Wyoming Books

VIRGINIAN -by Owen Wister ( first reviewed 30 April 2006)

Though "The Virginian" has a standing as a Western novel, it is philosophically rich, and Owen Wister used this novel to articulate certain fundamental truths. (I always find great clarification from older books, books written before TV, before Computers, and even before Radio. In these, one can still find clarification of values, that is not easily found in modern literature, when those who write books don't know the difference between "Come!" and "Go sic'em!" ) Wister's book is not just a "shoot'em-up". The reader needs to be aware of the depth of the philosophical arguments offered by his characters

(1)
the definition of a "gentleman" (in Chapter Two)

(2)
the conflict between GOOD (the Virginian) & EVIL (Trampas, the cowhand turned rustler and worse, corrupter of men, resulting in their destruction

(3)
the definition of "love" ; NOT the romantic love between the school teacher and the cowboy. Rather, it was the love the Virginian showed to his fellow cowhand, vulnerable to manipulation and deceit, in trying to shepherd the man's soul along the lines of the soul's deepest strengths (the Judge's hired hand who loved horses).

(4)
the definition of "spirituality"; Wister draws a stark contrast between the traveling preacher, who wears his religious "act" like a cheap black suit and poorly conceals his contempt of common men in his arrogance and superiority complex.
Moreover, Chapter Two demonstrates the essential requirement of HUMILITY that the Virginion manifests (a character trait utterly lacking in the minister).

(5)
the definition of "conflict": indeed, the entire book is about the very human fight at the very core of life. The Virginian demonstrates the singular truth, clear to anyone who actually engages life, that you cannot find an answer to life's conflict by simply turning away and riding out of town. There is no answer to life's problems in mere "conflict-avoidance", nor in folding our hands and practicing some NAMBY-PAMBY sentiment passing under the guise of LOVE.

When The Virginian beats the stuffing out of one of the most despicable of human beings (the abuser of horses) he demonstrates the timelessness of the truth, that good people must stand for something. Even today, deceit and lies have been popularized so that one often hears admonitions, suggesting that we should all practice, "NON-JUDGEMENT." That only bears out, if you choose to embrace ideological horse-flop as life's dearest treasure.

Some fights must be fought, though we do not enjoy them. The EVIL that Trampas represents, will not back down, in its mindlessness. Riding away simply turns over the reins of power to the embodiment of EVIL.

(6)
the definition of "humor": (I cannot spoil the story but...the CHICKEN, the DRUMMERS, the railroad ride after the cattle sale)
There are numerous accounts demonstrating how good people find humor at every chance, and who use humor and imagination to fight evil in everyday circumstances.

(7) DUTY: As Foreman of the Judge's ranch, the Virginian endures many slights and insults to his authority by a "top hand" or two. Not once does he inform the Judge of these difficulties. Why? Because performing his duty includes these things. It is his job; and the Virginian performs his duty as a worthy hand.


The Virginian was written by Wister to a deep purpose, so deep in fact, that I believe it was largely lost on the world. True, it was made into many movies, but even in these, even the great ones, the TRUTHS Wister elaborate in the book are vastly watered down. You cannot acquire Wister's purpose merely by watching a movie. You can only find them in the book.

The book, in the wording of an older era, may seem awkward, perhaps ...slow; but I suggest you think of it as a foray into another place, the Wyoming of a hundred years ago, with vast prairies of open sky, only rarely interrupted by a human dwelling, and more rarely still, by a town. Words then, were a relief from the prairie, which alternates from being vastness of eerie silence, punctuated by violence.

In certain ways, Wister eclipses Melville's "Moby Dick". He was not credited with being the literary giant that Melville enjoys in literary history, but in my opinion, he arrived at a deeper point, and quicker. Melville's characters are melodramatic and driven, often as not, by superstition and wild, incomprehensible urges. Wister's characters are driven by a more familiar greed, a more familiar goodness, a more familiar treachery, an everyday ordinariness, if you will.

