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Off the Mangrove Coast (Louis L'Amour's Lost Treasures): Stories
As part of the Louis L'Amour's Lost Treasures series, this edition contains exclusive bonus materials!
From the jungles of Borneo to the hidden canyons of the American West, from small-town fight clubs to a Parisian caf� at the end of World War II, here are tales of betrayal and revenge, courage and cowardice, glory and greed, as only Louis L'Amour can tell them. Here is L'Amour at his very best: A charismatic boxer itches to fight all comers--but his only shot at the championship is in beating the man who ruined his father. . . . A beautiful movie star finds a dead man in her apartment and begs her ex-lover, a tough private eye, to clear her name. . . . A reluctant hero guides a diamond-hunting couple up a river ruled by headhunters and pirates in pursuit of a legendary stone and the mysterious warlord who guards it. . . . A young renegade sails the South China Sea with a trio of dangerous men in search of treasure, but when it's time to divide the prize, can he trust any of them? Combining electrifying action scenes, vivid historical detail, and characters who seem to leap off the page, these spectacular stories honor the legend of Louis L'Amour.
Louis L'Amour's Lost Treasures is a project created to release some of the author's more unconventional manuscripts from the family archives.
In Louis L'Amour's Lost Treasures: Volumes 1, Beau L'Amour takes the reader on a guided tour through many of the finished and unfinished short stories, novels, and treatments that his father was never able to publish during his lifetime. L'Amour's never-before-seen first novel, No Traveller Returns, will also be released as a Lost Treasures publication, followed by Louis L'Amour's Lost Treasures: Volume 2.
Additionally, many beloved classics will be rereleased with an exclusive Lost Treasures postscript featuring previously unpublished material, including outlines, plot notes, and alternate drafts. These postscripts tell the story behind the stories that millions of readers have come to know and cherish.
From the jungles of Borneo to the hidden canyons of the American West, from small-town fight clubs to a Parisian caf� at the end of World War II, here are tales of betrayal and revenge, courage and cowardice, glory and greed, as only Louis L'Amour can tell them. Here is L'Amour at his very best: A charismatic boxer itches to fight all comers--but his only shot at the championship is in beating the man who ruined his father. . . . A beautiful movie star finds a dead man in her apartment and begs her ex-lover, a tough private eye, to clear her name. . . . A reluctant hero guides a diamond-hunting couple up a river ruled by headhunters and pirates in pursuit of a legendary stone and the mysterious warlord who guards it. . . . A young renegade sails the South China Sea with a trio of dangerous men in search of treasure, but when it's time to divide the prize, can he trust any of them? Combining electrifying action scenes, vivid historical detail, and characters who seem to leap off the page, these spectacular stories honor the legend of Louis L'Amour.
Louis L'Amour's Lost Treasures is a project created to release some of the author's more unconventional manuscripts from the family archives.
In Louis L'Amour's Lost Treasures: Volumes 1, Beau L'Amour takes the reader on a guided tour through many of the finished and unfinished short stories, novels, and treatments that his father was never able to publish during his lifetime. L'Amour's never-before-seen first novel, No Traveller Returns, will also be released as a Lost Treasures publication, followed by Louis L'Amour's Lost Treasures: Volume 2.
Additionally, many beloved classics will be rereleased with an exclusive Lost Treasures postscript featuring previously unpublished material, including outlines, plot notes, and alternate drafts. These postscripts tell the story behind the stories that millions of readers have come to know and cherish.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 2, 2000
150 people are currently reading
426 people want to read
About the author
Louis L'Amour
995 books3,469 followersLouis Dearborn L'Amour was an American novelist and short story writer. His books consisted primarily of Western novels, though he called his work "frontier stories". His most widely known Western fiction works include Last of the Breed, Hondo, Shalako, and the Sackett series. L'Amour also wrote historical fiction (The Walking Drum), science fiction (The Haunted Mesa), non-fiction (Frontier), and poetry and short-story collections. Many of his stories were made into films. His books remain popular and most have gone through multiple printings. At the time of his death, almost all of his 105 existing works (89 novels, 14 short-story collections, and two full-length works of nonfiction) were still in print, and he was "one of the world's most popular writers".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
March 26, 2011
This is clearly some of Louis L'Amour's early writing, a little rougher than his later books, but still enjoyable. While it doesn't have the pizzaz of his westerns for me, the short stories in this small volume are interesting for what they reveal about his early vagabond years. They are a jumble of seafaring stories, professional boxing, adventure stories, and detective stories, most of which he seemed to have some experience at one time or another. I have always liked L'Amour's storytelling, and there aren't many of his books that I haven't read multiple times. To find this one at the public library's annual "castoff" sale was a pleasure.
