schoolhouse in clothing more befitting a woman of wealth and stature than a poorly paid single woman.

Rowdy Rhodes is the new marshall of Stone Creek and new to town as well. He's been hired by a fedeal ranger to keep peace in a small town, as well as help find the gang of train robbers who are disrupting rail sesvice and scaring passengers away. Rowdy has a secret of his own and being found out could mean the end of his freedom.

When Rowdy's father and younger brother show up, it spells trouble for the new marshall. Lark has trouble of her own on the horizon when the owner of the railway gets held up by the train robbers, one who has eyes the same deep blue as Rowdy's. Rowdy needs to put a stop to the robberies, and Lark needs to find a way out of town before the train's owner finds her. And both of them might be better off if they weren't so darned attracted to each other. But, who can they trust?

Throw in an elderly landlandy with secrets of her own, a little girl left to fend for herself, a 20-year-old third grader, and a Chinese doctor and his wife--and you have an ensemble sure to make for an entertaining story.

You can expect to laugh, sigh, and feel the pull of your heartstrings with this one. A well-written tale from an author who knows her way around a horse and a dog. Highly entertaining read.

Armchair Interviews says: Once you read a Linda Lael Miller book, you'll look for others.

A Wanted Man Book (2) could stand alone. Although, I would
recommend to read The Man from Stone Creek (1). In this
book Rowdy Rhodes and Pardner were introduced. Pardner he's
a dog! I loved how the author intermingle him into the story
line. Almost all the characters in The Man from Stone Creek
played a part in A Wanted Man. Schoolmarm Lark Morgan and
sex Rowdy Rhodes had an instant attraction (physical chemisty)
when they first laid eyes on each other at Mrs. Porter's
boarding house. Both, sense the other were hiding a secret.
I also, like the secondary characters as well. Rowdy's brother
Gideon, (Sixteen) he played a sufficient role. Lydia a sweet
eight year old stole my heart. LLM hinted at their own story.
I hope it does materialize. Another secondary character
Mrs. Porter the landlady. I don't what to give anything away.
Throughout the book Mr. Porter was mentioned. The ending
that involved Mrs. Porter I was rather surprised!

An absolute keeper. Explicit Sex.
At the beginning of the book Linda Lael Miller wanted
to tell everyone about a special group of people with whom
she recently became involved. The Humane Society of the
United States, specifically their pets for Life Program.

I highly recommend A Wanted Man.

The novel is set in Stone Creek, Arizona Territory, in 1905. Two people have arrived in town. Lark Morgan came to town a few months earlier and took the vacant position as schoolteacher in the local school. She is obviously well educated, but seems too well dressed to be a typical schoolteacher. She is boarding at Mrs. Porter's Rooming House. Then Rowdy Rhodes arrives in town, summoned there by an acquaintance to serve as town marshall and help in apprehending train robbers operating nearby.
He arrives at Mrs. Porter's Rooming House to rent a room for the week.

It is a small town where people gossip and speculate, but everyone has hidden secrets. Even the nosy madam at the local bordello does not know everything (although she does keep private records of her clients). Lark is obviously running from something. Rowdy has things in this past that he will not talk about. There is the question about Mr. Porter, who is not there, but who Mrs. Porter seems to be expecting at any moment. There is young Lydia, daughter of the local doctor, who does not get along with her stepmother. And there is the Chinese couple - the wife works as Mrs. Porter's maid.

People's pasts start to catch up with them. There are tales of spousal abuse, white slavery, child abuse, and reformed outlaws. The novel has fairly strong sexual content, and some amount of violence consistent with the story. There are a few surprises.

Managerial Economics, a good book for the management student with a simple theory and less numerical's.For knowledge this book is good ,only for the theory purpose but not for the one's who want to practise mathematical analysis.

When buying this book at amazon I thought might be it will not cover everything including chapters and problems but trust me I could locate everything that this book should cover.

Thanx to Amazon.

This is one of those textbooks that you're forced to buy for the class, but after struggling through 2-3 chapters you resolve to ditch the book and just rely on class lectures. Following this textbook is like following the tenured professor who may be a star academic in his/her field, but when it comes to teaching their own subject their presentation skills are abysmal at best.

The chapters of this book are very difficult to follow. The language is very dry. The equations are squeezed between paragraphs, they're poorly displayed, and in some cases they're just flat out incorrect. If you're forced to use this book, buy the cliff's notes and any other study aids you can get your hands on. Maybe even find some older editions of some econ books that cover the same subjects and use them as supplements.

When you truly apply yourself, textbooks are supposed to help you understand the subject matter and help supplement what you don't pick up in lectures. This textbook just makes me want to cut my losses and drop the class (hoping I can retake it with an different prof who uses a different textbook).

