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The Sacketts #2
To the Far Blue Mountains
In To the Far Blue Mountains , Louis L’Amour weaves the unforgettable tale of a man who, after returning to his homeland, discovers that finding his way back to America may be impossible.
As part of the Louis L’Amour’s Lost Treasures series, this edition contains exclusive bonus materials!
Barnabas Sackett was leaving England to make his fortune in the New World. But as he settled his affairs, he learned that a royal warrant had been sworn out against him and that men were searching for him in every port. At issue were some rare gold coins Sackett had sold to finance his first trip to the Americas—coins believed to be part of a great treasure lost by King John years before.
Believing that Sackett possesses the rest of the treasure, Queen Bess will stop at nothing to find him. If he’s caught, not only will his dream of a life in America be lost, but he will be brutally tortured and put to death on the gallows.
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 Volumes 1 and 2, 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, faithfully completed for this program, is a voyage into danger and violence on the high seas.
Additionally, many beloved classics are being rereleased with an exclusive Lost Treasures postscript featuring previously unpublished material, including outlines, plot notes, and alternate drafts.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.
As part of the Louis L’Amour’s Lost Treasures series, this edition contains exclusive bonus materials!
Barnabas Sackett was leaving England to make his fortune in the New World. But as he settled his affairs, he learned that a royal warrant had been sworn out against him and that men were searching for him in every port. At issue were some rare gold coins Sackett had sold to finance his first trip to the Americas—coins believed to be part of a great treasure lost by King John years before.
Believing that Sackett possesses the rest of the treasure, Queen Bess will stop at nothing to find him. If he’s caught, not only will his dream of a life in America be lost, but he will be brutally tortured and put to death on the gallows.
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 Volumes 1 and 2, 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, faithfully completed for this program, is a voyage into danger and violence on the high seas.
Additionally, many beloved classics are being 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.
287 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
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2984 people want to read
About the author
Louis L'Amour
1,007 books3,514 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 498 reviews
February 6, 2026
Barnabas Sackett returns to England, from America, on a trading trip. Even though he has enemies there, and is immediately wanted by Queen Elizabeth 1. A warrant for his arrest has been issued, she believes that Barnabas has found the lost crown jewels of King John. The treasure fell in a river and disappeared, back in 1216( by the adventurer's farm )...It's 1600 now, in the forest of the north, close to Sackett's home, he hears a noise, as does his good horse's ears. Something is near, out of the darkness comes Black Tom Watkins, a known outlaw. But a man who has never harmed the returnee, Tom warns Barnabas about the Queen's men , ruffians , in fact, and are after him. Tom's an old acquaintance, who has had meals at his table. Trusted by Sackett, all this just because he found some old Roman coins, the poor man sold them, to pay for his voyage to the new world. If he didn't leave, a vicious nobleman would kill the farmer, Barnabas defended himself against the arrogant aristocrat's attack, somehow the fugitive needs to get back to his house. Talk to William, the man who is taking care of his little farm, and then sneak on board his ship, without being caught. London is a long ways off, but prisons are filthy and not recommended by any former inhabitants. Watkins joins Sackett, America sounds pretty good, better than the gallows, thinks the outlaw . After visiting his well run property, in the Fens. Escaping the marshland of eastern England, taking a small boat down the coast , always with the very hot pursuit, of the hired ruffians. A new prearranged destination seems very wise...Finally arriving on an island, with a large hidden cave, and waiting there for their ship, inside. Days follow, still nobody comes, where are they ? The rough waters and the rising and falling of the sea, lifts their tiny boat high and crashes them down to the bottom, by the sharp rocks . A storm hits the dim cave , continuous waves rolling the two. And up and down endlessly they go, the ceiling seems in danger of being struck by the vessel. Good thing they're both brave sailors. At last rescue and the wilderness of America, but not so fast, first a short jail stay, his friends help him sneak out(WITHOUT PERMISSION). Once again in America, he and some old, loyal playmates, fight pirates and Indians, in their new land. Marrying Abigail, the ship's captain Tempany's, daughter. Raising a family, going to see the Far Blue Mountains, always seeking adventure, this life will never be dull....As long as it lasts.
September 5, 2025
In my opinion, To the Far Blue Mountains is even better than book one, Sackett's Land, which is mainly an introduction to the characters and their backstories.
To the Far Blue Mountains is filled with action, incredibly well developed characters and a real insight into how difficult it was to make better lives for one's family when the world was still being discovered.
The unquestionable willingness to give up everything for a dream of creating a strong legacy and carving a path in hopes of bettering the lives of future generations is remarkable.
The losses, heartfelt love, and the intense friendships that came with that lived out vision is exquisitely described as only L'Amour could. He was the ultimate trailblazer if there ever was one, and what a remarkable, inspiring life he lived. Looking forward to reading much more of his work.
To the Far Blue Mountains is filled with action, incredibly well developed characters and a real insight into how difficult it was to make better lives for one's family when the world was still being discovered.
The unquestionable willingness to give up everything for a dream of creating a strong legacy and carving a path in hopes of bettering the lives of future generations is remarkable.
The losses, heartfelt love, and the intense friendships that came with that lived out vision is exquisitely described as only L'Amour could. He was the ultimate trailblazer if there ever was one, and what a remarkable, inspiring life he lived. Looking forward to reading much more of his work.
November 15, 2021
This is a page turner!
Louis L’Amour returns to his Sacketts history in this 1982 novel about Barnabus and his brief return to England in 1599 and then his final return trip to the Americas where he settles down and starts a family and interacts, sometimes better or worse, with local tribes, particularly the Catawba.
I’ve been reading some heavy literature lately and I needed a reading break, not a break from reading, but a more relaxing, enjoyable read where I didn’t need to think and analyze every minute detail of what was written or hinted at.
Feeling good Louis!
(Looking good Billy Ray!)