February 18, 2014
I loved it! Louie L'Amour is awesome. In this collection of short stories, even though I loved them all, my favorite was The Diamond of Jeru.
September 19, 2024
Among L'Amour's short stories, he did more than westerns. This collection, among WITH THESE HANDS covers some of them. I've read hundreds of his shorts, and avoided until now these, for the reason that they WEREN'T of the West.
The variety of settings and the occasional (and welcomed) pieces where instead of man vs. man, it's man vs nature. Those are for me the gems. I have less respect for the stories that feature prize fighting. There is only so much one can write about punches, how and where they strike. Fighters' stubborn determination in the face of now proven permanent brain damage of the avatars readers imagine themselves, is no longer acceptable. Sadly, newer generations and those who consider themselves 'young bucks' haven't valued bodies and life yet. Ultimate fighting, pro wrestling and now contact sports like football, hockey, soccer and numerous others should long ago have been made safer. I know this is an opinion and at most tangent to the tales, but in this age we ought to know better. We shouldn't celebrate the ancient combative sports. We know the results and the cost in human health.
in sum, reducing the star count due to the fighting stories, I value this book as worth three stars.
The variety of settings and the occasional (and welcomed) pieces where instead of man vs. man, it's man vs nature. Those are for me the gems. I have less respect for the stories that feature prize fighting. There is only so much one can write about punches, how and where they strike. Fighters' stubborn determination in the face of now proven permanent brain damage of the avatars readers imagine themselves, is no longer acceptable. Sadly, newer generations and those who consider themselves 'young bucks' haven't valued bodies and life yet. Ultimate fighting, pro wrestling and now contact sports like football, hockey, soccer and numerous others should long ago have been made safer. I know this is an opinion and at most tangent to the tales, but in this age we ought to know better. We shouldn't celebrate the ancient combative sports. We know the results and the cost in human health.
in sum, reducing the star count due to the fighting stories, I value this book as worth three stars.
June 22, 2021
I really enjoyed this collection of short stories. This is the first I've read from the great Louis L'Amour. Obviously he is known for his extension number of western novels. However, this group of stories only contains one.
It's easy to chalk a lot of the stories up as outdated, uber-manly fiction in the mold of the old pulp stories. This is true. But it also highlights L'Amours immense talent as a storyteller and shows his underused ability to take almost any setting and idea and breath life into it.
The Diamond of Jeru was why I bought the series and it didn't disappoint. Even though his son rewrote and edited the story, the bulk of it remains. A fun adventure in the frame of a short story.
It's easy to chalk a lot of the stories up as outdated, uber-manly fiction in the mold of the old pulp stories. This is true. But it also highlights L'Amours immense talent as a storyteller and shows his underused ability to take almost any setting and idea and breath life into it.
The Diamond of Jeru was why I bought the series and it didn't disappoint. Even though his son rewrote and edited the story, the bulk of it remains. A fun adventure in the frame of a short story.
January 5, 2025
Having read a host of Louis L’Amour books as a young adult holed up on our family ranch for weeks each summer with only my grandmother and Uncle for company this collection was picked up at a book sale for a quarter out of nostalgia and sitting on my shelves for years. It transported me back to my childhood on the ranch as well as reminded me what a great story teller Louis was. A man I would have loved to sit down to a meal with. A glimpse into a time and world that no longer exists, knowing the man travelled the roads and places of his stories and that any small detail could have been from his actual travels/life is always a fun thought. Some stories were better than others but overall a great collection. Inspires me to read more of his work. Thinking The Walking Drum next.
June 6, 2019
Alright, so this is the first book by Louis L'Amour I've ever read, and it was a lot of fun. This bunch of short stories is straight action and adventure, it made me think of when I was a kid and used to read Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, gave me kind of the same vibe. The rough and tumble characters, the wild west, adventures in the jungle, looking for TREASURE, that's right, treasure! I enjoyed these stories, quick, satisfying reads, no words or plot points wasted, lots of action. If you want some adventure in your life and don't want to slog to get it, you can't go wrong here, lots of fun.
