Summary
Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove is a sweeping epic of the American West that captivated readers upon its release in 1985. This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel follows two retired Texas Rangers as they embark on a perilous cattle drive from Texas to Montana. With its vivid characters and richly detailed frontier setting, Lonesome Dove revitalized the Western genre and cemented McMurtry's place as one of America's greatest storytellers.
While primarily known as a novel, Lonesome Dove reached an even wider audience through its acclaimed 1989 television miniseries adaptation. Starring Robert Duvall as Augustus McCrae and Tommy Lee Jones as Woodrow F. Call, the series brought McMurtry's unforgettable characters to life and garnered numerous awards and accolades. Its success spawned several follow-up miniseries based on McMurtry's prequels and sequels.
At its core, Lonesome Dove is more than just a Western adventure – it's a profound meditation on friendship, duty, unrequited love, and the passing of an era. McMurtry's nuanced portrayal of the Old West strips away romanticized notions while still celebrating the tenacity of the human spirit. Through its epic scope and memorable cast of characters, the novel continues to resonate with readers decades after its initial publication.
Plot
Lonesome Dove follows two retired Texas Rangers, Captains Woodrow Call and Augustus “Gus” McCrae, as they lead a cattle drive from the small Texas town of Lonesome Dove to the unsettled Montana territory. They are joined by Joshua Deets, a Black former Ranger, Jake Spoon, a fugitive, and Newt Dobbs, a 17-year-old boy who may be Call's son. As they embark on their epic journey, the group faces numerous challenges including dust storms, dangerous river crossings, and attacks from Native Americans.
Meanwhile, Sheriff July Johnson sets out from Arkansas in pursuit of Jake Spoon, who accidentally killed Johnson's brother. Johnson's wife Elmira abandons him to search for an old flame. The story follows multiple intertwining plot threads as characters' paths cross during the long cattle drive north. Gus reunites briefly with his old love Clara in Nebraska, while the group's cook Bolivar abandons the drive before leaving Texas.
Tragedy strikes when Gus is gravely wounded in an Indian attack and later dies of blood poisoning, asking Call to bury him back in Texas. Jake Spoon falls in with a gang of murderers and is hanged by his former comrades. The remaining cowboys finally establish a ranch in Montana, but Call is left grief-stricken by the loss of his friend. He embarks on a months-long journey to fulfill his promise to Gus, transporting his body back to Texas for burial.
After burying Gus in the designated spot, an exhausted Call returns to Lonesome Dove. The epic cattle drive has transformed all who took part, especially young Newt who has grown into a competent cowboy. But Call remains unable to acknowledge Newt as his son, despite giving him his prized possessions. The story concludes with Call haunted by his choices and the changes wrought by their arduous journey across the frontier.
Themes
The changing nature of the American West
Friendship and loyalty
Love and unrequited love
Duty and honor
The passage of time and aging
Violence and its consequences
The search for purpose and meaning
Setting
Set in the late 1870s, Lonesome Dove unfolds against the backdrop of the American Old West during its twilight years. The story primarily takes place in Texas, beginning in the small border town of Lonesome Dove, before expanding across the vast expanse of the Great Plains. As the characters embark on an epic cattle drive, the narrative sweeps through the rugged landscapes of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana.
The novel vividly portrays the harsh realities of frontier life, from dusty cattle towns to treacherous river crossings and sprawling prairies. Key locations include the Hat Creek Cattle Company in Lonesome Dove, the dangerous crossing of the Rio Grande, and the lush, untamed wilderness of Montana. The characters also pass through notable settlements such as San Antonio, Fort Worth, and Miles City, each offering a glimpse into the changing face of the American West.
McMurtry's masterful depiction of the setting serves as more than just a backdrop; it becomes a character in its own right. The vast, often unforgiving landscape shapes the characters' experiences and challenges, reflecting the era's transition from the wild frontier to a more settled civilization. Through this rich tapestry of locations, Lonesome Dove captures the spirit of a vanishing way of life, as the age of cowboys and cattle drives gives way to the encroaching modern world.
