Product Description

No one is more evocative of the dusty, gutsy hey-day of the American West than Elmore Leonard. And no story about a young writer struggling to launch his career ever matched its subject matter better than the tale behind Leonard's Western oeuvre.

In 1950, fresh out of college -- having written two "pointless" stories, as he describes them -- Leonard decided he needed to pick a market, a big one, which would give him a better chance to be published while he learned to write. In choosing between crime and Westerns, the latter had an irresistible pull -- Leonard loved movies set in the West. As he researched deeper into settings, Arizona in the 1880s captured his imagination: the Spanish influence, the standoffs and shootouts between Apache Indians and the U.S. cavalry ...

His first dozen stories sold for 2 cents a word, for $100 each. The rest is history.

This first-ever complete collection of Leonard's thirty Western tales will thrill lovers of the genre, his die-hard fans, and everyone in between -- and makes a terrific study of the launch of a phenomenal career.

From his very first story ever published -- "The Trail of the Apache" -- through five decades of classic Western tales, The Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard demonstrates again and again the superb talent for language and gripping narrative that has made Leonard one of the most acclaimed and influential writers of our time.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #479557 in Books
• Published on: 2004-12-01
• Released on: 2004-11-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 544 pages

Customer Reviews

Writing For 2-Cents A Word

Since mine is the first review of this wonderful collection of short stories from a master writer, the book must be one of the best kept secrets of contemporary publishing.

These stories were written during years of the mid-1950s through the mid-1960s for magazines of that period, prior to Elmore Leonard switching to a modern mode of crime writing for books.

Anyone familiar with HOMBRE, VALDEZ IS COMING, or THE TALL T will not be surprised with his talent for writing westerns. He has said he always liked western movies, and his first fledgling attempts at writing were therefore westerns. Growing up in that era, I clearly recall that westerns were almost at the forefront of both publishing and movie screen. Many of us growing up in those days of Hoppy & Roy & Gene & Lone Ranger comics, post-WWII paperbacks, and the local "bijou" theaters, remain western fans to this very day. On a personal note, I probably have well over one thousand paperback westerns in my library, collected over the years, and yes, Mr. Leonard's are all there.

So when this book came out I bought it immediately. The manner in which the publisher issued the book is above normal: inside the front and back covers are many of the magazine covers in color within which the stories appeared; also, there is a nifty map showing many sites in Arizona Territory helping one locate the area of individual stories.

This was an ambitious undertaking from both author and publisher, and one of love from the author I'm sure. If you have interest in Elmore Leonard, or the American fictional west, or both, you will not want to be without this volume.

Five star entertainment!
This CD set includes 11 unabridged stories by Elmore Leonard. Stories are read by Tom Wopat , William Atherton, David Strathairn and Henry Rollins. Included in the 6 disk collection which takes about 6 hours to read- or one trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles, or halfway from Fresno to Phoenix ( my two frequent long distance drives) are the following stories:
Blood Money read by Tom Wopat
Only Good Ones read by Henry Rollins
Trail of the Apache read by David Straithairn
Trouble at Rindo's Station read by William Atherton
The Boy Who Smiled read by Tom Wopat
The Tonto Woman read by William Atherton
Hurrah for Captain Early read by Tom Wopat ( this one is also in the When the Women Come out to Dance collection read by Taye Diggs - the two renditions are interesting to contrast as the hero in the story is an African-American who served in the all colored 10th Cavalry division)
The Colonel's Lady read by David Strathairn
Saint With a Six Gun read by Henry Rollins
You Never See Apaches read by William Atherton
Three-Ten to Yuma read by Henry Rollins

For those familiar with Leonard's westerns you will see his favorite landscape- the rugged land of southern Arizona and Apache territory. The scrub grass, dust and blistering heat are a character unto themselves. This collection is aptly handled by a talented crew. I particularily enjoyed the dry delivery of Atherton known best as the obnoxious reporter from the Die Hard movies. David Strathairn has a more measured approach to the complex tales of life on the frontier, Tom Wopat cowboys up for his tales and Henry ROllins is fantastic giving voice to the rough and tumble lawmen of 100 years ago. Recommended for fans of westerns and Leonard alike!

Great Western Stories
I bought this as a gift for my Dad, an avid Louis L'Amour fan. I wasn't sure if he would like this author, but he said it is a great read!!!!!! I am so pleased w/ my purchase and the great service @ Amazon!!!! Thank You!!!