Discover six classic novels as you follow the footsteps of the trailblazers who settled the American West.

As the American West opened up to settlers after the Civil War, people were eager for tales of great adventures, endless possibilities, and the pioneering spirit. Classic Westerns is a collection of six novels that captured this sense of exploration and brought the rugged landscape into the homes of readers everywhere. These novels--The Virginian by Owen Wister, O Pioneers! by Willa Cather, The Lone Star Ranger and The Mysterious Rider by Zane Grey, and Gunman's Reckoning and The Untamed by Max Brand--tell of life on the open plains, in dusty outposts, and alongside majestic mountain ranges that rose to greet travelers who ventured forth into the unexplored country to find their destinies.

The epic novel of the American West and the heroic cowboy

Owen Wister's powerful story of the tall, silent stranger who rides into the uncivilized West and defeats the forces of evil has become an enduring part of American mythology. Set in Wyoming Territory, The Virginian depicts the loneliness and challenge of an unknown land where the whistle of a freight train sounds across great miles of silence, where easy camaraderie--and sudden violence--are found around the campfire, and where the rough honesty of frontier justice is just beginning to impose a sense of society on an unruly populace. For Wister, the West represented a territory of adventure that tested the worth of a man. His hero, as John Seelye writes in his Introduction, has his roots in the historical romances of Sir Walter Scott and James Fenimore Cooper; he is a man who lives by the classic code of chivalry, ruled by quiet courage and deeply felt honor.

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The Virginian (1902) is Owen Wister's classic popular romance, and the most significant shaping influence on the Western genre. This edition includes Wister's neglected essay, The Evolution of the Cow-Puncher (1895) and an introduction highlighting the social, gender, and political implications of Wister's mythic West in the context of its actual economic history and Wister's patrician career.

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Widely regarded as the first true Western novel, this classic tale follows the unnamed cowboy known simply as the Virginian. Set in the rugged landscape of Wyoming, the story explores themes of justice, loyalty, and love, as the Virginian navigates life as a ranch hand and confronts outlaws. Filled with iconic Western imagery and timeless moral dilemmas, this novel laid the groundwork for an entire genre.

The Virginian: Large Print By Owen Wister

The Virginian is a pioneering novel set in the Wild West describing the life of the foreman of the Shiloh Ranch in Wyoming. It was the first true western written, aside from the tiny dime novels. It paved the way for many more westerns by famous authors such as Zane Grey, Louis L'Amour, and several others.

The Virginian is a pioneering novel set in the Wild West describing the life of the foreman of the Shiloh Ranch in Wyoming. It was the first true western written, aside from the tiny dime novels. It paved the way for many more westerns by famous authors such as Zane Grey, Louis L'Amour, and several others.

In the untamed West, pioneers came to test their fortunes -- and their wills. The Wyoming territory was a harsh, unforgiving land, with its own unwritten code of honor by which men lived and died. Into this rough landscape rides the Virginian, a solitary man whose unbending will is his only guide through life. The Virginian's unwavering beliefs in right and wrong are soon tested as he tries to prove his love for a woman who cannot accept his sense of justice; at the same time, a betrayal by his most trusted friend forces him to fight against the corruption that rules the land. Still as exciting and meaningful as it was when first published one hundred years ago, Owen Wister's epic tale of a man caught between his love for a woman and his quest for justice exemplifies one of the most significant and enduring themes in all of American literature. With remarkable character depth and vivid passages, The Virginian stands not only as the first great novel of American Western literature, but as a testament to the eternal struggle between good and evil in humanity.

This collection of literature attempts to compile many of the classic, timeless works that have stood the test of time and offer them at a reduced, affordable price, in an attractive volume so that everyone can enjoy them.

Still as exciting and meaningful as when it was written in 1902, Owen Wister's epic tale of one man's journey into the untamed territory of Wyoming, where he is caught between his love for a woman and his quest for justice, has exemplified one of the most significant and enduring themes in all of American culture.

