Western Annotation: Reilly's Luck by Louis L'Amour

Author:     Louis L’Amour

Title:     Reilly’s Luck

Genre:     Western

Original Publication Date:     1970

Number of Pages:     345

Geographical Setting:     American West (several locations), Europe, and New York City

Time period:     1860s-1880s

Series:     Standalone Novel

Plot Summary:     Val Durrant, after being abandoned by his mother and her boyfriend, is adopted at age four by gentleman gambler Will Reilly.  They immediately take to each other, never leaving each other’s side, and Reilly raises Durrant as his nephew.  Durrant learns from Reilly to value gentlemanly behavior (e.g. avoiding violence when possible and caring about one’s appearance).  After Reilly’s death at the hand of hired outlaws, Durrant (now a teenager) decides to avenge his mentor’s death, and over the next several years, while crisscrossing the United States, he finds himself confronting adulthood, his hatefully ambitious mother, and his past.

Subject Headings:     Fiction, Western Stories, Western Fiction, Frontier and Pioneer Life, West (U.S.), Outlaws, Gamblers, Death, Revenge

Appeal:

Frame/Setting  While the bulk of the action takes place in various locations in the western territories of what is now the United States, a surprising number of pages are set in other locations, including New York City, St. Louis, and even Europe.  The landscapes of each location are richly described.  While specific years during the story aren’t named, Reilly and Durrant meet Billy the Kid and Wild Bill Hickock, and their deaths are mentioned in later chapters (they died in 1881 and 1876, respectively) giving a rough timeline to the story.

Characterization  Reilly seems like the perfect gentleman and father-figure, despite his chosen profession of gambler.  He never starts a fight, but is somehow undefeatable when one is forced upon him.  He never mentions having a formal education, but he reads and discusses classic literature.  He moves from town to town, mostly living in hotels, yet the author describes him as impeccably dressed at all times.  Durrant is similarly impossibly perfect:  Well adjusted, a prodigious reader, respectful, and handsome.  Even when running from the law, they are always the “good” guys.  The interpersonal relationships between major characters are essential to the story.  Both primary and secondary characters are complex, and L’Amour gives the reader glimpses into their motivations.

Storyline  The story of Val Durrant’s life from age four to mid-twenties is the main theme of this novel.  This includes his upbringing, followed by his revenge, and ultimately acceptance, of the betrayal of his mentor.  Concurrently, he has a troubled reconnection with his mother and a romance with a young woman from his past.

Tone/Mood  The tone fluctuates between suspenseful and hopeful.  Reilly and Durrant are almost always on the run from some danger, and the reader is rooting for them all the way.

Pacing  Leisurely character development, landscape descriptions, and dialogue punctuated by action (mostly fight scenes).

Style/Language  L’Amour’s descriptions of the landscapes and characters are colorful and lyrical.  Reilly and Durrant use proper English (and are often called “sissies” as a result), but most of the characters use cowboy jargon.  More often than not, the meaning of various slang words is obvious in context.

Three Terms That Describe This Book:  Platonic Love, Adventure, Pursuit

Readers Might Also Enjoy:

Fiction:

• The Chisholm Trail by Ralph Compton
• Black Valley Riders by Ralph W. Cotton
• Diamond in the Rough by Jennifer AlLee

Nonfiction:

• To Hell on a Fast Horse: The Untold Story of Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett by Mark Lee Gardner
• Legends and Lies: The Real West by David Fisher and Bill O’Reilly
• Cattle Kingdon: The Hidden History of the Cowboy West by Christopher Knowlton