January 8, 2021
This is totally outside my usual realm of interests but wow what adventure! I loved these stories! The time period and the stories. I couldn't believe how fast i was hooked, I was prepared to dislike it since the first story is about boxing and I really couldn't care less about boxing but I was on the edge of my seat like I was watching it in person! Every story was vivid like that! I felt like Indiana Jones! Definitely give this classic author a chance if you haven't yet. This book has made a L'amour fan out of me for sure!
June 30, 2020
Yes, Louis L'Amour wrote other stories that did not include horses, cowboys and the Wild West. He wrote of real life experiences in Southeast Asia. The stories are good and I enjoyed them. I suppose L'Amour was a good writer due to his experiences. Indulge yourself if you are a fan and take a different look.
April 3, 2024
This is a collection of short stories published after L'Amour's death. Only one of the stories is a western. Otherwise they are modern stories (40s and 50s?). Most of them are enjoyable but some are mediocre.
November 21, 2017
This reminds me of my dad's stories. An interesting read from a different era.
November 7, 2018
This is one of his short story collections, set in a variety of places. Always a good read.
November 26, 2018
Excellent book Louis L`amours always been a favorite author of mine!
January 11, 2019
True l'Amour
Excellent writings. We are given insight into the life of boxer with that air of mystery. The "diamond of Jeru" was my favorite.
Excellent writings. We are given insight into the life of boxer with that air of mystery. The "diamond of Jeru" was my favorite.
February 28, 2019
Excellent group of short stories.
March 28, 2019
This book becomes a book about boxing, told by Louis Lamour,(a former professional Boxer) a man that knows what he is talking about. This was a Good Read.
May 6, 2019
'Enjoyed these more than his western short stories.
July 20, 2019
A good colection of western stpries.
November 20, 2021
Fun Short stories. Mostly, not westerns.
February 1, 2022
Short stories
A collection o great short stories. I prefer novels over short stories. I like a novel because it allows me to settle into a story for the long hall.
A collection o great short stories. I prefer novels over short stories. I like a novel because it allows me to settle into a story for the long hall.
April 30, 2022
good short stories from L'Amour.
Read
October 14, 2022Great stories, fast-paced, full of adventure, suspicions, and twists and turns.
December 4, 2022
Nine good short stories, typically full of action. Good read.
September 23, 2023
Only read a few of these as many were not of interest.
October 23, 2023
A solid set of stories. Highly entertaining and keeps u on youre toes.
July 5, 2024
He's pretty good, especially considering I don't usually like this genre
November 10, 2024
Classic L’Amour short stories! These are entertaining and a fun read.
September 12, 2025
I have read about 80% of his westerns. At the end of his career his stories seam to blend together. These short stories that are based on his life experiences are very refreshing!
July 1, 2015
Such a range of stories and settings means Louis L’Amour likely has written a story for any and everyone. In this collection some of the stories are familiar to me although I don’t think I have specifically read any of his books before. Those people who have read or heard or seen films made from his stories are all likely to have shared them with others over the decades. As I say, he has written widely and prolifically.
Partly why I chose this book at this time is to do with my own research into family history. My grandfather “Pop” was a great one for telling stories. He also advised my mother from an early age, and she often quoted him, “read everything.” She spoke of him reading the fine print on the bottom of the tram ticket on his way to our place for lunch!
While I do read a lot, I think Pop would appreciate that no one is capable of reading “everything” anymore. So I am using a few criteria to help my selections based on my own questions and wish to strengthen particular perceptions while the world develops its own in many other directions as well. One such critierion is what my ancestors are likely to have read, rather than what scholars might suggest based on educational institutions or circles of people my ancestors are not likely to have mixed in.
From this point of view there are a number of reasons why my Pop would have read Louis L’Amour:
He came from a seafaring family
He particularly liked a turn of phrase that would carry multiple meanings
He liked reading people as much, if not more than, reading books
The sound of language and the images conjured by good storytellers gave him techniques for telling his own stories.
What I particularly like about this collection of tales is the use of seeming stereotypes to depict the individual character of people. Many people reacted against some of Pop’s jokes because they felt he was being prejudiced. My mother would often comment on their lack of humour to not be able to see past these images and their own prejudices to appreciate the intent of being able to laugh at how we each might look to others. It is a method of broad strokes and narrower ones – not everyone changes focus so readily.
