To Tame a Land [Mass Market Paperback]

Louis L'Amour (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1997

Rye Tyler was twelve when his father was killed in an Indian raid. Taken in by a mysterious stranger with a taste for books and an instinct for survival, Rye is schooled in the hard lessons of life in the West. But after killing a man, he is forced to leave his new home. He rides lonely mountain passes and works on dusty cattle drives until he finds a job breaking horses. Then he meets Liza Hetrick, and in her eyes he sees his future. After establishing himself as marshal of Alta, he returns, only to discover that Liza has been kidnapped. Tracking her to Robbers’ Roost, Rye is forced to face the man who taught him all he knows about books, guns, and friendship. Two old friends—one woman: Who will walk away?

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

A harsh and deadly land...

Rye Tyler was twelve when he saw his father cut down in an Indian raid. Taken in by a mysterious stranger with a taste for Shakespeare and an instinct for survival, Rye is schooled in the lessons of a hard country. Then tragedy forces him to live a loner's life in a wild land of canyons and buttes, and on dust-choked cattle trails.

But his skill with a gun has earned Rye a bloody reputation he can't escape. Though he's become the law in a lawless town, he had hoped for a better life with the beautiful Liza Hetrick. When Liza is taken away and held in a mountain-girded outlaw fortress, Rye must face his deadliest enemy--the very man who taught Rye about manhood, friendship...and the ways of a gunman.

About the Author

Louis L’Amour is undoubtedly the bestselling frontier novelist of all time. He is the only American-born author in history to receive both the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Congressional Gold Medal in honor of his life's work. He has published ninety novels; twenty-seven short-story collections; two works of nonfiction; a memoir, Education of a Wandering Man; and a volume of poetry, Smoke from This Altar. There are more than 300 million copies of his books in print worldwide.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553280317
• ISBN-13: 978-0553280319
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.5 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #827,909 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Favorite Louis, March 21, 2000

By 

E. A. Beck (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: To Tame a Land (Mass Market Paperback)

When I was just a little boy... My cousin gave me a box set of five Louis L'Amour books and To Tame a Land was the first one I read. It was also the first book I remember reading that was not written for children and it hooked me. Completely.

An epic story with a moral but deadly hero, To Tame a Land tells the story of a boy orphaned on a wagon train headed west. With natural skill and the luck of Raggedy Andy he grows into a gunfighter as fast as John Wesley Hardin, a bronc buster, a gold miner, a card sharp and a cattle driver. The story starts with a sad little boy and ends with man fighting for the woman he loves. Corny Cliches - sure - but this book captures the language and feel of the old west. Scratch that - it DEFINES the old west as we all know it. I re-read the book recently and twenty years later it still works (although it seemed awfully short the second time around...).

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From Boyhood to Manhood....A tale of revenge and romance, February 11, 2000

By 

"nick_wiseblood" - See all my reviews

This review is from: To Tame a Land (Mass Market Paperback)

Ryan Tyler was a boy when his father got killed by marauding indians and was then left alone, without a father or family. In steps Logan Pollard, a loner and a drifter without ties to anyone or anybody. The moment they meet their lives change forever. To Tame a Land has got to be one of the best books L'Amour wrote. The plot is tight and fast moving and the chapters are woven seemlessly together. The characters are diverse and complicated, while Ryan Tyler's character is tough, hard, and sad all at once. If you are a person who loves action and adventure, then pick this one up. As soon as you open the book, you will be transported to a time where a romance was pure and danger was real. A time when good prevailed against evil and your friends are what stood between you and death. If you have nothing to do on a weekend, or are longing to be transported from the day to day grind of life in the new millenium, then pick this one up amigo, you will not regret the time spent reading this book. So, cinch up your saddle and reload your pistol because you are on your way to a fast paced ride through the west.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars To Tame A Land, December 10, 1999

By 

Mandy (Osawatomie, Kansas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: To Tame a Land (Mass Market Paperback)

This book had one of the best plots of any Louis L'Amour books you'll ever read. Louis L'Amour does a graet job of getting the readers attention and keeping it throughout the book. The author discribes the setting so well, it feels like you are there. My only dislike of this book would be that the author skips around from subject to subject, but it did make the story make sence. I think anyone with a sense of adventure or anyone that likes western books would like this book.