Characters
Captain Woodrow F. Call: A former Texas Ranger and co-owner of the Hat Creek Cattle Company. Call is a stoic, disciplined leader who values duty and honor above all else. He struggles to express emotion and acknowledge his son Newt. Call's journey to bury his friend Gus forms the emotional core of the novel's final act.
Captain Augustus “Gus” McCrae: Call's longtime friend and business partner. Gus is charming, talkative, and fond of drinking and women. Despite his easygoing nature, he's a skilled fighter and tracker. Gus's unrequited love for Clara and his friendship with Call drive much of the story's emotional weight.
Newt Dobbs: A 17-year-old orphan raised by Call and Gus. Newt matures over the course of the cattle drive, becoming a skilled cowboy. He yearns for Call to acknowledge him as his son.
Jake Spoon: A former Texas Ranger who returns to Lonesome Dove after years of wandering. Jake's tales of Montana inspire the cattle drive, but his charm masks a selfish and weak character. His actions set several plot threads in motion.
Lorena Wood: The only prostitute in Lonesome Dove. Lorena dreams of escaping to San Francisco but is kidnapped by Blue Duck during the cattle drive. Her traumatic experiences and relationship with Gus form a crucial subplot.
Clara Allen: Gus's former love interest who lives in Nebraska. Clara is strong-willed and independent, running her own horse ranch. Her interactions with Gus and Call provide insight into their characters.
Blue Duck: A vicious outlaw and longtime enemy of Call and Gus. Blue Duck's kidnapping of Lorena and his final confrontation with Call serve as major plot points.
Joshua Deets: An African-American former Ranger who works for the Hat Creek Cattle Company. Deets is a loyal friend and skilled tracker.
Pea Eye Parker: A simple but reliable former Ranger who works for Call and Gus. Pea Eye's loyalty and bravery are tested during the cattle drive.
July Johnson: The young sheriff of Fort Smith, Arkansas. July's pursuit of Jake Spoon and search for his wife Elmira form a parallel narrative to the main cattle drive story.
Dish Boggett: A young, skilled cowboy hired for the cattle drive. Dish pines for Lorena throughout the journey.
Bolivar: The cook for the Hat Creek Cattle Company. Bolivar is known for his loud dinner bell and reluctance to leave Texas.
Quick facts
The novel won the 1986 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
It was originally conceived as a screenplay in the 1970s before McMurtry turned it into a novel.
The main characters of Gus and Call were loosely inspired by real-life cattle drivers Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving.
McMurtry wrote the 843-page novel in just 6 months.
The book's title comes from the name of the small Texas town where much of the story begins.
It was adapted into an Emmy Award-winning miniseries in 1989 starring Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones.
McMurtry later wrote three more books in the Lonesome Dove series - two prequels and one sequel.
The novel revitalized the Western genre and is considered McMurtry's magnum opus.
McMurtry said he was inspired by Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote when creating the characters of Gus and Call.
In 2023, the book was banned in some Florida school districts, sparking controversy.
About the Author
Larry McMurtry was a prolific American novelist, essayist, and screenwriter best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Lonesome Dove. Born in 1936 in Texas, McMurtry drew heavily on his experiences growing up in the American West to craft vivid stories set in both historical and contemporary Texas. Over his long career, he authored 29 novels, several essay collections, memoirs, and more than 30 screenplays.
McMurtry's work often explored themes of the changing American West and small-town life. Some of his most famous novels include The Last Picture Show, Terms of Endearment, and the Lonesome Dove series. Many of his books were adapted into critically acclaimed films and television series, garnering numerous awards. The Lonesome Dove miniseries alone earned 18 Emmy nominations.
In addition to his writing, McMurtry was an avid book collector and seller. He owned and operated antiquarian bookstores, including a massive shop in his hometown of Archer City, Texas that at its peak housed nearly half a million books. His passion for literature extended beyond his own work, as he served as president of PEN America and was a vocal advocate for free speech.
McMurtry's literary achievements were widely recognized. He received the National Humanities Medal in 2014, and in 2006 he won both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for his screenplay adaptation of Brokeback Mountain. Known for his tireless work ethic, McMurtry continued writing prolifically until his death in 2021 at the age of 84, leaving behind a rich legacy that profoundly impacted American literature and popular culture.