In the title story, for example, “Fools? We were that, but sometimes now when the fire is bright on the hearth and there’s rain against the windows and the roof (a setting many readers can feel themselves into), sometimes I think back and find myself tasting the wind again and getting the good old roll of the sea under me. (here is mesmerism at its best) In my mind’s eye, I can see the water breaking on the coral, and see Limey sitting forward, conning us through, and hear Smoke Bassett, the mulatto from Haiti, singing a song of his island in that deep, grand, melancholy bass of his.”
Here the narrator is letting you know this whole story might be a con, just as the characters within it are befriending and keeping their distance at the same time.
And the next paragraph:
“Yes, it was long ago, but what else have we but memories? For all life is divided into two parts: anticipation and memory (as indeed his storytelling technique now is), and if we remember richly, we must have lived richly. Only sometimes I think of them, and wonder what would have happened if the story had been different if another hand than mine had written the ending?”
The mastery of storytelling allows each reader to anticipate their own ability to tell a tale out of this one.
And so my own instruction to read everything, to anticipate becoming a storyteller myself, and to enjoy a tale within itself, all intertwine with my own memories to be able to live as richly as if this story were indeed my own experience.
Other stories in the collection may have a particular scene or phrasing that tugs at another reader. For me, the multi-layers of this story are exactly what I was looking for when I chose to read something my grandfather would have read. It brings me closer to the image that sometimes seems so faded in my own mind. It anticipates what I would like to be able to share with my own children about the conversion that is good storytelling, rather than just a conversation. It is almost impossible to think yourself out of your own story, but it is the attempt that invites others to enter it with you in the deepest possible way.
Partly why I chose this book at this time is to do with my own research into family history. My grandfather “Pop” was a great one for telling stories. He also advised my mother from an early age, and she often quoted him, “read everything.” She spoke of him reading the fine print on the bottom of the tram ticket on his way to our place for lunch!
While I do read a lot, I think Pop would appreciate that no one is capable of reading “everything” anymore. So I am using a few criteria to help my selections based on my own questions and wish to strengthen particular perceptions while the world develops its own in many other directions as well. One such critierion is what my ancestors are likely to have read, rather than what scholars might suggest based on educational institutions or circles of people my ancestors are not likely to have mixed in.
From this point of view there are a number of reasons why my Pop would have read Louis L’Amour:
He came from a seafaring family
He particularly liked a turn of phrase that would carry multiple meanings
He liked reading people as much, if not more than, reading books
The sound of language and the images conjured by good storytellers gave him techniques for telling his own stories.
What I particularly like about this collection of tales is the use of seeming stereotypes to depict the individual character of people. Many people reacted against some of Pop’s jokes because they felt he was being prejudiced. My mother would often comment on their lack of humour to not be able to see past these images and their own prejudices to appreciate the intent of being able to laugh at how we each might look to others. It is a method of broad strokes and narrower ones – not everyone changes focus so readily.
In the title story, for example, “Fools? We were that, but sometimes now when the fire is bright on the hearth and there’s rain against the windows and the roof (a setting many readers can feel themselves into), sometimes I think back and find myself tasting the wind again and getting the good old roll of the sea under me. (here is mesmerism at its best) In my mind’s eye, I can see the water breaking on the coral, and see Limey sitting forward, conning us through, and hear Smoke Bassett, the mulatto from Haiti, singing a song of his island in that deep, grand, melancholy bass of his.”
Here the narrator is letting you know this whole story might be a con, just as the characters within it are befriending and keeping their distance at the same time.
And the next paragraph:
“Yes, it was long ago, but what else have we but memories? For all life is divided into two parts: anticipation and memory (as indeed his storytelling technique now is), and if we remember richly, we must have lived richly. Only sometimes I think of them, and wonder what would have happened if the story had been different if another hand than mine had written the ending?”
The mastery of storytelling allows each reader to anticipate their own ability to tell a tale out of this one.
And so my own instruction to read everything, to anticipate becoming a storyteller myself, and to enjoy a tale within itself, all intertwine with my own memories to be able to live as richly as if this story were indeed my own experience.
Other stories in the collection may have a particular scene or phrasing that tugs at another reader. For me, the multi-layers of this story are exactly what I was looking for when I chose to read something my grandfather would have read. It brings me closer to the image that sometimes seems so faded in my own mind. It anticipates what I would like to be able to share with my own children about the conversion that is good storytelling, rather than just a conversation. It is almost impossible to think yourself out of your own story, but it is the attempt that invites others to enter it with you in the deepest possible way.
May 24, 2022
Good, I didn’t love all the stories, but all good morals.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews