The Tyrant

By Max Brand

Book Overview

Francois Limousin was a ruthless tyrant who berated his youngest son mercilessly at every turn. Yet Jean thrived in spite of him, honing his body and his mind until he excelled at shooting, riding,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0843954388
• ISBN13: 9780843954388
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Dorchester Pub Co Inc
• Length: 234 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 0.8" x 4.0"

Customer Reviews

A Great Work Of Literature Disguised As Western Pulp!

This novel by the incredible Frederick Faust (Max Brand) has had a interesting history in the 80 years since it was first published. For 8 decades, this story has been shoe-horned into the tradition of Pulp Westerns from the early part of the last century. Now I have nothing against pulp fiction. I know my Zane Grey, Louis L'Amour and Ernest Haycox, but THE TYRANT so far exceeds the parameters of pulp western that it should be classified as literature. The story is a powerful, lyrical tale of family, loss, choices and fate. Set in Northern Quebec during the frontier days, we are drawn into Francois Limousin's (the narrator's) riveting tale of his domineering father and his ruthless claim over everyone and everything he possesses. Watching Limousin struggle to live under the shadow of his father (the tyrant in the title) who despises sentimentality, which he views as weakness, is a pleasure of high order. There are no cattle rustlers, gunfighters, sherrifs or possees in this one. The tone, feel, narrative drive and clarity speak more of the grand Victorian tradition of Dickens and Hardy. There is love, loss, tradgedy and triumph, turn arounds and surprises. In 232 pages, Faust (Brand) gives us a reading experience one would be hardpressed to find elsewhere. This recent Leisure Books edition also accomplishes something else: It sets the book free from its pulp prison. Earler editions of the book (titled MONSIEUR) cut 6000 words from this incredible story in an effort to make it "pulp," more focused on the action and not the intense character moments and beautiful narrative language. This book is literature, not pulp and for 80 years readers have not been able to enjoy the tale in all its glory. Now the novel has been restored to the way Faust wrote it. I highly recommend this unforgetable story. Once begun, you will want to devour it in one sitting. However it is a book you will return to again and again. Readers have waited 80 years to read The Tyrant as it was ment to be. Don't miss this one. A true work of art.