Those of you who have not read L’Amour may be somewhat dismissive, “Oh, he’s that western writer.” Yes, and no. He is an author of volumes of western books, but the quality of his writing is much better than expected. Yes, it is somewhat formulaic, and can be overly simplistic and the dialogue can be one dimensional and flat, but it can also be engrossing and easily entertaining.
Sometimes you don’t want a fancy meal followed by a depressingly thoughtful Russian play – you want beer and pizza and a rodeo.
Most thought provoking was L’Amour’s suggestion that Columbus was not by far the first European to come to the Americas and noted how peoples throughout time had migrated and moved around and fought and settled and moved again and so on. I am also again impressed with L’Amour’s sympathetic depiction of Native American tribes and his overall attribution of diverse characterization.
And there’s lots of swashbuckling action!
A fun, good read.
Louis L’Amour returns to his Sacketts history in this 1982 novel about Barnabus and his brief return to England in 1599 and then his final return trip to the Americas where he settles down and starts a family and interacts, sometimes better or worse, with local tribes, particularly the Catawba.
I’ve been reading some heavy literature lately and I needed a reading break, not a break from reading, but a more relaxing, enjoyable read where I didn’t need to think and analyze every minute detail of what was written or hinted at.
Feeling good Louis!
(Looking good Billy Ray!)
Those of you who have not read L’Amour may be somewhat dismissive, “Oh, he’s that western writer.” Yes, and no. He is an author of volumes of western books, but the quality of his writing is much better than expected. Yes, it is somewhat formulaic, and can be overly simplistic and the dialogue can be one dimensional and flat, but it can also be engrossing and easily entertaining.
Sometimes you don’t want a fancy meal followed by a depressingly thoughtful Russian play – you want beer and pizza and a rodeo.
Most thought provoking was L’Amour’s suggestion that Columbus was not by far the first European to come to the Americas and noted how peoples throughout time had migrated and moved around and fought and settled and moved again and so on. I am also again impressed with L’Amour’s sympathetic depiction of Native American tribes and his overall attribution of diverse characterization.
And there’s lots of swashbuckling action!
A fun, good read.
February 7, 2015
I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. I always had a negative impression of Louis L'Amour (completely unjustified) and Sackett's Land was somewhat of a stretch, with unbelievable twists and turns that tested my willingness to believe. The sequel was, so to speak, a different story.
To the Far Blue Mountains continues the story of Barnabas Sackett. He returns to England only to face continued problems with questionable English justice. Wanted by the law he is forced to return to the Americas sooner than he perhaps wanted to. What follows is nothing less than the story of the early English settlement of Virginia.
The sweeping scope of the story is told through the experiences of one man, Barnabas. He survives pirates, backstabbing and native war bands to carve out a life in the distant Blue Ridge Mountains - all before Jamestown. The story is told respectfully too, which I appreciate. The natives are not bad or savage, but people with their own traditions and understandings. Additionally, the author is pretty clear that Europeans of the 15th century did not "discover" America. Indeed, there are signs and hints dropped left and right that other people have been there before - the Vikings, the Irish, the Basques, the Bretons, the Chinese, and more.
Part of the appeal of this series (and I suspect I will read them all now) is that I like stories that follow a family or person through time. You get to feel like you know the characters. As a bonus, as it is following generations rather than a particular person the scope is much more epic. These stories give me, the reader, a first hand view into a time period of history that I don't know all that well. I appreciate that.
Finally, the fact that rascals and bad actors did not always get what was coming to them contributes to my enjoyment of the book. Sometimes, unfortunately, bad guys come out on top. That is realistic.
The book was not perfect. The 'mystical' elements of the story (e.g., Barnabas' mother's prophecy and the blood of Nial) drove me nuts. I like my historical fiction free of magic please. Additionally, it is impossible to shake the feeling that you are reading not just about history but a piece of history. The book was written in a very different America. There is no self-indulgent naval gazing where the main character doubts himself and his decisions. Sackett is a man. He is constantly making decisions and acting resolutely on those decisions. Pick up from England and start a new life in America? Done! Locked up in Newgate? No worries, go to America without me and I'll find you! Captured by pirates? Out fight them and steal their ship! I don't think a modern book could get away with this unconscious self-confidence. And, maybe, that's too bad.
Four and a half stars out of five, rounded down to four. These are unexpectedly good historical fiction. (Thanks to mom for recommending them!)
To the Far Blue Mountains continues the story of Barnabas Sackett. He returns to England only to face continued problems with questionable English justice. Wanted by the law he is forced to return to the Americas sooner than he perhaps wanted to. What follows is nothing less than the story of the early English settlement of Virginia.
The sweeping scope of the story is told through the experiences of one man, Barnabas. He survives pirates, backstabbing and native war bands to carve out a life in the distant Blue Ridge Mountains - all before Jamestown. The story is told respectfully too, which I appreciate. The natives are not bad or savage, but people with their own traditions and understandings. Additionally, the author is pretty clear that Europeans of the 15th century did not "discover" America. Indeed, there are signs and hints dropped left and right that other people have been there before - the Vikings, the Irish, the Basques, the Bretons, the Chinese, and more.
Part of the appeal of this series (and I suspect I will read them all now) is that I like stories that follow a family or person through time. You get to feel like you know the characters. As a bonus, as it is following generations rather than a particular person the scope is much more epic. These stories give me, the reader, a first hand view into a time period of history that I don't know all that well. I appreciate that.
Finally, the fact that rascals and bad actors did not always get what was coming to them contributes to my enjoyment of the book. Sometimes, unfortunately, bad guys come out on top. That is realistic.
