Sackett's Land
The Sacketts, Book 1
By: Louis L'Amour
Narrated by: John Curless
Series: The Sacketts, Book 1
Length: 5 hrs and 14 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 12-15-99
Language: English
Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio
Genre: Historical Fiction, Western Fiction
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
Publisher's Summary
After discovering six gold Roman coins buried in the mud of the Devil's Dyke, Barnabas Sackett enthusiastically invests in goods that he will offer for trade in America. But Sackett has a powerful enemy: Rupert Genester, nephew of an earl, wants him dead. A battlefield promise made to Sackett’s father threatens Genester’s inheritance. So on the eve of his departure for America, Sackett is attacked and thrown into the hold of a pirate ship. Genester's orders are for him to disappear into the waters of the Atlantic. But after managing to escape, Sackett makes his way to the Carolina coast. He sees in the raw, abundant land the promise of a bright future. But before that dream can be realized, he must first return to England and discover the secret of his father's legacy.
Don't miss other titles in The Sacketts series.
©1974 Louis L'Amour (P)2010 Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio
Review:
As a man of the Fens in 1599, Barnabas Sackett, doesn’t have a lot of opportunities to advance himself. His life changes when he discovers six gold Roman coins buried in the mud. Barnabas plans to sell the coins for goods to trade in America. Before he can get to the ship, Barnabas stumbles into a man who becomes a powerful enemy. Barnabas doesn’t know Rupert Genester, but Rupert’s uncle, a wealthy earl, has a special interest in Barnabas and Rupert views Barnabas as a threat.
Barnabas has made a couple of friends who have agreed to tie their fortunes with their interesting new friend. The goods and friends have boarded the ship when Barnabas is highjacked by a ‘pirate’, black-hearted captain.
Barnabas survives and escapes, with the help of two new friends, to the unknown (Carolina) American shores. Now they must survive the natives and hope they can begin the trading opportunities Barnabas seeks. Barnabas hopes his friends on the firsts ship will find him before the evil captain manages to track and kill him. Barnabas finds himself having to escape one near-death situation after another.
I loved Barnabas’ feisty intelligence and determination to make his own way rather than accept a possible boon. I have read works by Louis L'Amour and have always thought of him as a great storyteller of westerns. This wonderful adventure shows he is a great storyteller creating likable characters and adventures in other times and places. It appears there is a long line in this series which will follow Barnabas to America and eventually follow his heirs as they make their way in the ‘new world’. I recommend this to fans of strong characters who survive exploring adventures.
Audio Notes: I totally enjoyed the narration by John Curless. The English accents are wonderfully rich and kept me turning this on whenever I could. I would love to listen to more.
(I am a little sorry that the sequels are priced in the midteens which is the range I hesitate to use my credits on. Still, I have added book 2 to my Wish List and will be glad to pull it when I need another fun adventure.)
Source: 2003 Audible title. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019Audiobook goals.
