Author. He wrote many popular western novels, becoming one of the most iconic writers of the genre. He was born Louis Dearborn LaMoore in Jamestown, North Dakota, the last of seven children to a veterinarian father and a teacher mother. Louis learned and grew intellectually at home and literally wore out the books in the family library reading and rereading titles from William Shakespeare, Zane Grey, Charles Dickens & Jack London. Hard times uprooted and decimated the family, prompting them to relocate outside Choctaw, Oklahoma. To spare his family a financial burden, he left home at the age of fifteen. Louis had some success as a writer and had several articles published in various Oklahoma newspapers. He took some creative writing courses at the University of Oklahoma then started a career as a book reviewer. Louis was inducted into the U.S. Army during World War II (WWII), serving as a tank commander in France. Upon discharge, he settled in Los Angeles, California and took the advice of a friend in the publishing business. He began to write western stories for pulp magazines. He was on the way to becoming the most prolific writer of excellent western books and stories in history. After his first novel "Hondo" was published, Louis L'Amour produced three novels a year until his death. "Hondo" became his best-seller with sales exceeding three million copies. It was quickly made into a Warner Bros. movie in 1953 starring John Wayne. Other notable books include: "The Sacketts" series, "The Walking Drum," "The Haunted Mesa" and "Last of the Breed." He married Katherine Elizabeth Adams in 1956 and they had two children: son Beau in 1961 and daughter Angelique in 1964. In the summer of 1987, Louis caught pneumonia, recovered, then the virus returned in the fall. A biopsy indicated a malignant widespread, fatal lung cancer. As the disease progressed, Louis began his long postponed memoir, "Education of a Wandering Man." While editing the completed book, the cancer took his life in the master bedroom of his home in Los Angeles. Louis L'Amour left an enormous legacy in a writing career that lasted over forty years. He won numerous awards including the Western Writers of America Award and the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award. His novels "Hondo" and "Flint" have been voted places in the 25 best western novels of all time. The U.S. Congress voted him the National Gold Medal and President Ronald Reagan awarded him the Medal of Freedom. His books have been translated into over 27 foreign languages and have sold over three hundred million copies, making him one of the best-selling authors of the Western genre. All of his novels (he wrote over 100) are still in print. Forty-five of his novels were turned into Western Movies. His writings are known for their authenticity and accuracy, particularly as concerning Western American history.
Author. He wrote many popular western novels, becoming one of the most iconic writers of the genre. He was born Louis Dearborn LaMoore in Jamestown, North Dakota, the last of seven children to a veterinarian father and a teacher mother. Louis learned and grew intellectually at home and literally wore out the books in the family library reading and rereading titles from William Shakespeare, Zane Grey, Charles Dickens & Jack London. Hard times uprooted and decimated the family, prompting them to relocate outside Choctaw, Oklahoma. To spare his family a financial burden, he left home at the age of fifteen. Louis had some success as a writer and had several articles published in various Oklahoma newspapers. He took some creative writing courses at the University of Oklahoma then started a career as a book reviewer. Louis was inducted into the U.S. Army during World War II (WWII), serving as a tank commander in France. Upon discharge, he settled in Los Angeles, California and took the advice of a friend in the publishing business. He began to write western stories for pulp magazines. He was on the way to becoming the most prolific writer of excellent western books and stories in history. After his first novel "Hondo" was published, Louis L'Amour produced three novels a year until his death. "Hondo" became his best-seller with sales exceeding three million copies. It was quickly made into a Warner Bros. movie in 1953 starring John Wayne. Other notable books include: "The Sacketts" series, "The Walking Drum," "The Haunted Mesa" and "Last of the Breed." He married Katherine Elizabeth Adams in 1956 and they had two children: son Beau in 1961 and daughter Angelique in 1964. In the summer of 1987, Louis caught pneumonia, recovered, then the virus returned in the fall. A biopsy indicated a malignant widespread, fatal lung cancer. As the disease progressed, Louis began his long postponed memoir, "Education of a Wandering Man." While editing the completed book, the cancer took his life in the master bedroom of his home in Los Angeles. Louis L'Amour left an enormous legacy in a writing career that lasted over forty years. He won numerous awards including the Western Writers of America Award and the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award. His novels "Hondo" and "Flint" have been voted places in the 25 best western novels of all time. The U.S. Congress voted him the National Gold Medal and President Ronald Reagan awarded him the Medal of Freedom. His books have been translated into over 27 foreign languages and have sold over three hundred million copies, making him one of the best-selling authors of the Western genre. All of his novels (he wrote over 100) are still in print. Forty-five of his novels were turned into Western Movies. His writings are known for their authenticity and accuracy, particularly as concerning Western American history.
Bio by: Donald Greyfield
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