The book was not perfect. The 'mystical' elements of the story (e.g., Barnabas' mother's prophecy and the blood of Nial) drove me nuts. I like my historical fiction free of magic please. Additionally, it is impossible to shake the feeling that you are reading not just about history but a piece of history. The book was written in a very different America. There is no self-indulgent naval gazing where the main character doubts himself and his decisions. Sackett is a man. He is constantly making decisions and acting resolutely on those decisions. Pick up from England and start a new life in America? Done! Locked up in Newgate? No worries, go to America without me and I'll find you! Captured by pirates? Out fight them and steal their ship! I don't think a modern book could get away with this unconscious self-confidence. And, maybe, that's too bad.
Four and a half stars out of five, rounded down to four. These are unexpectedly good historical fiction. (Thanks to mom for recommending them!)
April 14, 2021
L'Amour writes the archetypal hero adventure story. It's a bit hackneyed, but also kind of perfect. in this day of flawed heroes and muddied morals a pure hearted courageous hero is refreshing. Plus this hero shares my name, and that's pretty cool.
March 31, 2020
“The more one learns the more he understands his ignorance. I am simply an ignorant man, trying to lessen his ignorance.”
Louis L'Amour is known for writing Westerns and for his Sackett series. In Sackett's Land he introduced the patriarch, Barnabas Sackett. This story continues the story of Barnabas and how he emigrated to America. It takes place between 1600 - 1620. In the first book Barnabas had found some gold coins which he used to finance his trip to America. When this story opens he has returned to England on a trading mission only to learn that there is a warrant for his arrest. Queen Elizabeth believes that the coins he found were part of the lost crown jewels of King John.
He is arrested and thrown in prison. Of course he escapes and makes his way back to America where he marries Abigail Tempany. In the course of these events he finds that the mantle of leadership has been thrust upon him. First as captain of the ship he sailed and then as captain of the colony he establishes. Others look to him for answers and to solve any problem. Life was not easy. They were cut off from civilization, had to deal with pirates, Indian attacks. They had to hunt for their food and grow crops. Whatever they needed they had to make themselves. Throughout the story Barnabas was always looking west. To the far blue mountains and dreaming of what lay there.
This is an adventure story. Pirates. Indians. Sword fights. Throughout Barnabas prevailed, established a new colony, and started a family. Not a very believable story but fun to read. And made me think about how difficult it was at that time and what it took to start something new.
Louis L'Amour is known for writing Westerns and for his Sackett series. In Sackett's Land he introduced the patriarch, Barnabas Sackett. This story continues the story of Barnabas and how he emigrated to America. It takes place between 1600 - 1620. In the first book Barnabas had found some gold coins which he used to finance his trip to America. When this story opens he has returned to England on a trading mission only to learn that there is a warrant for his arrest. Queen Elizabeth believes that the coins he found were part of the lost crown jewels of King John.
He is arrested and thrown in prison. Of course he escapes and makes his way back to America where he marries Abigail Tempany. In the course of these events he finds that the mantle of leadership has been thrust upon him. First as captain of the ship he sailed and then as captain of the colony he establishes. Others look to him for answers and to solve any problem. Life was not easy. They were cut off from civilization, had to deal with pirates, Indian attacks. They had to hunt for their food and grow crops. Whatever they needed they had to make themselves. Throughout the story Barnabas was always looking west. To the far blue mountains and dreaming of what lay there.
This is an adventure story. Pirates. Indians. Sword fights. Throughout Barnabas prevailed, established a new colony, and started a family. Not a very believable story but fun to read. And made me think about how difficult it was at that time and what it took to start something new.
January 25, 2015
This was kind of a disappointment after the first. It has most of the same elements, and the same protagonist, but it's far more scattered with a wandering story and not much cohesion. In this one, Barnabas continues his determination to settle the new lands in America and to take his wife there where they'll have kids and crops and fights and stuff. That's more than a little crazy. L'Amour deals with that by not worrying about it, much. Which actually works, I think.
The problem is that lots of stuff happens, but it's all just stuff. This book felt like a string of campfire tales told on successive nights. Each tale is exciting on its own, but each is just that . . . on its own. So while Barnabas is fun to be with, I had a hard time engaging fully with the book. Indeed, I put it down for nearly a week and only came back because I intend to read the next and didn't want to miss anything important.
And here's the thing that doesn't work: there is no central narrative. There's no character arc as Barnabas did most of becoming who he is in the fist book. The central goal is mostly achieved in the middle of the book and from there it's pretty much about keeping what they've got. Which could have worked fine if there had been a central antagonist, but that didn't happen, either. Indeed, the biggest problem with the book is that the antagonists are kind of a blur with first one man and then another and another with some of them recurring, but none of them really of enough stature to challenge Barnabas for long. So I ended up feeling that the story was rather listless and that my attention was wandering because I had nothing much to care about.
So yeah, this one is weak. And on levels I'm a little surprised to see from L'Amour, who I generally consider a superb storyteller. Maybe that notion is left over from an unexamined youth, though, and unearned?
The problem is that lots of stuff happens, but it's all just stuff. This book felt like a string of campfire tales told on successive nights. Each tale is exciting on its own, but each is just that . . . on its own. So while Barnabas is fun to be with, I had a hard time engaging fully with the book. Indeed, I put it down for nearly a week and only came back because I intend to read the next and didn't want to miss anything important.
And here's the thing that doesn't work: there is no central narrative. There's no character arc as Barnabas did most of becoming who he is in the fist book. The central goal is mostly achieved in the middle of the book and from there it's pretty much about keeping what they've got. Which could have worked fine if there had been a central antagonist, but that didn't happen, either. Indeed, the biggest problem with the book is that the antagonists are kind of a blur with first one man and then another and another with some of them recurring, but none of them really of enough stature to challenge Barnabas for long. So I ended up feeling that the story was rather listless and that my attention was wandering because I had nothing much to care about.
So yeah, this one is weak. And on levels I'm a little surprised to see from L'Amour, who I generally consider a superb storyteller. Maybe that notion is left over from an unexamined youth, though, and unearned?