With remarkable character depth and vivid descriptive passages, The Virginian stands not only as the first great novel of American Western literature, but as a testament to the eternal struggle between good and evil in humanity and a revealing study of the forces that guide the combatants on both sides.

This edition of The Virginian has been prepared by Gary Scharnhorst, professor of English at the University of New Mexico. It includes his introduction, notes, a selection of critical excerpts, and suggestions for further reading, as well as a unique visual essay of period illustrations and photographs.

Owen Wister is remembered today almost solely as the author of The Virginian, yet his short stories, dating from the turn of the century, gave us our first real knowledge of the West's wide, wild farm and ranch community, spotted with remote towns, and veined with infrequent railroads. And this West was not merely that of the cowboy, but of the soldier, the seeker, the Indians, the hunter, even the priest. This volume presents six of Wister's finest stories, chosen to exhibit the less well remembered facets of his talent. Their settings--ranging from a mining camp in the Rockies to a northwestern territorial capital to a southwestern desert town, and from a California mission to army posts on the high plains--are as varied as the characters and the situations.

The introduction by Robert L. Hough discusses the factors the impelled Wister to write about the West ad his ambivalent feelings about the region, as well as his story-telling techniques and artistic goals.

La Tinaja Bonita is a novel written by Owen Wister. The book tells the story of a young man named Lin McLean, who travels to Wyoming in the late 1800s to work as a cowboy. Lin is a skilled rider and a hard worker, and he quickly earns the respect of his fellow cowboys. However, he also has a wild streak and a tendency to get into trouble.One day, Lin meets a beautiful young woman named Ellen Jorth. Ellen is the daughter of a wealthy rancher, and she is engaged to a man named Lee Virginia. Despite their different backgrounds, Lin and Ellen fall in love. However, their relationship is complicated by the fact that Ellen's father is a bitter enemy of Lee Virginia's family.As Lin and Ellen try to navigate their feelings for each other, they are drawn into a violent conflict between the Jorths and the Virginias. The tension between the two families escalates, and Lin finds himself caught in the middle of a dangerous feud.La Tinaja Bonita is a classic western novel that explores themes of love, loyalty, and honor. It is a gripping tale of adventure, romance, and the rugged landscape of the American West.In that white formation shot up from the earth's bowels, arbitrary and irrelevant amid the surrounding alien layers of slate, four black stones were lodged as if built into the wall by some hand -- four small stones shaping a cross, black against the white, symmetrical and plain beyond need of imagination.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.

The Virginian is a classic western novel written by American author Owen Wister. First published in 1902, the book tells the story of a cowboy known only as the Virginian who works on a ranch in Wyoming during the late 1800s. The novel is considered one of the first great westerns and helped to establish many of the tropes and conventions of the genre.The Virginian is a complex character who embodies many of the values and ideals of the American West. He is a skilled horseman and marksman, and he is respected by his fellow cowboys for his bravery and integrity. The novel follows the Virginian as he navigates the challenges of life on the ranch, including conflicts with other cowboys, run-ins with outlaws, and a budding romance with a schoolteacher named Molly Stark.Throughout the novel, Wister explores themes of honor, loyalty, and justice. The Virginian is a man of strong principles who believes in doing what is right, even if it means going against the expectations of his peers. He is also fiercely loyal to his friends and is willing to risk his own life to protect them.The Virginian is a beautifully written novel that captures the spirit of the American West. Wister's prose is lyrical and evocative, and he paints a vivid picture of the rugged landscape and the colorful characters who inhabit it. The book has been adapted into several films and TV shows over the years, but the original novel remains a timeless classic that continues to captivate readers of all ages.1902. Wister, an American writer whose stories helped to establish the cowboy as an archetypical, individualist hero. The novel on which the TV series was based, The Virginian is set in the Wyoming territory during the late 1870s and 1880s. A courageous, but mysterious, cowboy known only as the Virginian works as foreman of a Wyoming cattle ranch. He meets and falls in love with the pretty schoolteacher named Molly Wood. The Virginian is forced to preside over the hanging of his best friend Steve, who has been accused and convicted of cattle rustling. Then the peace is threatened by Trampas, who also works on the farm. There is a climatic gun duel between the two men. Trampas fires first, misses and is then killed by the Virginian. In the end the Virginian marries Molly and rides off with her into the mountains. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Originally published in 1923, this documents the work of the famous Philadelphia-based firm which designed many outstanding residences in Mid-Atlantic and New England states.

