Western movies are one thing, but where ought one start if they’re looking to get into literary takes on the Old West? That’s a good question, though perhaps one not so easily answered. There are countless different novel combinations to choose from when it comes to the wild frontier, but if you’re seeking novels perfect for those just starting out in the genre, we have a few suggestions. From classical cowboy adventures to modern takes on the frontier, there are plenty of great Western tales out there worth diving into.
The Western novel (as well as the short story and novella) is often considered the bread and butter of the horse opera. After all, plenty of films and television programs are a direct result of bringing such thrilling words to the screen. You’ll likely recognize many of the works on display here for their live-action connotations, but rest assured, the best place to begin is the novel. So, get your bookmarks ready for this venture into the American West.
‘The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains’ (1902)
While the title may evoke images of James Drury and Doug McClure, the original Owen Wister novel couldn’t have been more different. Published in 1902, The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains followed the titular hero as he makes his way along the frontier, finding love and conflict in the largely untamed Wyoming Territory. Wister paints a breathtaking picture of the mythic West and had a mighty hand in establishing the iconic cowboy tropes that long defined the genre.
The Virginian has been adapted several times in a feature film format and loosely as the aforementioned (and well-known) television series, which ran for nine seasons on NBC. But that aside, the novel deserves high praise for its vast influence on the Western genre at large. In fact, Wister’s tale was so influential that the Western Writers of America offers an annual “Owen Wister Award” in his honor for those who contribute powerfully to the genre. The Virginian was truly the first popular cowboy novel, so it’s no wonder that the series that shares its namesake is counted among the best classic Western TV shows as well.
‘True Grit’ (1968)
Originally published as a serial in The Saturday Evening Post, Charles Portis‘ expert Western novel was so popular that it found its way to the big screen (and with John Wayne at the helm) only a year after its release in 1968. Considered one of the “great American novels,” True Grit is a reflection by spinster Mattie Ross on her teenage exploits with U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn as she seeks vengeance for her father’s murder at the hands of outlaw Tom Chaney.
True Grit is a straightforward tale, but one that will keep the reader thoroughly engaged throughout. It’s also told through a perspective not often explored in a Western novel (apart from the Western romance subgenre, that is), which makes it a particularly unique experience. As one of the best Western books of all time, you can’t go wrong with this sweeping classic. Of the two major film adaptations, the 2010 picture by the Coen Brothers is the more faithful to the text.
‘Shane’ (1949)
Another Western novel that made a major splash on the big screen, Shane is Jack Schaefer‘s claim to genre fame. Originally titled Rider from Nowhere, Shane was published in three parts in Argosy magazine before it hit mainstream shelves in 1949. Like the 1953 film of the same name (which boasts one of the greatest Western endings out there), it follows a drifting gunslinger as he finds himself in the middle of a land dispute in 1889 Wyoming Territory reminiscent of the Johnson County War.
Considered the “finest” Western novel by the Western Writers of America, Shane is a literary triumph that captures the pioneer spirit of the American West. Its lead character is all one could ask for in a Western protagonist who remains tough and firm yet showcases a tender heart for those in need, something perfectly translated to the screen in the Alan Ladd-led motion picture. As a serial, it was already good, but as a novel… Well, let’s just say that Shane changed the Western game forever — both on the page and the screen.
‘Open Season’ (2001)
Admittedly, Open Season is a bit of an outlier on this list. With this C. J. Box novel (published in 2001), we’re treading into neo-Western territory, but considering that’s where much of the genre has turned to today, perhaps that’s not such a bad thing. The first in Box’s series of mystery novels following Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett (there are over 25 of them now), Open Season is a powerful introduction that speaks to the potential of the contemporary genre. Faithfully adapted in the first season of the short-lived Joe Pickett television series, Open Season is a clear-cut mystery that isn’t afraid to get Western.
Not only does the Pickett family stand out as a sort of modern take on Old West pioneers, but Joe himself is a traditional Western hero wrapped up in modern trimmings and trappings. As one of the great Western novels to be adapted on the small screen, you’ll find yourself at the edge of your seat as you plow through each short chapter. If you’re looking for more neo-Western fare after this, we recommend The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson, the first in a series of mystery novels that inspired the television hit Longmire.
‘Hondo’ (1953)
No matter which of Louis L’Amour‘s seemingly endless collection of Western novels you choose, you’re in the right place. That said, if we had to pick only one to highlight the author’s Western prowess, we’d choose Hondo. Yes, Hondo, the novelization of the 1953 John Wayne film of the same name that was in turn inspired by L’Amour’s own short story “The Gift of Cochise.” This was the book that changed L’Amour’s career, even before the Sacketts became his main focus.
Not only is the novel better than the film, but Hondo perfectly blends the mythic Hollywood interpretation of the Old West with the harsh truths of frontier living. L’Amour fills out the characters and the world swimmingly as the title hero finds himself fighting for a married woman and her child who are in the middle of a conflict between the U.S. Cavalry and a band of Apaches. If you loved Hondo, give these other Louis L’Amour Westerns a try next!
‘Lonesome Dove’ (1985)
You’ve likely been waiting for this one the entire time, but there’s something truly remarkable about Larry McMurtry‘s Lonesome Dove that you simply cannot understand apart from reading it. Sure, the epic CBS miniseries starring Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall is a masterful adaptation that speaks straight to the heart of the novel, but McMurtry’s (sometimes long-winded) prose is so crisp that it’s difficult to put down. If you have yet to give this one a chance, wait no longer.
Published in 1985, Lonesome Dove follows former Texas Rangers Woodrow F. Call and Augustus “Gus” McCrae as they leave their border town in dusty Texas for the luscious Montana sky, chronicling all the trials they experience in between — they and a host of other cast members, of course. Not only is the 1989 television adaptation considered among the best Westerns ever made, but Lonesome Dove, the novel, is often deemed the greatest Western novel. If you love it, McMurtry penned a sequel, Streets of Laredo, and two prequel novels as well, each of which has likewise been adapted as a television miniseries.
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