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Outlaw
A colorful historical saga set along the dangerous American frontier follows the adventures of outlaw Lee Garland--an orphan since an Apache uprising--as he roams the Old West, loving, fighting, and making and losing millions. Reprint.
560 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 4, 2007
AN UNDERAPPRECIATED GEM
Lee Garland is in his nineties now, and he's telling things this one last time - mostly for his grandson - about the only kin who's ever showed interest.
He begins with the massacre of his parents, and with the Mexican family who took him in and raised him at their place at Eagle Nest. They're dirt poor, and at fourteen he sets out to find his way, at first as a thief.
Time passes. He makes friends; pureblood Pawnee Tom Isbell; Mountain Moore; Marshall Ben Butler; and the mentor-like Luna who saves Lee's life and helps set him straight. Ultimately, Lee is able to buy the ranch at Eagle Nest, where he's now come to make his last stand.
He's always stood up for things that were right, and now he's about to do something a heck of a lot more Americans ought to - fight for what he believes. In this case, the enemy is the federal bureaucracy. They've come to take away his beloved Eagle Nest and make it into a test range. They'll only do it by carrying him out feet first.
From storming San Juan Hill with the Roughriders to an unintended career as a land baron and banker, Lee's adventures transport us into life at the turn of the century. For those who enjoy the sense of being there as it happens, Lee Garland's story is a fascinating slice of Americana not to be missed. I've reread this book many times. It's a true keeper.
Art Tirrell is the author of the underwater adventure novel "The Secret Ever Keeps" which contains "...Simply put, the best underwater scenes I've ever read..." (Meg W. reviewer) but has also been described as "The best adventure novel nobody has heard of." See the full review and others at: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1601...
Lee Garland is in his nineties now, and he's telling things this one last time - mostly for his grandson - about the only kin who's ever showed interest.
He begins with the massacre of his parents, and with the Mexican family who took him in and raised him at their place at Eagle Nest. They're dirt poor, and at fourteen he sets out to find his way, at first as a thief.
Time passes. He makes friends; pureblood Pawnee Tom Isbell; Mountain Moore; Marshall Ben Butler; and the mentor-like Luna who saves Lee's life and helps set him straight. Ultimately, Lee is able to buy the ranch at Eagle Nest, where he's now come to make his last stand.
He's always stood up for things that were right, and now he's about to do something a heck of a lot more Americans ought to - fight for what he believes. In this case, the enemy is the federal bureaucracy. They've come to take away his beloved Eagle Nest and make it into a test range. They'll only do it by carrying him out feet first.
From storming San Juan Hill with the Roughriders to an unintended career as a land baron and banker, Lee's adventures transport us into life at the turn of the century. For those who enjoy the sense of being there as it happens, Lee Garland's story is a fascinating slice of Americana not to be missed. I've reread this book many times. It's a true keeper.
Art Tirrell is the author of the underwater adventure novel "The Secret Ever Keeps" which contains "...Simply put, the best underwater scenes I've ever read..." (Meg W. reviewer) but has also been described as "The best adventure novel nobody has heard of." See the full review and others at: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1601...
June 12, 2018
This is one of the greatest books I've ever read.
July 5, 2022
I read this book upon my husband's recommendation.
Well, he more than suggested it. He had read exerpts to me while he was reading this novel.
That is what got me so interested in it. The main character spouts his philosophy periodically throughout the story, and one can't help but respect his point of view, even if one doesn't agree with it. This is also historical fiction where the main character is fiction, but his life intersects known historical individuals and situations.
The story is an old man recounting his life to his adult grandson. Grandpa was born in the 1880's in New Mexico, and was a Rough Rider along side Teddy Roosevelt among the adventures recounted.
I wanted to know what happened to some of the other supporting persons, but some disappeared from his life, as people do tend to do.
This was written by a man, with a male main character, who spouts mostly male opinions. But there is no reason to by mysogenic and ignore this tome, it is a great read. Entertaining from start to finish.
Well, he more than suggested it. He had read exerpts to me while he was reading this novel.
