A review by papertownian
The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains by Owen Wister, Gary Scharnhorst

3.0

Owen Wister’s 1902 novel The Virginian: A horseman of the plains is a quintessential western in every sense of the word. It is easy to understand how this novel is considered the first of this genre, the father of all westerns. Within this novel, there is a strong, quiet, world-wise hero, school marm love interest, and cattle rustlers. Any fan of the western genre ought to read this classic, they are bound to be entertained by the old-fashioned writing style that feels contemporaneous with the world of the wild west. Our hero, The Virginian, is a man of his word and proves it with both his lady love, Ms. Molly Stark, and his nemesis, Trampas. The reader will look forward to how all of the traditional western tropes are woven throughout this novel, take a stroll down memory lane and drink in the nostalgia!