What do You think about Sitka (2001)?
I liked the beginning but it drug on a little long until we get to a grown up Jean LaBarge. L'Amour writes great action stories and there was quite a few times I didn't want to set the book down. I also like how LaBarge respects the marriage between Helena and the Count. I like that this is considered a Western and yet it's more a sea tale set between San Francisco and Russian Alaska with trips through Siberia and Czar Alexander's Court. This is just another book that shows that you really can't pigeonhole L'Amour's writing.
—Bobbi
What a rousing adventure story from start to finish! Louis L'Amour is noted for writing westerns, but Sitka doesn't necessarily fall into that category. This story has it all: sea adventure, land adventure, outlaws and theives, high speed chases, duels, a frame tale of sorts, Alaska, and political as well as international intrigue. The hero, Jean LaBarge, seems a little too perfect, but I guess heroes sometimes are. Louis L'Amour's writing style is extremely poetic, and he makes the adventure come to life.
—Ruthie Jones
An orphan lives in a swamp, near the Susquehanna River, making a meager living selling herbs in the local village.His mother has died and the father becomes a mountain man, in the wilds of the Rockies.Jean LaBarge, has only one friend Rob Walker, a shy little boy from a good family.Who of course, don't want their son hanging around with a worthless kid ,who's mother is rumored to have been a gypsy!A group of thieves return to the area.Planning to rob and kill Captain Hutchins, a wealthy merchant, leaving soon for the West. The 14 year old Jean and Rob about a year older , follow a stranger into the spooky swamp, as night falls.In a stonehouse the thief enters. Jean sees three men inside the house, through the window.He bravely gets closer, in order to hear what they're saying.Captured by the gang, LaBarge is lucky when the unknown to the thieves Rob, returns with Captain Hutchins and some villagers.Pennsylvania, before the Civil War was still not quite civilized.The very grateful captain, takes Jean out into the West with him.Fur trading and crossing the U.S. many times, they become rich.With the gold rush in California Jean travels to San Francisco, selling supplies to the miners.Buying a schooner, renamed the "Susquehanna" and heads north to Alaska.A childhood dream but a Russian colony.Having met a Russian Princess and falling in love with her but this fairy tale has a catch, she's married.Illegally buying pelts from the Indians and escaping the pursuing Russian warshps.Eager to see Princess Helena again ,he goes to Sitka the capital of the territory, bringing much needed wheat.If only the beautiful niece of the Czar was single...but Jean is a patient young man, he can wait and maybe happy ending do happen outside of a book.
—Henry Avila
