Bendigo Shafter: A Novel Paperback – January 5, 1999

This story covers so many angles flawlessly. From coming of age, trailcraft, and the small mindedness of people. I especially like the reading list as Bendigo trains his mind.I think it's the best L'Amour I've read, and I've read a lot.

Came as described and in a timely manner

Many, many years ago, I discovered Louis L'Amour. Being a western nut, I started with what I thought was his first novel and read them all, finishing up with the Sackett family exploits. I have on video the Sackett mini-series that I still watch from time to time and I used to have 'Conagher' somewhere. Several weeks ago, I was in my Kindle store and searched for L'Amour. There as I looked over familiar titles with familiar characters, my eyes landed on the novel "Bendigo Shafter'. No bell rang in my head. I started reading the information provided and discovered I had not read this book. I downloaded it to my Kindle and Kindle app on my iPad and began to read. If this isn't the first book in the series, it should be. All the other stories flow from the background this novel sets out. In the L'Amour western books there are just a few that stand out as incredible reads. "The Walking Drum", "Haunted Mesa" and "The Lonesome Gods are three. "Bendigo Shafter" should probably be at the top. If you have read this review this far, and you start reading Louis L'Amour's westerns and like them, then PLEASE read the Sackett series separately. They are fantastic in themselves. You'll know them all before you are through. One more thing, please remember to thank God for all of the teachers and other folks who taught you how to read, and for the imagination He has blessed you with that lets words on a page transport you back in time to feel the heat of the desert wind, and the fear of being pursued by an unknown danger. Thanks. - joel

Great Book. Great story from a master story-teller of the Old West. One of Louis L'Amour's lengthier novels that is a little bit different of a storyline from most of his earlier, shorter books. Really develops the characters and through them highlights the wonders and hardships faced by the people who headed west for a better life and new opportunities in an untamed land.

I had not read a L'Amour novel in nearly 25 years, but remembering how much I enjoyed other works by the late author I got the Kindle edition of this book. It was a great read. L'Amour wrote in such a descriptive way that you can picture the characters and scenery as if you are watching it unfold on the big screen. For pure enjoyment pick up a L'Amour novel from the library or through Amazon. If you are not into Western style stories, why not try "The Last of the Breed" for an adventure that will make you reluctant to put the book down until you get to the final word. Bendigo was more than a western. It was a story of the coming of age in the life of a boy becoming a man.

I have read about 30 of L'LAMOUR'S books and so far I think that this is his best. It has action and philosophy throughout.

This is a story set in the old West but it it isn't really a Western. It might be a coming of age story, except it is more than that. Bendigo Shafter, the central figure, narrates this tale of an interrupted wagon train voyage and how these pioneers forged a community from the strengths they brought with them and the materials at hand. From the hardships of the first winter to the gradual building of a new town and a young man's mind and maturity to the caresses of L'Amour's obvious deep love for the country itself... More than most of his books this one made me want to wander over to his place to talk about these folks over some campfire coffee.One measure of a good story is how well you remember who was in the story. Bendigo Shafter (both the story and the man) will be with me a long time.A bonus for fans of the Sacketts -- a seemingly peripheral Sackett is actually central to the success of the tale.This is a story I am going to be chewing on for quite some time to come.

The novels of Louis L'Amour don't hold the place in popular culture that they did while he was still alive and publishing, but sometimes I find myself compelled to reread some of those Westerns and historical novels that I found so exciting in my youth. With a more critical eye, I can see that most of these stories were not great works of literature - some were just pulp fiction written for L'Amour to make a living as a writer. But I have good memories of some of his later works, especially the longer novels, where Louis L'Amour invested his characters with so much of his own mind and heart."Bendigo Shafter" is one of these - a large-scale story of a young man's coming of age, traveling west to shape the land, and, in turn, being shaped by it. It is filled with all the better qualities of L'Amour's writing - stirring narratives, a love of the land, and a hero with a wandering soul. Yet it also has, in full, the weaknesses which often mar his westerns. If Bendigo has a flaw as a character, it is that he has no flaws. He is virtuous in all respects, and never seems to question the rightness of his actions. Though we enjoy following his adventures, we cannot fully identify with him. It is easy to see a character as heroic when he achieves great things; but true heroism is more subtle, arising from victories, and sometimes failures, in the personal struggles which threaten to weigh you down. In this sense, secondary characters like Cain (who denies his attraction to the widow Macken) and Webb (who always seems on the verge of giving in to his dark side) are far more interesting characters. And, though the novel is filled with the sense of Bendigo's hopes for the future, it's a shame that L'Amour didn't return to the character in a later story to let us know whether he achieved his potential.Since Kindle users will want to know about this aspect, I'll say that I have no complaints about the Kindle format - the presentation was clear, and there were no obvious errors.

Every Louis L'Amour book I have read (and I have read most of them!) is well written, and impeccably researched. Yes the stories are basically the same and the lead characters are, pretty much, interchangeable, but is that such a bad thing? The basic structure works and there is a lot to be said for that.What makes these books for me is the background, the fact that Mr. L'Amour has walked, ridden and climbed the same places his characters have makes the books for me. I love a book that can teach me something and all of these do that, if only in Geography.So, if you like your stories heroic, your action rip-roaring and you don't mind your characters somewhat two-dimensional and you romance platonic, sit back & enjoy the ride ... I know I will.

I have been a fan of Louis L’Amour since my grandpa read them back in the 70s.Now a grandpa myself I still thoroughly enjoy his story telling skills. The development of the characters, the structure to the story, the reference to places and people’s you can connect with!Bendigo Shafter to me, ranks in his top ten. Over the last 30 years it’s probably the 3rd time I’ve read and completely enjoyed it.Well done Mr L’Amour...your legacy lives on!

Another well written and very interesting story by L'Amour. Told in first person by a raw 17yr old settler who is part of a group of settlers who stop along the trail and remain to build a new town. The unfolding of how the town gradually takes shape is absorbing.As usual L'Amour writes in detail of the countryside,Indian/white man relationship as well as so many bits of info about life on the trail. The characters are so well drawn that one can imagine them in detail.

Once I adjusted to the writing style I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I always like a good Western and Louis L’ Amour certainly knew his subject. The story provides a great insight into the ordeals that the early Settlers experienced.

A gripping start to finish couldnt put it down as of all the louis lamore books