The Virginian

my mom picked this for the book club smh

It's a shame to have a book on my favorites shelf and never get around to reviewing it. This book is credited with being the first true Western written... The tale of the Virginian and how he made good in the West. He was from Virginia, hence the nickname (in a land where men were often known more by their handle than their Christian name)—only once, near the end, do we hear what that name is. Then there is the matter of the Eastern lady schoolteacher who comes out with high ideals of bringing civilization to the ranges and is in for some rude surprises.

In many ways this is one of the greatest romances ever written. Even the villain of the piece has some sympathy early on, before he turns totally to evil; also, there is the young fellow who the Virginian once rode with who begins to think the way of evil more easy than the way of hard work; we see the Virginian pleading with him to reconsider his path, then grieving for him as his choices overwhelm him. Add to that the heroine, who must sort through what good and evil actually are when they're beyond the reach of police and courts. The story is deeply layered and masterfully plotted.

There's humor, too...one of my favorite scenes is the baby-swapping: I laughed aloud at that one!