Book News: Library of Congress Names Louis L’Amour First Champion of the Book

Michael Rogers -- Library Journal, 3/28/2008 7:42:00 AM

• Award presented March 18 to author’s family
• L’Amour’s 120 titles still in print

The Library of Congress’s Center for the Book has named Louis L’Amour its first Champion of the Book. At a March 18 ceremony, Librarian of Congress James Billington presented the award to the author’s wife, Kathy, and their son Beau and daughter Angelique. The celebration was cosponsored by Bantam Books, which published L’Amour’s works for five decades. “Louis L’Amour,” said Billington, “could not help sharing his love of books and reading. Those who met him eventually realized that he was a one man ‘center for the book.’”

L’Amour produced more than 120 titles, all of which remain in print. “In many families, there is now a fourth generation of readers enjoying Louis L’Amour’s books,” said Irwin Applebaum, Bantam Dell Publishing Group president and publisher, who is also L’Amour’s former editor. “This is the most fitting tribute to his remarkable ability to make the American adventure come alive on the page.”