Best Westerns

Those books (fiction and nonfiction) that embody the spirit of the Old West, the heroism, tragedy, and drama of this mythic era of American history.

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1	Lonesome Dove (Lonesome Dove, #1) by Larry McMurtry 4.53 avg rating — 190,571 ratings score: 43,283, and 437 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	True Grit by Charles Portis 4.17 avg rating — 59,189 ratings score: 20,624, and 212 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy 4.16 avg rating — 164,051 ratings score: 17,951, and 182 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	All the Pretty Horses (The Border Trilogy, #1) by Cormac McCarthy 4.04 avg rating — 123,779 ratings score: 12,898, and 134 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy 4.15 avg rating — 199,840 ratings score: 12,709, and 131 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West by Dee Brown 4.25 avg rating — 92,500 ratings score: 11,235, and 117 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Riders of the Purple Sage (Riders of the Purple Sage, #1) by Zane Grey 3.74 avg rating — 13,169 ratings score: 9,132, and 96 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck 4.01 avg rating — 905,818 ratings score: 8,982, and 93 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Shane by Jack Schaefer 3.94 avg rating — 13,165 ratings score: 7,958, and 85 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt 3.85 avg rating — 97,206 ratings score: 7,359, and 76 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	Hondo by Louis L'Amour 4.06 avg rating — 12,592 ratings score: 7,086, and 75 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	East of Eden by John Steinbeck 4.41 avg rating — 538,294 ratings score: 6,967, and 73 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Little Big Man by Thomas Berger 4.27 avg rating — 8,203 ratings score: 6,428, and 68 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Old Yeller by Fred Gipson 4.10 avg rating — 98,027 ratings score: 6,378, and 68 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1) by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.92 avg rating — 610,275 ratings score: 6,230, and 65 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	The Crossing (The Border Trilogy, #2) by Cormac McCarthy 4.15 avg rating — 40,089 ratings score: 5,895, and 62 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner 4.24 avg rating — 59,162 ratings score: 5,592, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Butcher's Crossing by John Williams 4.17 avg rating — 23,462 ratings score: 5,417, and 57 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Appaloosa (Virgil Cole & Everett Hitch, #1) by Robert B. Parker 3.99 avg rating — 8,358 ratings score: 5,411, and 57 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Streets of Laredo (Lonesome Dove, #2) by Larry McMurtry 4.06 avg rating — 19,391 ratings score: 5,409, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx 3.99 avg rating — 44,194 ratings score: 5,219, and 54 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	The Virginian by Owen Wister 3.91 avg rating — 9,152 ratings score: 5,146, and 55 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Dead Man's Walk (Lonesome Dove, #3) by Larry McMurtry 4.02 avg rating — 18,083 ratings score: 5,061, and 54 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	Comanche Moon (Lonesome Dove, #4) by Larry McMurtry 4.11 avg rating — 16,249 ratings score: 4,652, and 50 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	My Ántonia by Willa Cather 3.83 avg rating — 137,765 ratings score: 4,527, and 49 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	The Big Sky (The Big Sky, #1) by A.B. Guthrie Jr. 4.01 avg rating — 5,298 ratings score: 4,496, and 48 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	The Ox-Bow Incident by Walter Van Tilburg Clark 3.87 avg rating — 6,163 ratings score: 4,455, and 47 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Cities of the Plain (The Border Trilogy, #3) by Cormac McCarthy 4.12 avg rating — 26,986 ratings score: 4,425, and 47 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	Undaunted Courage: The Pioneering First Mission to Explore America's Wild Frontier by Stephen E. Ambrose 4.22 avg rating — 62,363 ratings score: 4,319, and 46 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	How the West Was Won by Louis L'Amour 4.03 avg rating — 3,283 ratings score: 4,292, and 46 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck 3.88 avg rating — 2,543,804 ratings score: 4,266, and 47 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	The Quick and the Dead by Louis L'Amour 3.97 avg rating — 5,714 ratings score: 4,187, and 44 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	O Pioneers! by Willa Cather 3.89 avg rating — 53,720 ratings score: 4,147, and 44 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Little House on the Prairie (Little House, #3) by Laura Ingalls Wilder 4.21 avg rating — 290,569 ratings score: 3,632, and 40 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans 3.85 avg rating — 58,570 ratings score: 3,607, and 39 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather 3.96 avg rating — 37,534 ratings score: 3,523, and 38 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	The Searchers by Alan LeMay 4.21 avg rating — 3,649 ratings score: 3,495, and 38 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	The Daybreakers (The Sacketts, #6) by Louis L'Amour 4.24 avg rating — 7,651 ratings score: 3,423, and 36 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Centennial by James A. Michener 4.25 avg rating — 43,153 ratings score: 3,327, and 36 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Dances with Wolves (Dances with Wolves, #1) by Michael Blake 4.23 avg rating — 27,350 ratings score: 2,971, and 33 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	The Whip by Karen Kondazian (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 7,324 ratings score: 2,888, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	The Way West (The Big Sky, #2) by A.B. Guthrie Jr. 3.96 avg rating — 5,573 ratings score: 2,852, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Comstock Lode by Louis L'Amour 4.13 avg rating — 4,005 ratings score: 2,846, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Warlock (Legends West, #1) by Oakley Hall 4.28 avg rating — 3,742 ratings score: 2,797, and 30 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	The Sacketts Vol 1 by Louis L'Amour 4.54 avg rating — 1,444 ratings score: 2,791, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	Sackett's Land (The Sacketts, #1) by Louis L'Amour 4.16 avg rating — 12,663 ratings score: 2,761, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	The Son by Philipp Meyer (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 35,447 ratings score: 2,736, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	Doc by Mary Doria Russell (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 16,635 ratings score: 2,702, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	The Time It Never Rained by Elmer Kelton 4.29 avg rating — 1,931 ratings score: 2,617, and 28 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West by Hampton Sides 4.27 avg rating — 16,635 ratings score: 2,589, and 28 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	The Trail by M.L. Dunn (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 70 ratings score: 2,570, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	The Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard by Elmore Leonard 4.12 avg rating — 2,982 ratings score: 2,546, and 28 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	Hombre by Elmore Leonard really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 4,570 ratings score: 2,536, and 28 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	Roughing It by Mark Twain 3.88 avg rating — 9,485 ratings score: 2,533, and 28 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	The Blessing Way (Leaphorn & Chee, #1) by Tony Hillerman 4.02 avg rating — 27,137 ratings score: 2,340, and 27 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	A River Runs Through It and Other Stories by Norman Maclean 4.18 avg rating — 27,294 ratings score: 2,290, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford by Ron Hansen 3.90 avg rating — 3,294 ratings score: 2,225, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	Close Range: Wyoming Stories by Annie Proulx 3.99 avg rating — 17,091 ratings score: 2,197, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	The Nations by Ken Farmer (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 429 ratings score: 2,171, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Ride the Wind by Lucia St. Clair Robson 4.39 avg rating — 5,967 ratings score: 2,152, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	The Haunted Mesa by Louis L'Amour 3.82 avg rating — 6,870 ratings score: 2,106, and 23 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	Plainsong (Plainsong, #1) by Kent Haruf 4.03 avg rating — 73,759 ratings score: 1,944, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	Resolution (Virgil Cole & Everett Hitch, #2) by Robert B. Parker 3.99 avg rating — 4,991 ratings score: 1,896, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	The Shootist by Glendon Swarthout 4.14 avg rating — 2,563 ratings score: 1,881, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	Three-Ten to Yuma and Other Stories by Elmore Leonard 3.96 avg rating — 2,629 ratings score: 1,863, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	Yuma Gold by Steven Law (Goodreads Author) 4.19 avg rating — 53 ratings score: 1,853, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	The Good Old Boys (Hewey Calloway, #1) by Elmer Kelton 4.33 avg rating — 858 ratings score: 1,817, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	Fastest in the West by Anfaney Gladwin 4.51 avg rating — 39 ratings score: 1,800, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	On the Road by Jack Kerouac 3.61 avg rating — 410,922 ratings score: 1,765, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	Nothing Like It in the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-69 by Stephen E. Ambrose 3.98 avg rating — 13,056 ratings score: 1,759, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	The Revenant by Michael Punke 3.96 avg rating — 49,698 ratings score: 1,757, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	The Lonesome Gods by Louis L'Amour 4.21 avg rating — 8,607 ratings score: 1,741, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	The Legendary Wolf by Ammar Habib (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 5,211 ratings score: 1,700, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
74	On the Banks of Plum Creek (Little House, #4) by Laura Ingalls Wilder 4.22 avg rating — 101,402 ratings score: 1,640, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
74	By the Shores of Silver Lake (Little House, #5) by Laura Ingalls Wilder 4.17 avg rating — 77,896 ratings score: 1,640, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	Jubal Sackett (The Sacketts, #4) by Louis L'Amour 4.24 avg rating — 8,118 ratings score: 1,627, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
77	Love Medicine (Love Medicine, #1) by Louise Erdrich 4.01 avg rating — 26,588 ratings score: 1,540, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	The Day the Cowboys Quit by Elmer Kelton 4.18 avg rating — 723 ratings score: 1,501, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
79	News of the World by Paulette Jiles (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 105,334 ratings score: 1,495, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	Haunted Falls by Ken Farmer (Goodreads Author) 4.47 avg rating — 232 ratings score: 1,477, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
81	Valdez Is Coming by Elmore Leonard 4.04 avg rating — 2,881 ratings score: 1,476, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters by Robert Lewis Taylor 3.96 avg rating — 3,175 ratings score: 1,468, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
83	Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: Screenplay by William Goldman 4.27 avg rating — 524 ratings score: 1,463, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	Little Town on the Prairie (Little House, #7) by Laura Ingalls Wilder 4.19 avg rating — 89,167 ratings score: 1,456, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
85	The Unforgiven by Alan LeMay 4.05 avg rating — 1,581 ratings score: 1,441, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	Sackett (The Sacketts, #8) by Louis L'Amour 4.25 avg rating — 8,285 ratings score: 1,433, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
87	Hard Land to Rule by Anthony Whitt (Goodreads Author) 4.19 avg rating — 72 ratings score: 1,372, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	Brimstone (Virgil Cole & Everett Hitch, #3) by Robert B. Parker 4.04 avg rating — 4,841 ratings score: 1,325, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
89	Monte Walsh by Jack Schaefer 4.36 avg rating — 733 ratings score: 1,322, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
90	Deep Creek by Dana Hand (Goodreads Author) 3.82 avg rating — 1,127 ratings score: 1,300, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	Trail of Tears: The Rise and Fall of the Cherokee Nation by John Ehle 4.14 avg rating — 4,192 ratings score: 1,298, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
92	Dancing at the Rascal Fair by Ivan Doig 4.23 avg rating — 6,842 ratings score: 1,296, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	Deadman's Fury (The Deadman #2) by Linell Jeppsen (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 238 ratings score: 1,280, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	Kilkenny (Kilkenny, #3) by Louis L'Amour 4.10 avg rating — 2,972 ratings score: 1,260, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
95	The Wanderers by Matthew Finneran (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 8 ratings score: 1,243, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	The Bounty Hunters by Elmore Leonard 3.73 avg rating — 1,849 ratings score: 1,233, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne 4.23 avg rating — 54,540 ratings score: 1,212, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
98	Crazy Horse and Custer by Stephen E. Ambrose 4.21 avg rating — 8,463 ratings score: 1,205, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
99	The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing by Marilyn Durham 3.67 avg rating — 224 ratings score: 1,179, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
100	Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West by Wallace Stegner 4.05 avg rating — 3,960 ratings score: 1,178, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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1,336 books · 1,464 voters · list created December 19th, 2008 by Ann Keller (votes) .

