Customer Reviews

Bendigo Shafter

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While no author of the western spins a yarn with as much accuracy as L'Amour, I consider this piece the finest ever penned about the frontier and the men who shaped this country thereby shaping themselves. The growth of Bendigo Shafter parallels that of America and as he learns, we see how the country learned. As he hurts, sweats, loses, gains, wishes, etc. so does this great land. Bendigo is a sentimental character with respect and appreciation for every moment of significance in his life. The God that watches over our country would see the pioneering spirit as the trusting, abiding, loving one of his own and L'Amour allows Shafter to show that heart. My sons will read this book many times as will theirs.

Until this past month, I hadn't picked up a Louis L'amour book in over fifteen years. While in high school, I read many of the Sackett books and some of the "stand-alones" but slowly drifted away from L'Amour's writing style. For some odd reason, while browsing through Amazon awhile back, I came across Bendigo Shafter and remembered that it was one of those books I always meant to read, but never did. Anyhow (to spare you the remainder of my life story), I purchased a copy and WOW am I glad! To be completely honest,out of the hundreds of books I've read - from Fantasy to Thriller - I don't remember many that have kept me this interested, entertained, and captured. I have truly savored each chapter of this book and felt disappointment each time I had to set it down. It's hard to express exactly how this book makes you feel, but you just seem to get a warm, comfortable feeling as you read it - much like you might get if you were sitting on your grandfather's lap, in front of a fire as he tells you stories of days long ago. Do yourself a HUGE favor and read this book. It is simply wonderful.

I am such a Louis L'Amour fan that both of my sons are named after characters from his novels. My youngest is named Ethan, from Ethan Sackett in this novel.
This is my second-favorite LL book ("Mustang Man"--from which I got my older son's name of Nolan--is #1). The writing is some of Louis L'Amour's best, the story is enthralling, everything you expect from L'Amour. What makes this better than even the rest of his stuff is that it tells more than one story. So often, I get to the end of a book and want to know what happened next to the main character. In "Bendigo Shafter" we find out what happened over several years to several people. This helps them all seem more human and, by the end, we feel like we're parting from good friends.
As an author myself (order my book from Amazon! "First Time: The Legend of Garison Fitch"), my story telling style has been heavily enfluenced by L'Amour and especially this book.

This is LL's answer to revisionist historians. He makes that clear from the dedication page: "To the hard-shelled men who built with nerve and hand that which the soft-bellied latecomers call the 'western myth.'" In the story he shows us the hardships those 'hard-shelled men' faced and the grit and character they displayed. Unlike typical westerns this not about a single wandering loner-- Bendigo Shafter is a builder in a community of builders. In this the book is closer to the true history of the west than is the typical Hollywood movie.

There is plenty of action. L'Amour knows how to make a story MOVE. Shafter has to contend with rustlers, outlaws, Indians, blizzards and politics. All in all, this western fan was well-pleased.

I have read this book 10 times since I found it. Fact is I have been in the country that is took place and "Louie Lamour" did not miss a trick.

I just finished Bendigo Shafter for probably the fourth time and felt compelled to tell everyone what a great book it is. The characters are so real they are like friends, and Louis L'Amour wrote a great classic with this one. If you like Bendigo Shafter, you will also like Kirby Jonas's LEGEND OF THE TUMBLEWEED. They call Kirby Jonas the New Louis L'Amour, and I think the two of them could conquer the western novel world!

I agree with the other reviewers. But I think it is strange and implausible that a 18-20 year old man would be so mature, wise and concerned about the environment, community and the future of America, especially back then.

Bendigo is too smart, basically, and he is obviously the voice the author speaking.But why did L'Amour put his keen voice in the mind of an 18 year old? Also, no young man that I ever met would read the difficult books that Bendigo reads!

Those books would probably not even be available in the Wyoming wilderness, let alone be read. They are high college level books. That's a minor quibble. I wish that L'Amour had written a sequel to this.

This is not like any other western I have read because the characters are drawn so well, considering the genre, and the author has much social commentary included. I read it twice and enjoyed it more the second time.

L'Amour is underrated by the literary establishment.

One of the things I shared with my father when I was young was a love of reading I read all the same authors as him, Wilber Smith, Clive Cussler and Louis L'Amour.

After he paseed away I inherited his collection of LL books. Every Holiday I take 2 books away with me, both LL books. Comstock Lode and Bendigo Shafter. I have read theses books countless times and am enthralled each time. Bendigo Shafter is a book all young men should read to learn what it is to be a man. It is not about who is the biggest or the strongest but who is prepared to push them selves to reach their full potential and to do it in such a way that a community grows around you.

I've read five of L'Amour's books and this one is the best so far. I was given this book to read while I was in the hospital out West and must say that the cover made me think that it could be a cheesy book. Boy was I wrong. The story of Bendigo Shafter was a very well written and engaging book that details the rise of Bendigo's trails and tribulations on his way to manhood. I would highly recommend this book especially for a young man. The book was indeed hard to put down. I look forward to reading more of L'Amour books.

I first picked up a L'Amour book years ago from a used book store. I'd never read westerns 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

Ian is the author and photographer of four books, his latest being a travel guide to Ireland's ancient myths and legends, Mysterious World: Ireland.