Who Would Like This Book:
Fans of classic Westerns and character-driven adventures will love diving into the origins of beloved Lonesome Dove heroes, Gus and Call. Larry McMurtry's flair for vivid, gritty storytelling shines as young Rangers fumble through Texas's wild frontiers, outmatched by brutal landscapes and even fiercer foes. The book brims with larger-than-life personalities, unique friendships, and moments of dark humor, making it a fun (if sometimes harrowing) ride for any reader curious about America's old West and the beginnings of iconic friendships.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers found the relentless violence, bleakness, and repetitive hardships off-putting, not to mention the era-accurate, but now jarring, political incorrectness in language and depiction of women and Indigenous people. Others missed the richer ensemble cast and layered plot of Lonesome Dove, finding Dead Man's Walk more linear and less emotionally rewarding. If you’re looking for non-stop action or prefer your protagonists to drive the story decisively, this one might frustrate you as Gus and Call often feel like bystanders in their own tale.
About:
'Dead Man's Walk' is a prequel to the renowned 'Lonesome Dove' series, chronicling the early adventures of young Gus McCray and Woodrow Call as Texas Rangers. The book delves into the challenges faced by the inexperienced Texas Rangers as they navigate through Comanche and Apache territories, with a writing style that vividly portrays the brutal realities of life on the frontier.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
There are significant content warnings for graphic violence, including scalping and death, as well as themes of torture and murder.
Has Romance?
There are elements of romance present, particularly regarding Gus's interest in Clara, as well as the relationships between other characters.
From The Publisher:
The first of Larry McCurtry's Pulitzer Prize-winning Lonesome Dove tetralogy, showcasing McCurtry's talent for breathing new life into the vanished American West through two of the most memorable heroes in contemporary fiction: Augustus McCrae and Woodrow Call.
As young Texas Rangers, Augustus McCrae and Woodrow Call ("Gus" and "Call" for short) have much to learn about survival in a land fraught with perils: not only the blazing heat and raging tornadoes, roiling rivers and merciless Indians, but also the deadly whims of soldiers. On their first expeditions-led by incompetent officers and accompanied by the robust, dauntless whore known as the Great Western-they will face death at the hands of the cunning Comanche war chief Buffalo Hump and the silent Apache Gomez. They will be astonished by the Mexican army. And Gus will meet the love of his life.
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What can you read after
Dead Man's Walk?
About the Author:
Larry McMurtry (1936-2021) was the author of twenty-nine novels, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning Lonesome Dove, three memoirs, two collections of essays, and more than thirty screenplays. He lived in Archer City, Texas.
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