December 19, 2023
4.25 ...
A bit wordy at times,
but an exciting adventure, nonetheless! 😁
A bit wordy at times,
but an exciting adventure, nonetheless! 😁
November 17, 2012
..."There is game."
"Poaching?"
I smiled. "There are no lords there to bespeak the deer or the hare, William. There is enough for all."
I love this exchange between Barnabas Sackett, gonnabe American pioneer, and the man he's leaving behind to work his tiny plot of land in England's famous fens. Neither can believe that the other wants what he does. William is happy to cut rushes and grow what crops he can on the tillable bits of Barnabas' inheritance; Barnabas wants to be in on the ground floor of history's greatest Do-Over. It's a moment that all but sings with romance and makes the reader want to have been there to sail off with Barnabas, even though that reader knows that yesterday's frontier became today's suburban franchise ghetto and, while there is actually enough for all, the dream of all getting to share in it is far from realized.
But it's a great reminder, a book like this, that the American Experiment really was and still is one. People who knew what had become of hundreds and thousands of years of hereditary aristocracy and hierarchies that might as well have been castes wanted to try something different, but they had to make it up as they went along. And we still are, today. We may be disappointed that this country seems not to be living up to its early promise, but we set ourselves some pretty lofty goals, for which Plan A might not have been the best. Plan B? Plan C? Plan D? Plan E? The important thing is to keep trying.
But that's not what To the Far Blue Mountains is about, of course. All that experimentation is far in the future for America and the Sacketts. First, Barnabas has to gain a proper foothold on the continent and survive and have kids.* But even before that, he has to get out of England, where people in high places have come to think he is a very bad man (some even think he's hiding the Crown Jewels**, which they think he found with the gold coins that started him on his path to independence in Sackett's Land). Which is to say that Barnabas spends the first chunk of this novel (again) in what I like to call "Doctor Who jeopardy"***. There many, many novels after this one, and they're about his descendants, so we kind of know he's not going to be hanged or murdered or anything. Yawn.
Again, this is the stuff of Romance, not history or historical fiction, but fun nonetheless. Swirling capes and salutes, daring escapes, audacious seizures of ships -- all that's missing is D'Artagnan, really, but our Barnabas, so legendary that even weird old men in Welsh shacks know his name without an introduction, makes a pretty fair substitute.
And while he's got him a wife all picked out, the beautiful and tough Abigail (who fought off pirates off the coast of India when she was just 13, apparently), his female companion for a lot of the best bits of this novel would make him a fine match, too. Oh, if you don't love Lila, Abigail's maidservant who got left behind when Abigail and her father sailed for America but who bulls her way into chasing after her with Barnabas, you don't love strong women. Lila is physically imposing, plies a mean sword, cooks a fine supper on no notice and with whatever crap ingredients are on hand, and is fiercely loyal. If Barnabas is larger than life, and he certainly is that, Lila is even larger, a paragon of rough country virtue and can-do-it attitude.
It's a pity that she more or less disappears, for huge chunks of the novel, but this is Barnabas' story, and he's got a lot going on. Like fighting off pirates. Like fighting off the urge to become one himself. Like darting in and out of English ports under the noses of his enemies so he can sell the spars and furs and potash (oh my!) he has collected in the New World and buy clothing and beer and seed corn and whatnot. Like fighting some Indians and befriending others. Like building and rebuilding his fort in Virginia. Like impregnating his wife. Like scenery appreciation.
His is a fun ride on which to be along, and no mistake. Onward to the next book, soon, which appears to concern his first son, the improbably named Kin Ring Sackett.
*So far no plan for dynasty founding has succeeded by avoiding that step.
**Lost in a flash flood by King John's baggage train in the early 13th century.
***As in the way episodes of that show may dangle its title character over any number of cliffs but the fact that the show is his and that he is known to have many future incarnations makes any episodic endings in which he is in danger kind of laughable when one watches, say, Jon Pertwee's turn in the role back in the 1960s.
"Poaching?"
I smiled. "There are no lords there to bespeak the deer or the hare, William. There is enough for all."
I love this exchange between Barnabas Sackett, gonnabe American pioneer, and the man he's leaving behind to work his tiny plot of land in England's famous fens. Neither can believe that the other wants what he does. William is happy to cut rushes and grow what crops he can on the tillable bits of Barnabas' inheritance; Barnabas wants to be in on the ground floor of history's greatest Do-Over. It's a moment that all but sings with romance and makes the reader want to have been there to sail off with Barnabas, even though that reader knows that yesterday's frontier became today's suburban franchise ghetto and, while there is actually enough for all, the dream of all getting to share in it is far from realized.
But it's a great reminder, a book like this, that the American Experiment really was and still is one. People who knew what had become of hundreds and thousands of years of hereditary aristocracy and hierarchies that might as well have been castes wanted to try something different, but they had to make it up as they went along. And we still are, today. We may be disappointed that this country seems not to be living up to its early promise, but we set ourselves some pretty lofty goals, for which Plan A might not have been the best. Plan B? Plan C? Plan D? Plan E? The important thing is to keep trying.
But that's not what To the Far Blue Mountains is about, of course. All that experimentation is far in the future for America and the Sacketts. First, Barnabas has to gain a proper foothold on the continent and survive and have kids.* But even before that, he has to get out of England, where people in high places have come to think he is a very bad man (some even think he's hiding the Crown Jewels**, which they think he found with the gold coins that started him on his path to independence in Sackett's Land). Which is to say that Barnabas spends the first chunk of this novel (again) in what I like to call "Doctor Who jeopardy"***. There many, many novels after this one, and they're about his descendants, so we kind of know he's not going to be hanged or murdered or anything. Yawn.
