Brian's Book Blog

An unconventional Western in that it's not full of shootouts and action. Could be that it's more of a novel of its time (early 1900's) and the genre hadn't been explored much by then.

Follows the titular Virginian through the eyes of a visiting green-horn from the East, showing the experience and character of him. A kind of friendship grows between them over the years and the latters naivety is slowly eased.

Mostly the novel is about the Virginian's feud with another cow puncher called Trampas and his meeting and romance of Molly Stark Wood who comes to Medicine Bow as a schoolteacher.

Good characterization, well written descriptions of the landscape, the people and the lives they lead.