When Melville gives his characters something to contend with, they must contend with the ultimate superwhale, Moby Dick, or, it is the strange obsessive madness of the captain. These are less often encountered by people generally, in any age. Wister's evil is not, like Melville's, the Arch-Evil of some cartoonish melodrama. Wister's evil is the cattle rustler, driven by personal selfishness, and a contempt for common values. In my opinion, there is more of a lesson for us in Wister's presentation of evil as more of an everyday, and an ordinary thing, in an ordinary humanity.

There is a foreshadowing in Wister's novel, of a theme exploited to great success by Louis L'Amour half a century later: the notion of a cowhand, who has vaguely ridden on the wrong side of the law. From the start, we become aware that the Virginian is not a "saint". He is a man molded by hard living in the American West. Somewhere on Life's road, a choice was made to care for people, and not merely to steal from others to advance self. Wister's rejection of EGO-CENTRISM as a basis for living is clear. Duty to principle is the honorable alternative.

****** The ACADEMICS and their perspectives on the Virginian*********


There have been some academics who have written prefaces, introductions, and essays about the Virginian, and their natty-brained intellectualizations frequently seem to dominate the public's understanding of the Western, and Wister's tale.

Here's where they go wrong. Writing from the concrete castles of academia, these academics are far removed from the realities of life, especially from the world Wister showed us. Academics operate in an abstract realm of ideas, where they assure themselves that human conflict (and even violence) are all a thing of the past, and that their wordy perambulations have encompassed all that is known of man. After all, they tell us with great bluster and probity that the cowboy and his myth have vanished. That may be so; but what has never changed in life is CONFLICT. It was not removed when TV was invented.

There are those who afford themselves the privilege of scoffing at defining good and evil. These are people who are not engaged in the struggle. They are the spectators in life, and that is why we must guard carefully to never let such tell us how we ought to think and act. Invariably, they will discourage all action.
by this philosophy, a cynical and skeptical view is proper, and inaction is the order of the day.

Wister's Virginian, shows where a man's duty lies, and how he ought to go about conducting himself in facing conflict. The cowboy may be gone, but human conflict is always with us.

Though literary critics advance Mark Twain or Nabokov or Melville or some such as authors of The Great American Novel, for me, it will always be The VIRGINIAN. --Bruce Bain

I really enjoyed WED IN WYOMING. It was great to enjoy more of the saga, especially with the next generation of the Clay clan. Allison Leigh has a great saga going on.

I love this book because every character introduced to the reader is explored. Melody Hunter and Jason Wakefield know each other very, possibly too, well. Melody comes into her own when her brother asks her to dee-jay for him one night and she uses the pseudonym Wendy Wyoming. Jason finally notices her while trying to discover who Wendy Wyoming is.

Set in the late 19th century in the newly-formed state of Wyoming, A Western Christmas Carol offers a gentle tale of Christmas cheer following a young widower and father's courtship of an equally young widow and mother. As David Clarke pursues his attraction for Lucy Devlin, he comes up against her formidable brother-in-law. As the story unfolds, bitterness and anger turn to repentence and forgiveness as the true spirit of Christmas envelopes all within its path.

A Western Christmas Carol is a delightful addition to anyone's Christmas library. Tom Roulstone skilfully weaves threads of Charles Dickens into his story, adding a touch of that familiar Christmas tale to the resolving of problems that beset some of the people of this small western town.

I was especially intrigued by Belle, a saloon girl who loves the seemingly unlovable Eddie "Lucky" Devlin. Her constancy, diligence and compassionate heart show a true Christ-like nature in spite of her past. All of the characters are endearing and down-to-earth and neatly interact with one another. The story is simple, and in its simplicity offers old-fashioned wisdom and goodness. Read it and be nurtured.
--Mary Siever for LDS Canada

Wildflowers Of Wyoming by botantists, naturalists, and wildflower enthusiasts Jack and Diantha States is a no-nonsense wildflower reference and identification guide. A brief introduction gives way to a straightforward listing of wildflowers any Wyoming nature hiker can view, complete with extensive descriptions, ecology and history notes, and gorgeous full color photographs on every other page. A thumbnail photograph section up-front, sorting small-sized pictures of Wyoming wildflowers by color and flower shape, makes identifying a given species of flower an extremely simple task. Highly recommended for wildflower gardening enthusiasts.