Again, this is the stuff of Romance, not history or historical fiction, but fun nonetheless. Swirling capes and salutes, daring escapes, audacious seizures of ships -- all that's missing is D'Artagnan, really, but our Barnabas, so legendary that even weird old men in Welsh shacks know his name without an introduction, makes a pretty fair substitute.
And while he's got him a wife all picked out, the beautiful and tough Abigail (who fought off pirates off the coast of India when she was just 13, apparently), his female companion for a lot of the best bits of this novel would make him a fine match, too. Oh, if you don't love Lila, Abigail's maidservant who got left behind when Abigail and her father sailed for America but who bulls her way into chasing after her with Barnabas, you don't love strong women. Lila is physically imposing, plies a mean sword, cooks a fine supper on no notice and with whatever crap ingredients are on hand, and is fiercely loyal. If Barnabas is larger than life, and he certainly is that, Lila is even larger, a paragon of rough country virtue and can-do-it attitude.
It's a pity that she more or less disappears, for huge chunks of the novel, but this is Barnabas' story, and he's got a lot going on. Like fighting off pirates. Like fighting off the urge to become one himself. Like darting in and out of English ports under the noses of his enemies so he can sell the spars and furs and potash (oh my!) he has collected in the New World and buy clothing and beer and seed corn and whatnot. Like fighting some Indians and befriending others. Like building and rebuilding his fort in Virginia. Like impregnating his wife. Like scenery appreciation.
His is a fun ride on which to be along, and no mistake. Onward to the next book, soon, which appears to concern his first son, the improbably named Kin Ring Sackett.
*So far no plan for dynasty founding has succeeded by avoiding that step.
**Lost in a flash flood by King John's baggage train in the early 13th century.
***As in the way episodes of that show may dangle its title character over any number of cliffs but the fact that the show is his and that he is known to have many future incarnations makes any episodic endings in which he is in danger kind of laughable when one watches, say, Jon Pertwee's turn in the role back in the 1960s.
October 11, 2019
Much better continuation of the Sackett saga.
The start of the book is action packed, as we follow the prison break by Barnabas himself. Why he had himself arrested, is another question and he could have avoided it, in my humble opinion, but that's nor here, nor there.
He let his fiancee travel alone with her father to America (in the 1500's none the less) and promised her he would find her on the East Coast of the America when he gets out of prison. I command L'Amour for creating fierce, independent and intelligent female characters. It is definitely nice to see.
I learned quite a bit about seafaring, pirates, the colonization of America back in the late 1500's and early 1600's, which was definitely challenge on so many fronts.
Between the challenges of fending the elements, food shortages, things like alligators, and of course trying to figure out which tribes of the Native Americans were friendly and which ones tried to scalp you, the life of early settlers were definitely a bit too exciting. It took true grit, wit, smarts and hard work to live and to survive out there.
I enjoyed the stories of Barnabass Sackett, his wife Abby and the life and family they managed to forge in those days. With friends and family that shared their believes, their dreams and desires to live in an open land, actually own their piece of land and care for it.
The stories of these people were well researched and made me care for every single one of them.
The ending is very bitter sweet and I didn't see it coming, which was equally shocking, surprising and definitely something that I enjoy in the book - that it manages to surprise me and is anything but predictable.
The start of the book is action packed, as we follow the prison break by Barnabas himself. Why he had himself arrested, is another question and he could have avoided it, in my humble opinion, but that's nor here, nor there.
He let his fiancee travel alone with her father to America (in the 1500's none the less) and promised her he would find her on the East Coast of the America when he gets out of prison. I command L'Amour for creating fierce, independent and intelligent female characters. It is definitely nice to see.
I learned quite a bit about seafaring, pirates, the colonization of America back in the late 1500's and early 1600's, which was definitely challenge on so many fronts.
Between the challenges of fending the elements, food shortages, things like alligators, and of course trying to figure out which tribes of the Native Americans were friendly and which ones tried to scalp you, the life of early settlers were definitely a bit too exciting. It took true grit, wit, smarts and hard work to live and to survive out there.
I enjoyed the stories of Barnabass Sackett, his wife Abby and the life and family they managed to forge in those days. With friends and family that shared their believes, their dreams and desires to live in an open land, actually own their piece of land and care for it.
The stories of these people were well researched and made me care for every single one of them.
The ending is very bitter sweet and I didn't see it coming, which was equally shocking, surprising and definitely something that I enjoy in the book - that it manages to surprise me and is anything but predictable.
March 10, 2023
This second book about Barnabas Sackett was a lot of fun. But I commented to my husband a couple of times that L'Amour tosses his characters into one thrilling escapade after another so quickly that the reader really never has a chance to catch their breath between one set of heroics and the next. Each adventure that befalls Barnabas was cool, but the pacing didn't quite hit me the way I'd like.
Barnabas Sackett is a cool dude, though, and no mistake. You just can't keep him down. He refuses to be daunted. And I loved that. I also loved a new character in this one: Lila, the maid to Barabas's intended. She can swordfight and shoot a rifle, ride a horse all day and all night, cook so well that men will mutiny on her behalf, and is generally a completely awesome person. I wish there was a book about her all on her own, because I bet it would be a roaringly good time.
Barnabas Sackett is a cool dude, though, and no mistake. You just can't keep him down. He refuses to be daunted. And I loved that. I also loved a new character in this one: Lila, the maid to Barabas's intended. She can swordfight and shoot a rifle, ride a horse all day and all night, cook so well that men will mutiny on her behalf, and is generally a completely awesome person. I wish there was a book about her all on her own, because I bet it would be a roaringly good time.
December 9, 2022
Loved it! I am liking how Louis brings the history of whites here earlier than old Christopher...
October 25, 2021
If you love historical fiction and independent and adventurous people, you’ll love the Sacketts. Great descriptions that made the earliest of European migration to the US come alive. Characters that are tough and admirable, tender and ABLE.
