One of the twelve categories in Karen's Back to the Classics Challenge this year is "A Classic that's Been on Your TBR List the Longest". And originally, I planned on reading Anne Radcliffe's The Romance of the Forest, a book I bought years ago but never read. I even started it, but I just couldn't do it. Even though I liked both A Sicilian Romance and The Mysteries of Udolfo, I just couldn't get into this one. The text was too dense, the prose too wordy and boring. So I decided to switch books and read The Virginian by Owen Wister instead.
This book is one my Dad owned, and one I've long wanted to read. And I ended up really liking it. Written in 1902, It's set in Wyoming in the late 1800s. The main character is known only as the Virginian (because that's where he's from). He's described as being a tall, lean gentleman with dark hair and a way with horses. He's got a soft Southern drawl and a wicked sense of humor. He's also nomadic, single, and happy with his life. Until he meets the new young schoolteacher from Vermont, Molly Wood. Once he sees her, his whole world changes. She does not feel the same way about him, at least not at first. Molly has a proud and independent spirit, but the Virginian is persistent and hard to resist.
I thought this novel did an excellent job of capturing the spirit of the Old West, as well as depicting life as a cow-puncher in a mostly unsettled Wyoming. It's also a novel of friendship, honor, courage, courtship, and love. I was charmed by how the Virginian borrowed books from Molly to try and better himself, and how he really liked Shakespeare and the Russian authors, but couldn't relate to the books of Jane Austen. He's a memorable and very likable character. This whole book is quite entertaining and readable....and definitely better than The Romance of the Forest.
Happy Reading!
Other classic westerns I've read and enjoyed:
And any book by Louis L'Amour is always fun!
I don't think you're old enough to remember the tv series. It was wonderful but possibly not really based much on the book. I must read this at some stage as I have it on my Nook.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember the TV series, though I think reruns of it are still floating around on cable somewhere. But I'm going to go out on a limb and say the book is better! ;D
DeleteI'm not sure why I remember The Virginian---was it a book my mom read or am I remembering the tv series---but I have a vague recollection of bits of the plot. Glad to see you liked it so much.
ReplyDeleteIt was surprisingly enjoyable. I'm really glad I read it. :)
DeleteI don't read many westerns, but your review makes this one sound so good! I'm definitely interested. :)
ReplyDeleteI like a good western every once in awhile. If you ever do decide to try one, start with a Louis L'Amour. His books are very accessible and fun.
DeleteGood decision to switch books! I guess there was a movie or TV series on this ... but I haven't seen. Perhaps the book is better!
ReplyDeleteI never saw the TV series either. And I'm pretty sure it didn't follow this book too closely, because TV series never do. ;)
DeleteThis sounds great! My grandparents had Louis L'Amour books around their house and I used to love to look at those.
ReplyDeleteLouis L'Amour's books were the first westerns I ever read; and I really loved them. :)
DeleteI'm not sure but I think I read this long, long ago, possibly as a teenager, and I do vaguely remember that many years ago there was a popular television show with the same title but I don't know if it was in any way based on the book.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen any episodes of the TV series so I don't know how it compares to the book. I think they did a movie of this book, too, but I've never seen that either. :)
DeleteI remember my dad and brother watching the TV show. The book sounds good, and a nice way to understand the wild west.
ReplyDeleteIf you like westerns, this is a really good one! :)
DeleteI read Shane in high school (which I remember liking) but some classes read the Virginian for a Western & I've been curious about it ever since.
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot to like about it. I read Shane just last year and really loved that one. This one is just as good. :)
DeleteHi Lark, Glad you liked The Virginian. It's been on my list too and I should read it. I like books set in the west and The Virginian was a big bestseller in it's day and some critics gave said that the western as a genre pretty much starts with this book.
ReplyDeleteI bet this one was the first real western. It's a good one, and it holds up well I thought. But then, I do like westerns. :)
DeleteI like to read such old books, I have the impression that they have something that is often missing from contemporary ones.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right; otherwise, they wouldn't have lasted all these years. Thanks for commenting! :)
DeleteSo glad you switched classics! I really enjoyed The Virginian when I read it a few years ago and definitely loved his reaction to Austen! So interesting to read. I agree, for me, this book had such an authentic voice and painted what I consider an accurate picture of life in my beloved West in the early 1900s.
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad I switched books, too! The Virginian is so great. I loved it. :D
DeleteI've never read this one. But I don't think I've read many classics.
ReplyDeleteI think you have to be in just the right mood to read and enjoy a classic. :)
DeleteI've never been drawn to Westerns but my dad loved them. Seeing this one makes me think of him. :) Glad this one worked for you, Lark.
ReplyDeleteMy dad loved them, too. :)
DeleteThe Virginian sounds like a classic I'd actually like! An old fashioned cowboy romance! Glad it worked out for you when you didn't have success with The Romance of the Forest. :)
ReplyDeleteI just couldn't make myself read The Romance of the Forest; I felt like my eyes were crossing in boredom every time I picked it up. Which is too bad, I did like Radcliffe's other books. But The Virginian ended up being a fun classic to read. :)
DeleteThis sounds really good. I don't think I've ever read a Western before and I'm from Virginia too so this one definitely has me intrigued.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of the first westerns ever written, and I found it to be very readable. And I really liked the Virginian. He's quite the character. :)
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