Brules: A Novel

Great book and this is my second copy after giving away the first one.

I read this book twice, the readings being 10 years apart. If anything, it is better the second time through. I don't know whether it's because I'm older and wiser, or because the contrast with modern life is even greater 10 years later. In any case, this book was written by a master storyteller who knows intimately the western outdoors in general, and his locations in particular. His imagery resonates with my experiences hiking and hunting in the west all my life. His characters are wonderfully human and flawed. Cat Brules is a man who takes no time to wonder about the ethics of his hatred for, and his revenge on those who have tortured and killed those that he cared about. But Brules loves as deeply as he feels hatred. There is no human being alive who can read the love story in the last few chapters of this book and not feel the joy, the longing, and the love, and not shed a tear. There is nothing artificial or politically correct in this book. It is simply natural, sweeping, glorious, heart rending, joyous, and brutal in its reality. It has remained in my mind these 10 years and has colored my life, just as every great book does. I rank this book along with "Lonesome Dove", and "The Godfather" at the top of my all time favorite books of any kind.

Brules is one of the best novels I have read set mainly in the American Southwest and in spite of the main character Cat Brules having a lot of faults, sometimes cruel, he is a young man of that period when life must have been very tough, especially when your girl friend and his best friend are tortured and killed by the Comanches-no wonder his youth was damaged to cause his revenge and future personality. Great descriptions of what is like to live in those days and the feeling of the terrain, weather and vast landscapes and mountains and the towns and bars and horses really superb.Knew when I began the paperback is was going to be one of those novels I would return to, ordered the hardback which arrived within a few days and worthy every penny,or in the US cent. Looking forward to reading the sequel. Thank you. Brian Hammond

First part of 3 volume series. Well written and easy to read. Like author actually lived the experience. Loved it as well as the follow on "Scout" and then "The Legend of the Painted Horse" Hard to believe an aviation expert wrote this but do recommend it.

This is not only the best ever Western novel, it is the Great American Novel. I just finished reading the Brules trilogy for the fifth time. I have given numerous copies to friends. "Brules" must be set to film. A four part mini-series would serve the story best as it it too long for a feature length film. "The Legend of the Painted Horse" needs to be back in print.

I worked in a large library for many years,read many books about the American west,and have forgotten most. This is one of those books you never want to end and never forget once you have read it. It is a masterful piece of historical fiction about the old west. My husband and I have read it twice.Working in a library I seldom purchased books but back in 2009 I purchased Brules to keep and lend out. Today I am again purchasing this book again for a Christmas present. To anyone who likes stories of the American west read this one,you will not be disappointed.

This was a little long and had a bit of a slow beginning, but once I got into Cat Brules' life, I was hooked. What a tale! It became a real page-turner. It would make a great movie similar in feeling to Jeremiah Johnson. Loaned the book to a friend and he said he couldn't put it down. Gave it back to me in a week and said he's never been so moved by a cowboy story.

Harry really knows how to write about the old west. You are drawn in from the beginning with such descriptions of the land and life during that time. And Brules journey along the way is heart wrenching at times but life wasn’t easy then. Great story that stays with you long after you finished the last page!

One of the best westerns, or I should say novels I have read since I discovered Londsome Dove and the books of Terry Johnston which says it all. If I wasn't nearly 80 and living in the heart of Sussex, England I would be on the next plane, hire a car and follow in the steps of Brules. But will have to contend with reading Brules again and the sequel and play all my Western movies for "atmosphere"!

In 695 pages I counted about 8 incidents - where something actually happened - and 6 of those were long, near identical descriptions of killing Comanches. The rest of it is long, rambling descriptions of scenery, long rambling conversations( remembered apparently after 30 years), and long, rambling speculations about what people might do if something happened. For example he spends 20 pages speculating about some tracks he's following. The use of 'ta' for 'to' becomes intensely annoying ... I could go on but the review would be as long as the book. I suggest Little Big Man by Berger if you want a real Western.

one of the very best westerns of all time , comparable to Wilbur smith,louis lamour, clive cussler, and james michner all rolled into one

I'm a huge Louis L'Amour fan but Harry Combs has taken the crown with Brules!

This was one of the best stories I've read on the early American west. It started slow but get past the first chapter and than you your off and running for one of the best ever westerns