I am quite awed by the magnitude if this project. It is a beautiful and moving tribute to that gorgeous wilderness and the thoughts of the people who speak to it are eloquent. The Red Desert pictures are a surprise to me. All the pictures speak for themselves and I only wish that the people who need and should see this magnificent book will. I do so hope that it will have the affect that everyone involved with it longs for. Congratulations to the editor, Ronald H. Chilcote, all the contributors and to the Laguna Wilderness Press for such a superb publication. It is a true work of art.

Ms. Temte writes such wonderful books that leave the reader feeling as if anything can happen!! I have read the whole Hearts of Wyoming series and they have not disappointed!! What a wonderful series from a wonderful author!!

In this third book of the Wagons West! series, the wagon train must endure a winter in the Rocky Mountains. The vaious trials the party endures, whether it be from newcomers to Indians to foreign agents, is wonderfully done. Also of interest is Whip having to deal with his former indiana lover, La-ena. Also of interest is Delores, who deals ith the spirit world in a believable way. Well Done.

In California, in the 5th grade, students are expected to pick a state and write a report about it. My daughter, who is 10, picked Wyoming and we ordered this book. It was perfect! Lots of good information, presented at a level ideal for her age group and presented in a way that drew her in and kept her reading. I would highly recommend as an outstanding reference!

Includes the history of Wyoming, famous people from the area, information about the native American's from the area, details on the National parts, such as Yellowstone and much more.

"Wyoming" is Book 3 in Dana Fuller Ross' magnificent "Wagons West" series and every bit as exciting and well written as the first two books, "Independence" and "Nebraska." If you are a fan of historical fiction and/or the frontier days in the Wild West, then you will thoroughly enjoy this series of 24 books. (This is a review for the Unabridged version of "Wyoming").

The first wagon train to cross the American continent and forge the Oregon Train reached the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in the autumn of 1938. Over 500 weary pioneers considered themselves lucky if they traveled more than 10 miles per day. They found a safe valley in the Wyoming country where they could spend their second winter together before attempting the last leg of their journey to Oregon Territory. They had survived Indian attacks, floods, sabotage, illness and accidents and now had to build temporary housing and forage, prepare and store food for the bitter cold months ahead. If all went well, they would reach their new home by late summer 1839.

This group of farmers, artisans, professional men, merchants, adventure seekers, and their women and children were led by skilled veteran mountainman Whip Holt, and his blood brother, Cherokee warrior Stalking Horse. They were joined in Independence, Missouri by Lieutenant Colonel Lee Blake, the US Army's leading counterintelligence expert. He had been sent by President Martin Van Buren to help protect the wagon train from the British and Russian saboteurs who were determined to destroy it. Both Russia and Great Britain were vying with the US for possession of the Oregon Territory and all its riches.

The group had long since accustomed itself to communal living and almost everyone worked easily together for the benefit of all. They had also been joined by La-Ena, a beautiful Indian woman, half-sister of Stalking Horse who Holt had spent several winters with before leading the wagon train. Dolores, a half Mexican, half Indian woman and seer joined them as did Ginny Dobbs, a woman who had been badly hurt by life. Their stories, mingled with those of characters from the earlier books, greatly enrich the novel. An epidemic of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever struck and many died from this dreaded disease, so some characters are lost also.

The author vividly brings history to life in "Wyoming," as in the other books in the series. And the politics behind the settling of the West are fascinating. As one would expect, the novel is chock-full of adventure, hardship, courage, love, loss, tragedy and triumph. Many details have been taken from actual diaries and journals of early pioneers. Once you start this book you won't be able to stop until you have read all 24 novels. The next one is "Oregon," and deals with the last leg of the trip - reaching Oregon, building new lives and the confrontation between three great powers - the United States, Imperial Russia and Great Britain. Very highly recommended!

JANA