The Comancheros

by Paul I. Wellman

Texas Ranger Tom Gatling arrests gambler Paul Regret, but soon finds himself teamed with his prisoner in an undercover effort to defeat a band of renegade arms merchants and thieves known as Comancheros.

Genres: Westerns, Historical Fiction, Classics

223 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1952

About the author

Paul Iselin Wellman, newspaperman, writer of popular history, novelist and screenwriter, is best known for his books set in the Great Plains of the United States and Kansas. In addition to his books several Hollywood movies , Cheyenne, The Walls of Jericho, Jubal, Apache, The Comancheros, and The Iron Mistress are based on his novels.

Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Wel...
http://www.washburn.edu/reference/cks...

Reviews

[Alton Motobu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was the basis for the John Wayne movie, The Comancheros, but starker and grittier. The "Comancheros" are not the same as Comanches; the term "Comancheros" refers to a mix of people who are Hispanic whites, part-Mexican, part-Indian, or other ethnicities (see Wikipedia for details). The plot line is not a standard western but more of a "hidden valley" adventure. The Comancheros have discovered a Shangri-La in the middle of the desert and have formed a secret society supposedly free of American influence. The Texas Rangers are dispatched to find the valley and destroy the Comancheros. This was one of the most enjoyable books I have read and much better than the movie. It is not a standard western.

Second reading after 22 years - not as good as previously reviewed; reduced stars from 5 to 4. There were too many plot developments that depended on coincidence, luck and implausibility. For example, how could Paul and Eloise come up with the same story as if they could read each other's minds when they could not even communicate with each other, and how did the Texas Rangers appear miraculously in the nick of time to save Paul and Eloise? The movie was better.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a western it was ok. Being from the early 50's it portrayed the Indians as thieving, murderous savages which I found made it a bit of an uncomfortable read.

[John Peel · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Orleans gambler Paul Regret shoots the son of a vindictive judge in a duel, and is forced to flee for his life to the farthest frontier - Texas. There he is enlisted, unwillingly, into the Texas Rangers and sent on a suicide mission to track down the Comancheros - white men who trade with the Comanches and encourage their massacres to make a profit. On the way, he falls in love, and has to change into a real fighting man. It's an exciting and enjoyable story that was later filmed with John Wayne (not playing Regret, but his reluctant Texas Ranger partner). The film touches the plot of the book in places, but adds a huge amount of terrific material. Read this book, then watch the film!

[Hugh Mosher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book I am re reading before giving it away as I downsize my library. It was an okay read for a western. Typical of when it was written it is a bit uncomfortable in how it depicts First Nations. There is some subtle humour to offset the brutality.

[Lawrence FitzGerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good prose, good characterization, good world building, okay story, no theme.

A boy's own adventure. In this case the boy is New Orleans gambler, ladies man and duelist Paul Regret. Pencil mustache and all. And some of the history surrounding this ripping yarn is even true.

[Craig Schlossin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good western, typical of the fifties but I enjoyed it.

[Dorothy Bush · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written in 1952 and as such the style is much different form that which we are used to now. The story was okay, but predictable. Maybe I've read too many westerns and it's just me. And while I do not consider myself to be politically correct - the terminology and type-casting of natives was pretty much offensive. Again - for the time period in which it was written - this would not have been considered out of line.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The old west comes alive as the good guys and the bad guys fight it out.

[Michael Macdermott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read, though considerably different and more gritty than the movie version starring John Wayne. Highly recommended.