Louis L'Amour, Bendigo Shafter

A L'Amour classic that stands out above the rest.

I first picked up a L'Amour book years ago from a used book store. I'd never read western books before, but always loved the movies. Instantly I was drawn into his stories and found them so much more riveting than the movies. LL has a wonderful writing style and a gift for drawing the reader into the world of his characters. Bendigo Shafter is a classic that stands out above the rest. It tells the story of a young man who comes of age in the harsh world of the American Frontier. Having travelled far from the east his wagon train decides to stop well before the winter comes and build a small settlement to wait it out. Bendigo, along with the other men, sets to work to build houses for all to live in. But this man is more than just muscle and hard work, he discovers a love for reading through the books given to him by the widow Macken, a strong, intelligent woman for whom Bendigo builds a house. She sees in this young man someone of great intellect and promise, and introduces him to a way of learning about the world through reading. While others move on come summer, many decide to stay and continue to build a town. While the story focuses mainly on the young man's journey from teenager to manhood, it's also a reflection of the real people that made the Wild West, through hard work, strength, courage, dedication and reliance upon each other. Unlike the Hollywood movies, this book paints a realistic picture of how tough life was on the frontier. Over the years the settlers battle harsh winters, the threat of starvation, renegade outlaws and see their town grow from a small settlement into a thriving community, not all of it good. Bendigo ventures off now and then in search of his destiny, but such is his dedication to the people of this town, that the moment trouble flairs he heads straight back to stand shoulder to shoulder with his friends and defend the place they built with blood and sweat. LL's descriptions of the land are so vivid that as a traveller I feel I was there with Bendigo, riding across the plains on horseback with the wise old Indian.

This book has it all, action, love, wisdom, history and adventure.

Reviewed by Ian Middleton: Travel Writer & Photographer