Other editions of book Virginian

The Virginian, written by Owen Wister and published in 1902, is widely considered to be the first genuine Western novel. In it we find the first examples of what have become archetypical Western characters and situations. A stranger arrives in Medicine Bow, Wyoming, and is met at the station by a tall, dark cowboy referred to only as "The Virginian". Together they travel 263 miles to the ranch of Judge Henry, where the cowboy is employed as a ranch hand and later a foreman. Along the way the visitor, dubbed the "Tenderfoot", comes to learn the ways of the West and appreciate the quiet dignity of his escort. We learn that the cowboy has a nemesis by the name of Trampas, a gambler who constantly attempts to provoke him, only to be met with a consistently reserved and high-minded response. There is a classic moment when the cowboy responds to an insult by Trampas by laying his pistol on the table and saying, "when you call me that, smile". The cowboy is also enamored of Miss Molly Stark Wood, a pretty, young schoolmarm from back east, with whom he is always the perfect gentleman and who he aims to make her "love him before we get through". The story centers on the many incidents in the mythic life of the title character, replete with love, hate, action, violence, friendship and revenge, anchored by the emotional and moral burdens resulting from the hanging of a close friend, a cattle thief. The book is among the 50 all time bestsellers, has been adapted six times for films, and inspired the long-running NBC-TV series by the same name.

The Virginian, written by Owen Wister and published in 1902, is widely considered to be the first genuine Western novel. In it we find the first examples of what have become archetypical Western characters and situations. A stranger arrives in Medicine Bow, Wyoming, and is met at the station by a tall, dark cowboy referred to only as "The Virginian". Together they travel 263 miles to the ranch of Judge Henry, where the cowboy is employed as a ranch hand and later a foreman. Along the way the visitor, dubbed the "Tenderfoot", comes to learn the ways of the West and appreciate the quiet dignity of his escort. We learn that the cowboy has a nemesis by the name of Trampas, a gambler who constantly attempts to provoke him, only to be met with a consistently reserved and high-minded response. There is a classic moment when the cowboy responds to an insult by Trampas by laying his pistol on the table and saying, "when you call me that, smile". The cowboy is also enamored of Miss Molly Stark Wood, a pretty, young schoolmarm from back east, with whom he is always the perfect gentleman and who he aims to make her "love him before we get through". The story centers on the many incidents in the mythic life of the title character, replete with love, hate, action, violence, friendship and revenge, anchored by the emotional and moral burdens resulting from the hanging of a close friend, a cattle thief. The book is among the 50 all time bestsellers, has been adapted six times for films, and inspired the long-running NBC-TV series by the same name.

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.

In the Wyoming town of Medicine Bow, a rivalry grows between the amoral Trampas and a cowboy known only as The Virginian. The rivalry grows with time until conflict betwen the two is inevitable. Owen Wister’s classic novel of the old West was one of the first western novels to rise above the status of penny dime novels, paving the way for authors like Zane Gray and Louis L’Amour.

A strong, silent stranger rides into the lawless lands of the western frontier, battles horse thieves, deals with unyielding scoundrels, and wins the heart of a schoolmarm. Owen Wister's 1902 classic — the first great novel of the American West — is rich in moral drama and vernacular wit. His hero — like knights of old — lives by an enduring code of chivalry and is governed by quiet courage and a deep sense of honor. Set in the vast Wyoming territory, this masterpiece helped establish the code of the West and its stereotypical characters: the genteel but brave, white-hatted cowboy, the pretty spinster from back East, and villains beyond redemption. The novel is also on record for incorporating the first known "shootout" in American literature.