The Walking Drum

Arrived quickly in good quality. Despite a slightly annoying main character, there is an uncommon depth to this novel. And the main character does mature by the end of the book, so there's a happy ending. win-win.

We love Louis L'Amour books and have never had a dull moment reading them in all the books we've read!

The classic L'Amour novel, unlike anything he's ever done before or since. For those who dismiss L'Amour as being a mere western writer this great book will change forever your opinion of him. It's filled with engaging charactors, facinating detail, and some of the best writing this wordsmith ever commited to paper. My only gripe is this; Back in the sixties when this book was first proposed L'Amour was faced with such resistance by his publisher that he shelved it for more than a decade. Originally it was to be the first book in a trilogy that would continue Kerbauchard's adventures. Unfortunatly L'Amour went on to that ranch in the heavens before he could do it. Still we have this one.

One word to sum up this book. Addictive. Totally, completely, amazingly addictive. I was up till 1:00 am because I HAD TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED NEXT! It just gets better with each reading. The period detail is fantastic. History teachers could certainly pick worse assignments although be warned, you may stand up your prom date because as stated before this book is impossible to put down!Read it if you love any of the following:History cool characters Love Swashbuckling Funny dialogue Fiendish villains (The guy at the end gets the prize as nastiest villain of ALL TIME)Read it, you will never regret it although your prom date might.

WELL, I WAS IN STATE PRISON AND I CAN TELL YOU. THAT THIS BOOK IS VERY EDUCANTIAL AND EVERY TEENAGER SHOULD READ THIS BOOK. ME AND ABOUT 1500 PRISONERS TREASURED THIS BOOK. IT WAS THE BEST, EVERY BODY HAD TO SIGN A LIST, AND WAIT IN ORDER LIKE GROWN MEN. THANK YOU.

I was given this book for my twelveth birthday, and since then I have read it at least once a year. As a history major, I love to find books that reflect the truth of history in a beautiful and realistic way. Kerbouchard is a truly renaissance man who is on a quest to find his father, who may or may not be dead. In this quest, he travels mideval Europe, from the Christian lands of France to the Muslim lands of Spain and East to the steeps of Russia. What amazed me when I read this was that the middle ages were only the dark ages for western Europe; the Muslim lands were bright and alive and unoppressive. Kerbouchard's philosophy in life of learning for learning's sake is one I have adopted in my own travels through life.

The Walking Drum is the first historical fiction book that I've read. I was very impressed. I had read other books by L'Amour (the westerns), but decided they weren't my thing. When a friend recomended "The Walking Drum" to me, well... I cringed. But I eventually acted on faith. I am now a beliver. The great adventures of Kerbourchard kept me in suspence all the way through. I would finish a chapter, and be too excited to see whay happened next to sleep! Mr. L'Amour did an excellent job fleshing out the charecters as well as setting the scenes and moods. I enjoyed his attenton to detail, especially: the correct foods and titles of nobility. Geographical references were also a plus. I was able to trace in my head where Kerbouchard was traveling- enjoying the ride along. I would recomend this book to anyone interested in culture, history, fiction and fantasy. Excelent!