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The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains by Owen Wister. The novel begins with an unnamed narrator's arrival in Medicine Bow, Wyoming, from back East and his encounter with an impressively tall and handsome stranger. The stranger proves adept at roping horses, as well as facing down a gambler, Trampas, who calls him a sonofabitch. (At the time, the word was an unacceptable insult in any society, except between joking friends.) The stranger lays a pistol on the table and gently threatens When you call me that, smile . Known only as the Virginian, the stranger turns out to be the narrator's escort to Judge Henry's ranch in Sunk Creek, Wyoming. As the two travel the 263 miles to the ranch, the narrator, nicknamed the tenderfoot and the Virginian begin to come to know one another as the Tenderfoot slowly begins to understand the nature of life in the West, which is very different from what he expected. This meeting is the beginning of a lifelong friendship and the starting point of the narrator's recounting of key episodes in the life of the Virginian. The novel revolves around the Virginian and the life he lives. As well as describing the Virginian's conflict with his enemy, Trampas, and his romance with the pretty schoolteacher, Molly Stark Wood, Wister weaves a tale of action, violence, hate, revenge, love, and friendship. In one scene, the Virginian is forced to participate in the hanging of an admitted cattle thief, who had been his close friend. The hanging is represented as a necessary response to the government's corruption and lack of action, but the Virginian feels it to be a horrible duty. He is especially stricken by the bravery with which the thief faces his fate, and the heavy burden that the act places on his heart forms the emotional core of the story.

This collection of literature attempts to compile many of the classic works that have stood the test of time and offer them at a reduced, affordable price, in an attractive volume so that everyone can enjoy them.

For anyone fascinated by how the myth of the Western hero came into being, The Virginian is the book to read. Published in 1902, it became hugely popular for decades and inspired movies (a version with Gary Cooper in 1929) and a long-running TV series (1962-1971). A modern reader could easily guess the storyline without reading a synopsis - the classic elements are all there: tall, dark, handsome cowboy hero; pretty schoolmarm from back East; the villain who must finally face justice at the end of a gun. Few historical novels are dedicated to American presidents, however, and another whole dimension of the novel opens up with the name appearing on the dedication page -- Theodore Roosevelt, a college friend of the author's. What Wister does, besides telling a story of adventure and romance, is portray a particular kind of heroic figure, a natural man whose integrity is untainted by the corrupt (though civilized) values of the East. The book is a deliberate and often worshipful character study for the age of Teddy Roosevelt-style masculinity. The young Virginian charms us (and the narrator) with his courage and modesty and his thoughtful attempts to understand a world in which some men (even good ones) act dishonorably and make cowardly choices. Stoic and cool on the surface, the currents of sentiment run deep in this man. So does the will to self-improvement, as he reads Shakespeare and Sir Walter Scott. This book connects with so much of American myth over the last 100 years that you could easily write another book about it. Or you can simply enjoy it for what it is, a historical romance so well-conceived, in spite of its sometimes dated views, that you keep on reading through each episode of the story, glad that Wister was in no hurry to cut to the chase. This is a book for any reader of Western literature, fiction or nonfiction. In it the many traditions of the western come together in popularized form for the first time.

This collection of literature attempts to compile many of the classic, timeless works that have stood the test of time and offer them at a reduced, affordable price, in an attractive volume so that everyone can enjoy them.