April 8, 2023
Louis L'Amour was a real storyteller! He captures your attention from the beginning and doesn't let go, even at the end, at which point you hurriedly check the library for the next in the Sackett saga to be put on hold.
In this the second Sackett book, Barnabas Sackett has returned to England from a brief trip to the untamed shores of America only to discover that the Queen's warrant for his arrest makes England an exceptionally dangerous place to be. He must sell his cargo, buy what he needs for the return voyage, and leave England, all with the Queen's officers (and everyone else) chasing him, ready to string him up.
This is swashbuckling adventure, plenty of suspense, and some really great writing. And the story is well told of the type of larger-than-life men who tamed and settled our eastern seaboard, and once it was too tame and too settled for these wild and free spirits, moved west, always west, to the far blue mountains.
In this the second Sackett book, Barnabas Sackett has returned to England from a brief trip to the untamed shores of America only to discover that the Queen's warrant for his arrest makes England an exceptionally dangerous place to be. He must sell his cargo, buy what he needs for the return voyage, and leave England, all with the Queen's officers (and everyone else) chasing him, ready to string him up.
This is swashbuckling adventure, plenty of suspense, and some really great writing. And the story is well told of the type of larger-than-life men who tamed and settled our eastern seaboard, and once it was too tame and too settled for these wild and free spirits, moved west, always west, to the far blue mountains.
July 13, 2024
The establishment of the Sackett family. Barnabas and Abby have four sons and a daughter. The adventures continue with the building of settlements and their battle with the wilderness, Indians and pirates. Barnaby is still wanted by the English but manages to escape several times!
His escape from Newgate and with Lydia a trip through Wales. The taking of ships, surviving and reuniting with Abby and the others is epic. Yes it’s all a bit fantastical but captures the imagination and it’s nice to have a moral hero who survives against the odds.
The ending was magnificent and expected.
His escape from Newgate and with Lydia a trip through Wales. The taking of ships, surviving and reuniting with Abby and the others is epic. Yes it’s all a bit fantastical but captures the imagination and it’s nice to have a moral hero who survives against the odds.
The ending was magnificent and expected.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2016
The continuing adventures of Barnabas, founder of the American Sacketts, L'Amour's most famous family saga. Still more of a swashbuckler than a western. I think I liked it better than the first book, but Barnabas was still too arrogant, too sure of his destiny, too skilled in things the reader had no idea he knew about.
It was frustrating how Barnabas kept exposing himself to his enemies, almost as if L'Amour was just trying to pad out a much shorter story by working in near-captures and daring escapes.
I'll give this series one more chance with a book actually set in the Old West, but if it doesn't get better I'm done with the series, and likely with L'Amour. I much prefer the storytelling of Johnny Quarles and David R. Lewis.
It was frustrating how Barnabas kept exposing himself to his enemies, almost as if L'Amour was just trying to pad out a much shorter story by working in near-captures and daring escapes.
I'll give this series one more chance with a book actually set in the Old West, but if it doesn't get better I'm done with the series, and likely with L'Amour. I much prefer the storytelling of Johnny Quarles and David R. Lewis.
September 25, 2020
highly entertaining sequel to Sacketts Land. Some sequels fail to exceed expectations, this book is a notable exception in that it continues the story of Barnabas Sackett escaping England to establish a family in the wilds of early America circa 1600. An epic frontier tale told over 18 books by a truly gifted storyteller. It reminded me of the those heroic novels highlighting the American spirit that so enthralled me as a teenager.
August 3, 2017
As a teenager, I was completely hooked on L'Amour's multi-generational SACKETT saga. More recently, I was struck by the desire to read this series in proper order.
The first book is called SACKETT'S LAND, and it tells the story of Sackett clan patriarch, Barnabas Sackett, as he journeys from England all the way to the New World and back again.
The first issue I had with SACKETT'S LAND was that it sucked. The second issue was, this being a family saga about the taming of the American frontier, WHY IN THE NAME OF LADY GAGA did L'Amour choose to end the book with Barnabas Sackett returning back to England?!
This is problematic for two reasons. One, it means that book #2 is forced to rehash the same basic plot of Barnabas Sackett trying to reach America while being chased around by people who want to hurt him. Two, Louis L'Amour can't write authentic sounding British dialog worth a damn. Every time a character speaks, I feel like cringing. That's not to say L'Amour is a bad writer; he just really needs to stick with American characters.
After SACKETT'S LAND, I would have been happy to just skip over TO THE FAR BLUE MOUNTAINS in it's entirety, but I'd already bought the three-volume omnibus edition and felt like I had to try to get my money's worth.
Unfortunately, I had to give up on this book a third of the way through. It simply failed to engage me in any way whatsoever. In addition to the bad dialog and repetitive story line, none of what was happening felt even remotely believable. Now, I don't mind far-fetched stories when they are specifically designed as such and don't take themselves too seriously (i.e. John Carter, Flash Gordon, Alien vs. Predator, etc.), however, TO THE FAR BLUE MOUNTAINS is packed with historical references and down-home wisdom and was obviously meant to be regarded as something more than your typical pulp novel. And yet, everything about it feels phony and contrived. For example, when Barnabas Sackett gets thrown in prison, OF COURSE the walls have eroded enough that he can dislodge the bars simply by scraping around them with a lockpick (instead of just picking the damn lock, which would be far more realistic). And when he needs a ride to America, OF COURSE he is able to commandeer a pirate ship simply by besting its drunken captain in hand-to-hand combat.
Those are just two random examples of how lazy this book is. And I say that as someone who genuinely enjoys and respects L'Amour's work for the most part.
Anyway, my Sackett omnibus edition (vol. 1) will doubtlessly find its way into the next family yard sale. I haven't given up on this series as a whole, but I want nothing further to do with L'Amour stories set overseas.
The first book is called SACKETT'S LAND, and it tells the story of Sackett clan patriarch, Barnabas Sackett, as he journeys from England all the way to the New World and back again.