That is what got me so interested in it. The main character spouts his philosophy periodically throughout the story, and one can't help but respect his point of view, even if one doesn't agree with it. This is also historical fiction where the main character is fiction, but his life intersects known historical individuals and situations.
The story is an old man recounting his life to his adult grandson. Grandpa was born in the 1880's in New Mexico, and was a Rough Rider along side Teddy Roosevelt among the adventures recounted.
I wanted to know what happened to some of the other supporting persons, but some disappeared from his life, as people do tend to do.
This was written by a man, with a male main character, who spouts mostly male opinions. But there is no reason to by mysogenic and ignore this tome, it is a great read. Entertaining from start to finish.
September 20, 2012
Forrest Gump is one of my favorite movie and one of the best movies ever made. This book, Outlaw, bares many resemblances to the movie Forrest Gump. This book connected the main fictional character, Lee Garland, to many true historical events and people at the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century. I enjoyed reading this book not only because of the author's cleverness of blending history and fiction but also because I enjoyed taking part in the ride in Lee Garland's memory lane. There were many ups and downs, falls and rises in his life that even though it was depicted back in the Western days, it still carries a lot of true values/lessons for the modern days.
April 21, 2009
A picaresque novel about a "cowboy" from New Mexico covering the period from about 1880 to 1965. Quite a bit about Pancho Villa, the Spanish American war, and the exploitation of Mexico by American oil barons and others. A few amusing episodes. Fairly well written and a decent read, but the author's strong "Republican" perspective is more than a little annoying.
May 7, 2014
Not only my favorite western of all time, also my favorite book of all time. This book made me go out and purchase every other book written by the same guy(none of which were nearly as good). You come to know the character, and you get that suspension of disbelief and he is real enough to care about. Amazing book
May 12, 2021
This book reads like my bigoted republican grandpa is telling me a story of his youth. The parts where the straight white men get to be cowboys are fun but the parts where literally anyone else comes in reminds me how lucky I was to be born in the new millennium. This is obviously not for everyone but I'm a masochist.
The Good: This novel is exciting from start to finish, I couldn't put it down. The author treats the west and the time period as characters that develop with the story, and it really paints a spanning picture. The characters (for the most part) are lovable, the setting believable and easy to get lost in, and the individual adventures are thrilling.
The Bad: If you're looking for strong female characters, don't look here! All the girls in this book are tittering, dick-starved idiots. While we're talking about that, there was so much badly written smut. The man who wrote this definitely has never given a woman an orgasm, I just KNOW it.
The Ugly: The homophobia runs rampant. What was the point of the passage about those two gay men that were accused of raping a child and then brutally tortured to death (without a trial or evidence)? Or the man who wore a dress and was in love with the bandit leader and both of them were killed by mormans? TRULY what was the point? It was just so gross and jarring and served NO POINT to the plot. I'm not even going to mention the descriptions of native americans.
The Good: This novel is exciting from start to finish, I couldn't put it down. The author treats the west and the time period as characters that develop with the story, and it really paints a spanning picture. The characters (for the most part) are lovable, the setting believable and easy to get lost in, and the individual adventures are thrilling.
The Bad: If you're looking for strong female characters, don't look here! All the girls in this book are tittering, dick-starved idiots. While we're talking about that, there was so much badly written smut. The man who wrote this definitely has never given a woman an orgasm, I just KNOW it.
The Ugly: The homophobia runs rampant. What was the point of the passage about those two gay men that were accused of raping a child and then brutally tortured to death (without a trial or evidence)? Or the man who wore a dress and was in love with the bandit leader and both of them were killed by mormans? TRULY what was the point? It was just so gross and jarring and served NO POINT to the plot. I'm not even going to mention the descriptions of native americans.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2024
This book rates right up there with Lonesome Dove. How anyone could rate it less than a 4 must not enjoy dusters and shouldn’t be allowed to rate the book, LOL. If you liked Lonesome Dove, trust me, you will like this book.
May 10, 2025
There is no description worthy of this book. It’s massive in a great western/Forest Gump/The Crown type of way.
If you feel it’s too slow or too large at first - it’s because it is… in the best of ways.
