Forty Lashes Less One

Forty Lashes Less One is the kind of book that hooks you from the start. It's the semi-old west (1909) but with more grit and true tone than you can find in most other gun totin' tales. But then what can you expect from Elmore Leonard who gave us Valdez is Coming, 3:10 to Yuma, Hombre, The Tonto Woman and so many other good westerns? For any of those high brow readers out there who think that westerns are beneath them then it might be worthwhile if they stuck their noses in a Leonard western if only to find out what good writing should and can be.

I've read all of the author's other books, except the westerns. "Hombre" and "Valdez" are among my favorite movies. So I confess, I blew it. But that means I have more good stuff to read. This work sounds as relevant today as when written in the early 50's. Race, religion, crime and punishment. And Elmore. Buy it.

Though written over 20 years ago, this Leonard novel crackles with crisp ,lively characters that made the old west, young, raw and exciting. It is an easy and entertaining read...

I have gotten hooked on Leonard's earlier works. His sense of timing and character development are excellent. He is a great story teller. His subject matter is always plausible. He takes average everyday people and makes them interesting characters.

Forty Lashes Less One is a great story. Two prisoners, Chiricahua Raymond San Carlos and a black man Harold Jackson are in Yuma prison for murder. At first they are bitter enemies but the warden puts them in an experiment to see if a training routine of long distance running can be used for rehabilatation. And then the warden sends them after 5 mean dangerous men. The trail is rough and bloody but they are sucessfull. As soon as they bring these men in they tell the warden to kiss !!! . A great story, you'll love it.