Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
A deeply human novel that finds beauty in long journeys and unlikely bonds.
Lonesome Dove is one of the most memorable books I’ve ever read, especially since I’ve traveled through Texas and lived in the American West for a few years. It’s definitely a slow burn, but absolutely worth it.
In the late 1870s, Captains Woodrow Call and Augustus “Gus” McCrae, two well-known retired Texas Rangers, run the Hat Creek Cattle Company and Livery in the small border town of Lonesome Dove, Texas. When a former Ranger describes the open lands of Montana, Call becomes determined to gather a herd and drive it north, aiming to establish the first cattle ranch beyond the Yellowstone River. Gus is initially hesitant, but changes his mind when reminded that his former love, Clara, lives along the Platte River near Ogallala, Nebraska — directly along the route. The Hat Creek crew rounds up thousands of cattle from across the Mexican border and hires local cowhands to prepare for the long journey. The rest of the novel follows their treacherous drive north, where the crew faces bandits, storms, deaths, and moral dilemmas galore on the frontier.
McMurtry’s storytelling is epic. It’s much more than a traditional Western, mixing adventure, humor, tragedy, and everything in between. This isn’t just a “cowboy story,” but an exploration of aging, loss, and purpose. The tone can quickly shift from funny and exciting to heartbreaking, and the differing perspectives let you hear the inner thoughts of dozens of characters as the story crosses the country from Arkansas and Texas to Nebraska and Montana.
The book is considered a landmark work, redefining the genre by not glorifying the Old West. It portrays it as dangerous, harsh, and often lonely, which makes the setting feel realistic. Some scenes involving women, Native Americans, and settlers can be troubling by modern standards, but they reflect the realities of the time. It really drives home the historical importance of this era and location in American history.
The writing is very detailed and deliberate. For example, McMurtry spends several pages describing the history of the sign out front of the farm. I found it amusing, but also a heads-up for the kind of slow, immersive storytelling you’re in for. By page 150, you might be wondering if anything is actually going to happen, but that’s a common concern. At over 800 pages, this is more reflective and tragic than a straight romance or action story, and if you stick with it, you’ll see why it won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
The real accomplishment of Lonesome Dove is the characters. Gus and Call are some of the most memorable figures in American fiction, and their friendships feel authentic. The cast isn’t huge, but every character is so richly drawn it feels like they could be standing right in front of you. You’ll learn a side character’s irrational fear of drowning or their quirky cooking habits — and that’s part of the fun. You could have full book club discussions just analyzing how Call’s obsession with duty shapes his relationships or how Gus’s humor affects everyone around him.
I’ll always remember Lonesome Dove; by now, it feels like a real place you could visit in Texas. Whether it’s the characters, the setting, or the story, everything in this novel is fire.
