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Bendigo Shafter

Book 13 in the series:Louis L'Amour's Lost Treasures

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In Bendigo Shafter, readers are taken on a journey of a boy growing into manhood, shouldering responsibilities, and becoming a well-respected member of his community. The novel follows Bendigo's experiences in helping create a town with a solid foundation, where weak and strong individuals stand together against various challenges like blizzards, outlaw raids, and invasions. The story is told in a thoughtful manner, from Bendigo's point of view, as he travels west with his family to set up a new town in the wilderness. The book captures the essence of survival in the wild, house building, tree harvesting, and various other aspects of frontier life.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed and diverse, with Bendigo showing remarkable maturity and leadership, while supporting characters add depth and represent various backgrounds.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by elaborate, descriptive language with thoughtful reflection and a Homeric quality, offering insight through Bendigo's first-person perspective.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers on Bendigo Shafter's experiences as he aids in founding a new community in the rugged Wyoming mountains, facing various challenges while growing from a teenager into a responsible man.

Setting:

The setting is in the Wyoming wilderness during the westward expansion, highlighting the struggles of early settlers in a challenging environment.

Pacing:

The pacing is more measured compared to typical westerns, offering a better focus on character and community development, albeit at a longer length.
“Their mother was a fine girl, a very fine one.” He looked up at me. “I knew her before. Long ago. She was ill. In very bad shape. So was the boy. I knew they had people in New Orleans, and if I could...

Notes:

Bendigo Shafter is part of Louis L'Amour's extensive collection of Western novels.
The story follows young Bendigo Shafter as he helps establish a settlement in Wyoming.
Bendigo is helped by widow Ruth Macken, who provides him with education and support.
The community faces harsh winters, limited food, and threats from outsiders.
Bendigo rescues a stranded girl in a cave, later realizing she is an actress and his love.
The novel explores themes of community, survival, and personal growth.
It's noted for its descriptive writing style, providing vivid imagery of characters and scenery.
The story includes interactions with Native Americans and highlights their complexities.
The book addresses the transition of settlers from strangers to a cohesive community.
The main character undergoes a coming-of-age journey amidst the challenges of pioneer life.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance in the story, particularly in Bendigo's relationship with the actress Ninon.

From The Publisher:

At what point does a group of strangers become a community?

When young Bendigo Shafter and a ragtag bunch of travelers settle in the rugged Wyoming mountains, they quickly come to depend on a toughness and wisdom many of them never knew they possessed. Led by the beautiful and resourceful widow Ruth Macken, the settlers battle harsh winters, renegade opportunists, and the destructive lure of gold. Through these brutally demanding experiences, young Bendigo is forged into a man. But when he travels to New York to reclaim the love of Ninon, his childhood sweetheart, Bendigo is faced with new challenges. Will hard-edged instincts, honed from years in the mountains, serve him in the big city? Does Ninon's heart belong to the lights and glamour of the theater? And if his destiny deems it so, will he be willing to leave the community he toiled so long and hard to build?

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About the Author:

Our foremost storyteller of the American West, Louis L'Amour has thrilled a nation by chronicling the adventures of the brave men and woman who settled the frontier. There are more than three hundred million copies of his books in print around the world.

 
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