Lay Down My Sword and Shield, James Lee Burke
Lay Down My Sword and Shield, James Lee Burke
18 Rating(s)
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Lay Down My Sword and Shield

Author: James Lee Burke

Narrator: Will Patton

Unabridged: 8 hr 46 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/16/2010


Synopsis

Vintage James Lee Burke: The first novel introducing the memorable Texas sheriff Hackberry Holland, coming of age against the backdrop of the civil rights era in a sultry border town.

In hot and sultry Texas, Hack, an attorney and Korean War POW, is being pushed by his wife, his brother, and his so-called friends in the oil business to run for political office. But Hack would prefer to drink, look after his beloved horses, and represent the occasional long-shot pro bono case at his law firm. When Hack attempts to overturn a conviction for an old army buddy, he finds himself embroiled in the seamy underbelly of the Texas patronage system—and in the earliest beginnings of the United Farm Workers movement, led by a beautiful woman who speaks to his heart in a way no one else has. As Hack begins to bring justice to the underserved, he finds both a new love and a new purpose.

With his skillful blend of engaging plotlines, compelling characters, and graceful prose, James Lee Burke demonstrates the shimmering clarity of vision that has made him beloved by suspense fans all over the globe.

About James Lee Burke

American mystery author, James Lee Burke, was born in Houston, Texas, explaining why most of the lead characters in his novels are Texan. He has won two Edgar awards, which is a very rare experience, and is a bestselling author of two short story collections and over thirty novels. Burke is best known for his Dave Robicheaux series. His Edgar Awards were for Black Cherry and Cimarron Rose. Two of his series were made into screen plays with each movie having a-list actors playing the Robicheaux character (Alec Baldwin - Heaven's Prisoners, and Tommy Lee Jones- In the Electric Mist).

A writer must usually hold down other employment while they attempt to gain a degree of following readers. Burke's various jobs included.......truck driver, newspaper reporter, social worker, land surveyor, unemployment system employee, Job Corps worker, teacher, and finally, novelist.

Burke lives in Montana with his wife, Pearl, two daughters, and four grandchildren. His favorite advice was given by Irving Stone, when Burke was nineteen.......... "Never write a story to pay your gas bill......if you do, be assured your utilities will be turned off".


Reviews

Goodreads review by Paul on October 05, 2014

Hackberry Holland or Hack to his friends is quite possibly one of the most compelling characters I’ve ever come across, I was riveted to everything he said and did, and in the same breath he was also one of the most infuriating. He listens to absolutely no one, does pretty much whatever he likes, he......more

Goodreads review by Scott on November 13, 2024

Ever have one of those authors where every book you read by them is your new favorite? James Lee Burke is that author for me. Swear to God, the guy can fucking write like an angel. Or a demon. Either way, he's brilliant. "Lay Down My Sword and Shield" was originally published in 1971, and while it re......more

Goodreads review by Aditya on January 26, 2019

Lay Down My Sword and Shield suffers from an identity crisis. It lies nestled firmly between the more literary tragedies that started Burke's career and the crime genre on which Burke will leave an indelible mark. The predominantly depressing plot plays out like the former but is accompanied by the......more

Goodreads review by William on June 13, 2010

Lay Down My Sword And Shield by James Lee Burke This book details the rebirth of Hackberry Holland. He returned from the Korean War, rebuilt his life and now he is recreating himself. The hard panned setting and historic family background contribute to his reassessment of his identity. Describing the......more

Goodreads review by Jim on October 31, 2021

This is the first of the Hackberry Holland novels by James Lee Burke set in 1960s Texas. Lay Down My Sword And Shield tells of a corporate lawyer descended from a famous Texas lawman who arrested John Wesley Hardin in the 1800s. During the Korean War, was spent time in a North Korean prison camp. Wh......more