The Sacketts: Volume 1: Sacketts Land, To The Far Blue Mountains, The Warriors Path

by Louis L'Amour

556 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1980

About the author

Louis 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".

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Louis L'Amour may be long gone from this earth, but, he lives on through his writings, which very much stand the test of time.

[Paula Galvan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of the Sacketts gives a compelling picture of the first settlers of the New World. Most of these men and women came seeking freedom from the feudal system of England, the wars of Ireland, or the poverty of the commoner. They came seeking riches, land, and new adventures when Europe was filling up and cramping their style. Some were lawless, others seeking solitude. Still more were only curious. But one thing they had in common was they were daring and resilient—willing to brave the wilderness and Indians they called savages. Louis L’Amour, having been quite the wanderer, has brought this world to life. His vivid narratives of how the Sacketts fought and survived gives his readers a rousing picture of the rowdy life of pirates, traders, and settlers. I could almost smell the sweat and blood in the skirmishes with Indians and the salty sea and acrid smoke in the battles with pirates. The 1600s was a pivotal period in America’s history, and The Sackett Novels bring the reader up close and personal with those times.

The first volume consists of the first three books in the series. First is Sackett’s Land, which begins with an unlikely discovery that changes Barnabus Sackett’s life forever. Accused of a crime he never committed, Barnabus is forced to give up his lands in The Fens, where he was born, and flee from arrest by the Queen’s officers. Seeking a fresh start, he ventures to the New World. Once he’s seen the vast forests and bounty of the land, he’s convinced that’s his destiny. To the Far Blue Mountains—the second book—documents Barnabus’s harrowing journey to the land of his dreams, where he starts a family with Abigail and a group of good friends he’s made along the way. The third book, The Warrior’s Path, tells the story of Yance and Lin Ring, two of Barnabus and Abigail’s sons, both born and raised in the wilderness of Virginia. Lin travels to Jamaica on a mission to stop slavers from kidnapping young white girls from the colonies. After almost dying for what he believes in, he brings Diana home to a settlement called Shooting Creek, where they make a home.

[Dean Neidholt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good entry into L'Amour westerns. I enjoyed the dialogue and descriptive treatment of Colorado and New Mexico mountains. The lawless towns and gun justice rang pretty true for the time period.
All in all, an enjoyable read