As an instructor of economics, I give high marks to Mark Hirschey in his compilation of a textbook designed for studying a subject integral for any student of business or administrative sciences. It is designed primarily for those who may not necessarily have a strong quantitative background but need to understand the fundamentals of decision making and its application of economic concepts. The study of management comes from economics in that a manager makes decisions to maximize the objectives of an organization by efficiently allocating limited resources given limited choices or alternatives. The means of efficiently utilizing resources form the basis for making sound economic decisions whether an individual is running a small business operation or directing the workings of a major corporation.

Hirschey provides excellent examples to support the concepts that he presents in each chapter. There are a total of 18 chapters along with appendices. Each chapter tries to relate both management and economic principles to the workings of a business entity and show what real world problems may impede the applications of theoretical concepts. The manager is both a decision maker and a risk taker, and each decision he/she makes has both short-run and long-run results. One need not have an extensive quantitative background to attempt to solve the problems that Hirschey presents at the end of each chapter.

Mark Hirschey has provided a clear and concise text for understanding the economic applications to decision making in the business world. It is not surprising that a number of academic institutions use this book as the standard text for their managerial economics classes both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Teachers should find it suitable to use for enhancing the learning processes of future business and professional leaders with its numerous illustrations and examples of important concepts and its continuous references to contemporary issues.

I am using this text for a managerial economics class for MBA students. I selected this text because it includes chapters on statistics, linear programming and risk, which I am covering in the class. Unfortunately, it is filled with errors - typos, incorrect formulas, and misrepresentation of basic economic concepts, such as derived demand. Some of the typos and other mistakes make concepts very confusing for the students. I am extremely disappointed. I expected much better from a book that is the eighth edition. I do not understand how it went to print with so many mistakes. I have contacted the publisher. I will not be using this text again.

I highly recommend this book. I bought it because of the Band of Brothers TV series. I got hooked with the story. I enjoy reading novels and documentaries about WWII, but this book is different than a novel. It is plain record of events that took place in real life. Amazingly told and related. Greatly structured and written in a fashion that is pretty easy to read. The story evolves like the best of the novels. You really get attached to the characters and get to know them prety well. Great job by Ambrose.
This is a must if you like army stories, want to read a good book, and by the way learn some history about one of the greatest soldier group and events of the greatest of wars in history.

Band of Brothers is the kind of stories I used to hear from my father and uncles of their experiences in World War Two. Stephen Ambrose has a particular talent for making the reader feel all the emotions these very brave men went through. I read the book before I saw the HBO mini-series, and I bought the autdo book for when I am traveling. I never want to forget, and I hope the country never forgets what these citizen soldiers did to change the world we live in.

This book defines what it means to be an American Soldier. It's a story of victory, defeat, good times and hellish times. It's not just a war story; it's a story of the human spirit. I recommend those of you who typically distance yourselves away from war stories to make an exception. This story is at times exciting, at times heart warming and at times tear jerking. I love it and I can't wait to read Major Winter's memoirs when the book arrives.

One of those books; I can't seem to put down. I'm thankful I have watched the movie, Band of Brothers, for I could "picture" everything that was happening though all these pages. This Regiment was truly remarkably determined and proud to be a participant in this long relentless war. How do you understand anything, unless you were there and have gone through all the circumstances? There are so many things we don't realize or understand and this book almost took you there to see what they had to experience. To be so proud and honored is an understatement for men like these and for all of our Military.

Anthony Bates couldn't have said it better. It's shocking that so many readers out there just gobble up Ambrose's "feel good history" as unquestionable fact, when in reality what Ambrose writes little more than entertainment for ignorant readers. Everything Bate's mentions is true...the fact that other less fabled, yet equally brave and crucial formations that served in Bastogne get ignored by Ambrose is shameful. Also, his knowledge of the German Army in all of his writings is down right pathetic and revolves more around old 'folk lore' than any type of dedicated research. Ambrose does know how write an compelling story, I'll give him that...although there is a lot of better academic history out there, and it is not very hard to find.

Excellent pictures. Easy for children to identify with. Definately a book to use in a Hebrew School Classroom.

The wonderful rhymes and message will stay with you for a long time. Kids love the pictures of all the children like and unlike themselves, making them feel very much a part of a larger, and diverse, community.

A wonderful, delightful book for any kid. Both of my boys love it and like looking at the beautiful pictures. A great addition to a collection and nice way to introduce kids to religious diversity.

In simple, rhyming text, Lauren Seidman provides answers to the question posed in the title of this delightful picture book that celebrates diversity. "You don't have to look a certain way to be Jewish," Seidman reasons, but rather it is the values one lives by that matter. Large color photographs of Jewish children from a variety of ethnic backgrounds will engage young children, and offer them a broader perspective of the Jewish community in the United States and beyond. This book holds special appeal for children who have been adopted by Jewish families, as they will likely find within its pages photographs of other Jewish children that look like them. Although intended for a pre-school audience, What Makes Someone a Jew? could also be used with older children to encourage discussions about Jewish identity. The book's positive focus on the traditions and values shared by all Jews, and its inclusive and tolerant message make it a worthy purchase for libraries and schools serving young children and families with young children. For ages 2 - 6. Reviewed by Alison Kelly

Seidman's book is pure and simple. A direct address to children about the meaning of being Jewish. To the point. No proselytizing, just the basic tenets of love, sharing and caring. Beautiful photographs.

Lando the 5th. book of the Sackett series was fun to read. Lando Sackett is a tough guy and has been in a Mexican prison for many years. During this time in prison his muscles became stronger his resolve greater and his desire to succeed a must. The gold would be his and he would make the people who deserted him pay.

I was reading over some of these reviews and saw that some readers had given Lando a luke warm rating. Had to put in my own two cents.
I thought Lando was flat out terrific! This character is a bit different than many of Louis L'Amour's main men, and I liked the differences. Lando is full of action and the fist fighting scenes are top notch.... the best. I've read perhaps a hundred of L'Amour's books; have enjoyed all of them, some more so than others, but Lando is a winner. Darn good read.

Though I'm relatively new to Westerns, and started with L'Amour, I've now read some Elmore Leonard and some Elmer Kelton and have come up with a few opinions.
L'Amour is a solid three-star writer, and Lando is a very good example. This is praise, not criticism; there's too much "star inflation" anyway-- folks tend to come off of a book they've enjoyed and think it's the greatest ever.
Lando has a good sidekick in the Gypsy "secret agent". That is, he knows about the hidden gold and Lando's dad, and maneuvers Lando out of the Virginia mountains out West. It's a good "search for hidden gold" Western, with two main failings in my view: Lando's dad turns up alive in a rather coincidental fashion, and (perhaps the biggest defect in the book) the years in a Mexican jail that toughen Lando are glossed over in a couple of pages. This might work if the jail stay was a few months, but not where 6 or 8 years are involved!
A good read, with the stregths and shortcomings of L'Amour represented. If you are somewhat new to Westerns, read a few L'Amours, but then turn to Leonard, Kelton, and others.

Learn about mules, Mexico, and boxing by reading this. Also learn about several bad men and several good men who don't let life keep them down. This book definately has that independent frontier spirit in it.

Part of the book tells you about a previous adventure reguarding the treasure that I wish I could read from a first person perspective instead of having it told to me. But aside from that, a nice read. Our hero even has a nice side.

This book was first issued as a Bantam paperback in December, 1962, having Orlando Sackett as the narrator. The time period circa 1873-1875 was assigned by Louis L'Amour in his Sackett Companion, and that places the book as #8 in the Sackett family series.

This is essentially a fictional story concerning Orlando Sackett, narrated by him, as he leaves the mountains of Tennessee, the Sackett historical homeland, unless you are like Parmalee Sackett, a flatland Sackett. Falcon Sackett, Orlando's father, settled in Tennessee after marrying Orlando's mother to be, Aleyne Kurbishaw. As Orlando leaves the mountains the Tinker (Cosmo Lengro) is his companion, one who says little, but knows much. During the ensuing years of mule raising and racing, bare knuckle fighting, Mexican incarceration, and gold chasing, the Tinker and his wonderfully made knives will be Orlando's guide and companion. I'm not going to give you more of the plot, for those are not the reviews I give, and most other reviews here will offer adequate background as to the plot.

What I will offer is what none of these other reviews knew or offer: there are many details within this deceptively simple novel of the west that are all true. This is a novel from Louis that is a veritable treasure trove of facts.

For instance, the details of what a tinker was, his life and travels, is all true of the times. Jem Mace is mentioned as an English prizefighter of the time, and that is also true: he fought from 1855 through 1864, today classed as a welterweight. The gunfighters of the story: Cullen Baker, Bill Longley and Bob Lee are true characters drawn from this time and place. Governor Edmund Jackson Davis was a real reconstruction governor for the state of Texas, and during his time in office an unknown man, L. H. McNelly, who later became a legend in the Texas Rangers, was part of the governor's police force. Juan Cortina, born in Mexico on May 16, 1824, dying in 1894, also existed. The Bald Knobbers were an actual group of vigilantes around Forsyth, Missouri, who were later disbanded by force, some members being hung, due to their ruffian activities. The cities of Beeville from the 1830s and Oakville, a lawless city Captain McNelly later cleaned up, also existed, and still did at the time of Louis' novel. Finally the Henry Rifle is known to all western readers as a gun appearing during the American Civil War, eventually leading the way to developing the later and famous 1873 Winchester repeating rifles of the frontier. These are just some of the facts and historical notes tucked within this novel, there are more. But these will suffice.

I have all of Louis L'Amour's books in hardcover, and generally enjoy all of them. When I first encountered this one, however, I did not think much of it. But upon discovering the facts that lay behind it and tucked into it, I became more and more interested.

If you want an enjoyable western from Louis, though certainly not in the category of Hondo or Shalako let's say, but still a very interesting read, don't be shy of reading this one. It can be digested in only a few hours, but the facts will add to your western understanding.

Semper Fi.