The first issue I had with SACKETT'S LAND was that it sucked. The second issue was, this being a family saga about the taming of the American frontier, WHY IN THE NAME OF LADY GAGA did L'Amour choose to end the book with Barnabas Sackett returning back to England?!
This is problematic for two reasons. One, it means that book #2 is forced to rehash the same basic plot of Barnabas Sackett trying to reach America while being chased around by people who want to hurt him. Two, Louis L'Amour can't write authentic sounding British dialog worth a damn. Every time a character speaks, I feel like cringing. That's not to say L'Amour is a bad writer; he just really needs to stick with American characters.
After SACKETT'S LAND, I would have been happy to just skip over TO THE FAR BLUE MOUNTAINS in it's entirety, but I'd already bought the three-volume omnibus edition and felt like I had to try to get my money's worth.
Unfortunately, I had to give up on this book a third of the way through. It simply failed to engage me in any way whatsoever. In addition to the bad dialog and repetitive story line, none of what was happening felt even remotely believable. Now, I don't mind far-fetched stories when they are specifically designed as such and don't take themselves too seriously (i.e. John Carter, Flash Gordon, Alien vs. Predator, etc.), however, TO THE FAR BLUE MOUNTAINS is packed with historical references and down-home wisdom and was obviously meant to be regarded as something more than your typical pulp novel. And yet, everything about it feels phony and contrived. For example, when Barnabas Sackett gets thrown in prison, OF COURSE the walls have eroded enough that he can dislodge the bars simply by scraping around them with a lockpick (instead of just picking the damn lock, which would be far more realistic). And when he needs a ride to America, OF COURSE he is able to commandeer a pirate ship simply by besting its drunken captain in hand-to-hand combat.
Those are just two random examples of how lazy this book is. And I say that as someone who genuinely enjoys and respects L'Amour's work for the most part.
Anyway, my Sackett omnibus edition (vol. 1) will doubtlessly find its way into the next family yard sale. I haven't given up on this series as a whole, but I want nothing further to do with L'Amour stories set overseas.
October 3, 2018
Fantastic read!
I've always enjoyed L'Amour's books, but this one seemed exceptionally good! It's more than a story - it's filled with history and statements that make you think. The detail he includes about historical events and places is fascinating! The author gives a vivid depiction of what it must have felt like to arrive in a new, untamed country. Truly a fascinating book! I also appreciated the fact that it was a clean book and suitable even for my 12 year old son.
I've always enjoyed L'Amour's books, but this one seemed exceptionally good! It's more than a story - it's filled with history and statements that make you think. The detail he includes about historical events and places is fascinating! The author gives a vivid depiction of what it must have felt like to arrive in a new, untamed country. Truly a fascinating book! I also appreciated the fact that it was a clean book and suitable even for my 12 year old son.
December 28, 2022
Glad I came back for the second book, because this one really grabbed me. My ears really perked up when Sackett and company encountered a Catawba Indian. Catawba County, N.C., is the epicenter of all Bosts in America, so the story seemed suddenly to be very much in my world.
Narrator continued to satisfy, credibly performing a variety of accents.
Narrator continued to satisfy, credibly performing a variety of accents.
September 3, 2014
About a fourth of the way into this book I'm enjoying John Curless's narration but am tired of Barnaby being on the run from the Queen's men. What interested me in this series in the first place was the exploration of the New World. There's a good deal of speechifying about how grand it'll be to live there, see the other side of those mountains, and raise a strong family ... but I begin to despair he'll ever get out of England. Barnaby's time in the New World was my favorite part of the first book and I'm looking forward to him finally getting there and moving the story along.
FINAL
Obviously, for me L'Amour is someone whose short stories shine and whose novels just don't work. At least in both the first two Sackett novels there just isn't enough "there" there. Oh there is fighting and traveling and adventuring and swashing and buckling. But it feels like "don't bore us, get to the chorus" ... not enough else going on.
I'm not writing off all his novels yet. I have several audiobooks coming from the library to try which are Westerns. I realize the Sackett novels just may not be for me. We'll see ...
FINAL
Obviously, for me L'Amour is someone whose short stories shine and whose novels just don't work. At least in both the first two Sackett novels there just isn't enough "there" there. Oh there is fighting and traveling and adventuring and swashing and buckling. But it feels like "don't bore us, get to the chorus" ... not enough else going on.
I'm not writing off all his novels yet. I have several audiobooks coming from the library to try which are Westerns. I realize the Sackett novels just may not be for me. We'll see ...
October 15, 2022
I read this 17 or 18 years ago, and finally took it up again today. I'm glad I did; I can see why this is a beloved Louis L'Amour favourite!
Somewhat unlike the tight plots composed of sharp prose and quick action that you typically find in Louis L'Amour books, To the Far Blue Mountains is a wandering tale. The story progresses at a relatively relaxed pace (with bursts of action of course), and without a particularly clear central conflict. Rather than detract from the book though, the meandering story serves to build the book's central theme; Namely, the intangible yearning for adventure, freedom, and the unknown.
If you want a story about the adventure one man faces as he tries to establish a life and family in the unknown wilderness of a foreign land, a story full of swords, boats, muskets and canons, then I highly recommend you read To the Far Blue Mountains by Louis L'Amour.
Somewhat unlike the tight plots composed of sharp prose and quick action that you typically find in Louis L'Amour books, To the Far Blue Mountains is a wandering tale. The story progresses at a relatively relaxed pace (with bursts of action of course), and without a particularly clear central conflict. Rather than detract from the book though, the meandering story serves to build the book's central theme; Namely, the intangible yearning for adventure, freedom, and the unknown.
If you want a story about the adventure one man faces as he tries to establish a life and family in the unknown wilderness of a foreign land, a story full of swords, boats, muskets and canons, then I highly recommend you read To the Far Blue Mountains by Louis L'Amour.
