Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Hondo by Louis L'Amour

In thirty five years, Louis L'Amour wrote over one hundred books. Every one is still in print. Quite an accomplishment. I've read dozens of his books and Hondo is unquestionably my favorite.

L'Amour  has been described as a good storyteller, but a mediocre writer.  When you start late and publish over one hundred books, it's difficult to maintain the quality required to get a first novel published. Hondo, published in 1953, was his first novel and proves that L'Amour could write well when he paid attention to his craft. Unusual for a Western, Hondo is a love story, reminiscent of The Virginian.

L'Amour loved of the West and it comes through to the reader in his stories.