If you’re really wanting to go the extra mile to dive into this story play the soundtrack from Hell or High Water as you read it. The track Thirty Horses from Godless became a melody/theme for the book as the chapters progressed. Sygrayem from The Queens Gambit became the love them for Lee Garland and Caroline.
Cradle to the Grave from Hostiles was playing for the final pages of the book.
Enjoy it. Thanks to Walt for making me read it.
If you feel it’s too slow or too large at first - it’s because it is… in the best of ways.
If you’re really wanting to go the extra mile to dive into this story play the soundtrack from Hell or High Water as you read it. The track Thirty Horses from Godless became a melody/theme for the book as the chapters progressed. Sygrayem from The Queens Gambit became the love them for Lee Garland and Caroline.
Cradle to the Grave from Hostiles was playing for the final pages of the book.
Enjoy it. Thanks to Walt for making me read it.
June 27, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It vividly captures what life in early America might have been like for a wealthy man of that era. The story follows Lee Garland through various roles—banker, a criminal, a solider/war hero, and founder of a successful oil company—while also revealing his outlaw spirit beneath the surface. Overall a great representation of an early American saga. This story isn’t portrayed as a typical cowboy western; instead, it focuses more on business, war, love, and family.
Although the final few chapters felt somewhat slow and I found myself eager for it to wrap up, the final chapter delivered a strong and satisfying ending. Overall, I’m very glad I read it.
Although the final few chapters felt somewhat slow and I found myself eager for it to wrap up, the final chapter delivered a strong and satisfying ending. Overall, I’m very glad I read it.
December 13, 2024
A very cool and talented audio drama director, KC Wyland, recommended this book to me. Think he pitched it as a more violent Western version of Forrest Gump. Sold. Immediately purchased and read in one week. Absolutely underrated epic that weaves in real historical events and characters while bringing you through the end of outlaws on horses and the rise of the oil tycoons. Great purchase for any dad husband brother in your life that likes old school Westerns. Also this authors bio is pretty wild.
July 5, 2025
I certainly feel like I have lived his life with Lee Garland through his narration. He comes across as an impetuous rogue which isn't all bad. I enjoyed the American history and didn't mind the politics as I felt it fitted with the story. I was bit annoyed by the criticism of Britain's war effort though!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2025
This book took me about a year to read, sporadically, but it had a remarkable grip on me. This is the story of a man throughout his entire life as he experiences and grows and changes parallel to the growth and changes of the country transitioning out of the Wild West and to the modern. A must read by anyone who enjoys westerns, history, and a good story.
December 28, 2023
Engaging read
June 17, 2024
Finally a good book after so many months of nothing. A very pleasant ready
Read
November 19, 2010Well this was a fun book. Follows the life of Lee Garland, a rascal and very lucky guy from the old West through the 20th century. Kind of like Forrest Gump, except he's not stupid. It was a great story. I often wondered reading this book if the basic outline/concept for Forrest Gump wasn't lifted straight from Outlaw. The timing is about right for that. What do I know, this writer probably got the idea from someone else too...
July 24, 2011
The fictional biography of a man born in New Mexico in the late 1800s. His family is killed by Indians, he is raised by a Mexican family, he becomes a cattle rustler, serves in the Army in Cuba during the Spanish American war, and becomes rich in the oil industry. And that all happens before he is 25. It continues to follow his life until he is a very old man. The writing style is a little difficult to adjust to in the beginning, but once you get into it, it is a story you can't put down.
April 20, 2013
I didn't think I could like another western after reading Lonesome Dove but Outlaw was almost as good. It felt very authentic and the main character was great. I'm looking forward to having enough time to reread it. The author really understands the life of a horseman.
January 4, 2012
If you enjoy a good yarn that is full of history, this is the book! Kiefer uses a great character to take you through a great time in American History.
March 4, 2014
This book was about 100 pages to long. It was a little to smutty for me.
December 18, 2014
This book is about the Forest Gump of the old west. The main character just drifts in and out of trouble. Really entertaining.
October 4, 2016
Possibly the best book I've read this year. I don't know why I didn't read this years ago.
Read
October 30, 2008W Kie
July 23, 2012
Excellent read if you could leave off the vulgar parts. Kiefer's a great storyteller.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews