Nov 09 2008
The Beauty of Nature in The Daybreakers by Louis L’amour
Part of the appeal of The Daybreakers and indeed many of Louis L’amour’s works is the wonderful description of the natural world.
“If I live to be a thousand years old I shall not forge the wonder and beauty of those big longhorns, the sun glinting on their horns…” (The Daybreakers p.9)
“Where our world had been one of a few mountain valleys, it was now as wide as the earth itself, and wider, for where the land ended there was sky, and no end at all to that.” (The Daybreakers p. 9)
L’amour has the ability to bring the natural world alive. The sights, smells, tastes and textures of the world that his characters perceive is as real to me as I read as if I were sitting with them enjoying the view.
“They were broiling beef, too, and it smelled almighty good. There I was, lying on my belly smelling that good grub and chewing on a dry sandwich that had been packed early in the day.” (The Daybreakers p.178)
I can feel the dry crumbs in Tyrel’s mouth as he watches his enemies in their comfort. Throughout the novel, the sensations are as real as the pages in my fingers. L’amour’s talent for description are as unrivaled as his geographic and historic accuracy.