Tags: fiction, genre-fiction, historical-fiction, history, non-fiction, western, westerns

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Comments Showing 1-39 of 39 (39 new)

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message 1: by Nina (new)

Dec 22, 2008 07:32PM

Of course I had to vote for "Unsinkable Molly Brown," as that was the name of our sailboat. nina

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message 2: by Roger (new)

Dec 26, 2008 02:16PM

That's an ecclectic selection of westerns. Like a lot of people, my introduction to westerns has been through movies and this has shaped my taste. Of course, most of my novels and film scripts are in fact westerns, even if they're set in places like Birmingham, the Black Country and Yorkshire mining villages during the strike.

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message 3: by [deleted user] (new)

Jan 19, 2009 09:28PM

I was very surprised not to see more Elmer Kelton!!!!!

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message 4: by Roger (new)

Jan 25, 2009 03:18AM

I agree
ROGER

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message 5: by Robert (new)

May 07, 2009 07:50PM

What about Angle of Repose?

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message 6: by [deleted user] (new)

May 09, 2010 10:01PM

deleted user wrote: "I was very surprised not to see more Elmer Kelton!!!!!"

I agree, its amazing!

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message 7: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (new)

Dec 27, 2010 07:19AM

Both "Angle of Repose" and a few books by Elmer Kelton are now on the list! :)

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message 8: by Seth (new)

Apr 27, 2011 08:41AM

Surprised to not see more Cormac McCarthy, especially the Border Trilogy: All the Pretty Horses, The Crossing, and Cities of the Plain. Glad to see Blood Meridian is high on the list. McCarthy is the greatest Western writer, in my opinion.

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message 9: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (new)

May 05, 2011 02:15PM

"All the Pretty Horses" is on the list, too ... (currently #57).

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message 10: by Manray9 (last edited Jul 01, 2016 08:37AM) (new)

Mar 26, 2012 03:49PM

I had to add Elmer Kelton's Hewey Calloway trilogy and Monte Walsh.

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message 11: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (new)

Mar 27, 2012 01:10AM

On the Road? The Grapes of Wrath? I can see where there's a case to be made to include Wallace Stegner and Tony Hillerman. But those two books ... and "spirit of the Old West?" Seriously??

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message 12: by Martin (new)

Mar 01, 2013 02:08PM

This list needs more Zane Grey, too :)

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message 13: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (new)

Mar 23, 2013 03:30PM

Martin wrote: "This list needs more Zane Grey, too :)"

Everyone can add books -- there's a tab up top next to "all votes."