September 26, 2021
I finally read a Louis L'Amour after camping in his hometown three or four times. So I get his appeal, but it was a boring read, predictable and cliche often enough, very shallow characterization and plot development. But man was this guy prolific. If you love westerns, I can see just loving the short quick adventure L'Amour provides. I will probably attempt another of his books at a later time. . . maybe in a few years.
January 16, 2022
This is my second read of the L'amour masterpiece as I decided to read the entire Sackett Saga. L'amour has the uncanny abilty to transport you through time and space and let you totally immerse yourself in his stories.
Barnabas Sackett is the kinda guy I aim to be. Honest, noble, trustworthy, faithful and best of all, an adventurer. I cant wait to see the generation of Sacketts that sprung from the great man and from the mind of Louis L'amour
Barnabas Sackett is the kinda guy I aim to be. Honest, noble, trustworthy, faithful and best of all, an adventurer. I cant wait to see the generation of Sacketts that sprung from the great man and from the mind of Louis L'amour
March 6, 2017
I enjoyed this book, even as it drove me buggy. Barnabus spends most of the book seeking the far blue mountains...and going everywhere else for most of it. Stuff for him is also a little too easy while doing so, but it's still a good story. I don't like the ending, even as I was expecting it having read the book previously. Still upsets me, but it was handled well and in an interesting fashion to close the book. Well worth your time.
June 23, 2022
I never would have imagined that I love Louis L’Amour books. He is a great author. This book is full of action, grit, manly men that know who they are and are proud to be men. It also has tender moments. Definitely will continue the series and will be looking for the hardback copies so my children can read them as well.
October 23, 2021
This is the great story of Barnabas Sackett, patriarch and founder of the Sackett's in the United States. It is also the foundation of the treasury of books concerning the family by Louis L'Amour. Everyone should read this series.
October 29, 2022
L'Amour is a good storyteller. When I finished the book I did yell "common man, you're kidding me!" Not going to give a spoiler but it wasn't exactly what I was expecting. I didn't realize this was book two in a series and read it first. It didn't seem to change the flow of the story though.
February 5, 2025
This is the first time I've re-read the second book of the Sackett family. (I can't say second installment because this title actually came fairly late in the L'Amour's career.) At this point, L'Amour often seemed to be wanting to come across as a more "serious" author. This title was originally released in hardcover, rather than paperback like most of his titles.
It's the contiuation of the how the Sackett family arrived here in America. Barnabas arrives back in the England only to find the Queen's warrant for his arrest has not be rescinded, but rather stepped up, as it were. People believe he's found the Crown Jewels of King John. Which means America is the only place for him.
I think my biggest problem is that L'Amour tries so hard to present himself as a "serious" historical writer that he throws in too much: Barnabas is imprisoned in Newgate Prison, his mother the Sight (also known as the Gift), which leads us to a rather pointless dangerous return back to England and a battle in the Irish town of Kinsale.
I think a lot of the pages dedicated to those things could have been better used focusing more on things here on this side of the pond.
Having said all that, I did cry at the end of the book because Barnabas had become such a loved character to me.
It's the contiuation of the how the Sackett family arrived here in America. Barnabas arrives back in the England only to find the Queen's warrant for his arrest has not be rescinded, but rather stepped up, as it were. People believe he's found the Crown Jewels of King John. Which means America is the only place for him.
I think my biggest problem is that L'Amour tries so hard to present himself as a "serious" historical writer that he throws in too much: Barnabas is imprisoned in Newgate Prison, his mother the Sight (also known as the Gift), which leads us to a rather pointless dangerous return back to England and a battle in the Irish town of Kinsale.
I think a lot of the pages dedicated to those things could have been better used focusing more on things here on this side of the pond.
Having said all that, I did cry at the end of the book because Barnabas had become such a loved character to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2020
(Book 2)
Setting: Fenland of England and the New World
Characters:
Barnabas Sackett, patriarch to all the following Sacketts
Abigail Tempany Sackett - his wife
Kin, Yance, Jubal, Brian and Noelle Sackett - Their children
Black Tom Walkins, Peter Tallis, Brian Tempany, Sakim, Pimmerton "Pim" Burke, Jeremy Ring. All very good friends.
Nick Bardle hunting Barnabas
This is the history of the first Sacketts of the new world, beginning with the patriarch, Barnabas. In England he was hunted by the queen and a whole host of people because it was believed he came into the possession of the Crown Jewels. He needed to get a ship to the new world or be tortured in Newgate prison.
Most of the book is told by Barnabas as he settled in his new country, always trying to survive the Indians, those who hunted him, and carve out a living for his family and the men who followed him.
He was a survivor and a tough man, but anyone who knew him would trust him with their life. He was much loved.
As always, this L’Amour book was well researched with rich history and stunning descriptions.
Setting: Fenland of England and the New World
Characters:
Barnabas Sackett, patriarch to all the following Sacketts
Abigail Tempany Sackett - his wife
Kin, Yance, Jubal, Brian and Noelle Sackett - Their children
Black Tom Walkins, Peter Tallis, Brian Tempany, Sakim, Pimmerton "Pim" Burke, Jeremy Ring. All very good friends.
Nick Bardle hunting Barnabas
This is the history of the first Sacketts of the new world, beginning with the patriarch, Barnabas. In England he was hunted by the queen and a whole host of people because it was believed he came into the possession of the Crown Jewels. He needed to get a ship to the new world or be tortured in Newgate prison.
Most of the book is told by Barnabas as he settled in his new country, always trying to survive the Indians, those who hunted him, and carve out a living for his family and the men who followed him.
He was a survivor and a tough man, but anyone who knew him would trust him with their life. He was much loved.
As always, this L’Amour book was well researched with rich history and stunning descriptions.
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