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message 14: by MomToKippy (new)

Jun 21, 2014 06:28PM

Cold Mountain is not Western!! It is Appalachia - mid atlantic. Please fix.

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message 15: by Robert (new)

Oct 10, 2014 03:01PM

Here are some good Westerns Novels.
Site : http://myfivekids.hubpages.com/hub/be...

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message 16: by Patricia (new)

Mar 06, 2015 10:23AM

What about "The Collected Stories of Wallace Stegner"? Many of them are connected and one is a novella.

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message 17: by John (new)

Jun 21, 2015 11:15AM

mountain man needs re-filming; jeremiah johnson didn't do it justice!(john)

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message 18: by Shane (new)

Aug 31, 2015 08:49AM

Maybe I have misunderstood the purpose of this list, but just because a novel takes place in the west doesn't make it a western.

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message 19: by MomToKippy (new)

Aug 31, 2015 09:18AM

True, the list is well defined at the top under the title. The owner of the list or a librarian can delete books that don't fit.

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message 20: by Shane (new)

Sep 01, 2015 08:14AM

Don't get me wrong. I love On the Road, but maybe it doesn't belong in this particular list.

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message 21: by Jeff (new)

Nov 05, 2015 11:12PM

Brian wrote: "Don't get me wrong. I love On the Road, but maybe it doesn't belong in this particular list."

I have to agree with you here.

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message 22: by Raymond (new)

Feb 11, 2016 05:05AM

Martin wrote: "This list needs more Zane Grey, too :)"

I agree completely.

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message 23: by Energizeddiva (new)

Mar 31, 2016 01:42PM

I am glad to see Westerns making a comeback. There are some really good new authors.

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message 24: by Valerie (last edited Jul 01, 2016 08:26AM) (new)

Jul 01, 2016 08:26AM

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West is a "Western?"

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message 25: by Manray9 (new)

Jul 01, 2016 08:36AM

Valerie wrote: "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West is a "Western?""

I consider the term "Western" to mean fiction -- although the list maker didn't specify such. That certainly doesn't apply to Dee Brown's book.

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message 26: by Richard (new)

Jul 09, 2016 07:11PM

True Grit is entered more than once.

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message 27: by MomToKippy (new)

Jul 09, 2016 07:17PM

fixed

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message 28: by Nina (new)

Jul 10, 2016 12:53PM

How about "Plain Song," by Wright Morris?

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message 29: by MomToKippy (new)

Jul 10, 2016 01:08PM

Nina wrote: "How about "Plain Song," by Wright Morris?" You should add it if you think it fits the list Nina.

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message 30: by Richard (new)

Jul 10, 2016 02:37PM

MomToKippy wrote: "fixed"

thank you!

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message 31: by Lobstergirl (last edited Jul 23, 2017 06:45PM) (new)

Jul 23, 2017 06:45PM

Should Into the Wild be on the list? It's set in Alaska.

On p. 4.

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message 32: by Lobstergirl (last edited Jul 23, 2017 06:50PM) (new)

Jul 23, 2017 06:49PM

Earth Abides is sci-fi. Should it be on here?

On p. 6.

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message 33: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jul 23, 2017 06:52PM

One of Ours is set in Nebraska and France. Does that count as a western? On p. 8.

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message 34: by Jon (new)

Mar 10, 2018 05:14AM

Lobstergirl wrote: "Earth Abides is sci-fi. Should it be on here?

On p. 6."

Removed.

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message 35: by Shane (new)

Jul 15, 2020 01:13PM

Thanks, I really enjoyed this list. I like the fact that the definition of western is kept broad, so that modern tales with spirit akin to the 'Wild West' are included. I'm still wondering about Steinbeck, though. Into the Wild, for sure; even todays Alaska is in the wild west!

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message 36: by Elyse (new)

Dec 03, 2020 02:05PM

I removed #134 Last of the Mohicans. It is an "Eastern", not a "Western". It took place in New York State and thereabouts.

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message 37: by Shane (new)

Dec 07, 2020 09:47AM

Yes, but it was 'the West' then. And it ticks the right boxes. The Native and the frontiersmen, the clash, and sometimes harmony, of different civilisations, power exercised by remote eastern rulers, the potential and fragility of the wilderness, good versus evil and so on. Set in the times before the push for American independence, this book forms something of a template for subsequent Westerns. It might be too geographically literal to remove it, though I suppose some criterion of location must apply.

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message 38: by Mark (new)

Apr 27, 2021 02:04PM

Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales is a set of five novels (available together in a two vol Library of America set) that follows the adventures of the hero, Natty Bumppo, from his youth in the Eastern forests to his final years in '"The Prairie" (published 1827) where he is dealing with Indians on the Central Plains (in his 80s!) and would be a good match for this list geograpically.

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message 39: by Richard (new)

Sep 11, 2023 02:43PM