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The Virginian  By  cover art

The Virginian

By: Owen Wister
Narrated by: Richard Davidson
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Editorial reviews

In addition to being one of the first full-length Western novels, Owen Wister's The Virginian still ranks among the most satisfying. Richard Davidson's performance of this classic tale of an honorable cowboy and the woman who loves him captures the outsized personalities that populated the Wyoming frontier at the turn of the century. Davidson summons the particular cadences of good guys as well as villains, Indians as well as refined East Coast schoolteachers. The performer's gilded and self-assured delivery reveals his sizable experience. He has won the Benjamin Franklin Award for Best Audiobook Non-fiction and has performed over 200 audiobooks in his career.

Publisher's summary

He is the Virginian - the first fully realized cowboy hero in American literature, a near-mythic figure whose idealized image has profoundly influenced our national consciousness. This enduring work of fiction marks the birth of a legend that lives with us still.

Public Domain (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about The Virginian

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I could have read it better

I have read this book many times (hard copy) so was excited to listen to it, that excitement sadly didn’t last. The narration is unsettlingly poor. Though I love this book I could not finish it.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

could have done better

Narrator rather poor and story seemed rather disconnected. worked well to put me to sleep at night. this version does not give a potentially excellent book justice.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Exceptional writing and performance

The language and plot were so skillfully written and performed that I wanted to listen nonstop

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

It was ok

A little disappointed in this one. I loved all of the descriptions of Wyoming. A bit bland though but good early historical fiction.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Manly and well crafted adventure

I’ve always loved this story, since I was a teenager, and enjoyed the performance 15 years later! Sometimes I wish the readers expression was different, and a little bit more natural, but overall thoroughly enjoyed my time with the story!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Don’t revisit your childhood hero’s

The performer was good apart from his female voices. A bit cringe.
This was one of my favorite books growing up. I read it multiple times and returned to it often. My last read had been in my early 20’s and still loved it then. Decided to listen to revisit old joys and really wish I hadn’t.
Many of the overt and underlying themes and belief systems throughout, run counter to what I’ve learned in the intervening years. Where before I simply adored the Virginian as a character, I now cringed, rolled my eyes and sometimes wanted to give him a good slap.
Even in my earlier reads I had not liked Molly as a character and preferred the parts of the book where she was not present. Now I understand why, she was not a person but only a prop to better demonstrate the perceived perfection of the Virginian.
If I did not have so much nostalgia for this story, I would have given it an even lower rating. But it is still well written, and remembered love biases me towards generosity. I’ll try to remember only the parts and themes I love, forget the rest and not read again.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A pure delight of western adventure

The detailed story of the western frontier was full of adventure as the Virginian lived his early life as a cowboy and courted a schoolmarm from Vermont. Both of them finding their way in the new territory with romance and intrigue. I enjoyed every bit of the descriptive and unique style of the writing. I ,also , enjoyed the descriptions of the landscape and the authentic characters of the old west. It was far more authentic than the movies and series we see today.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The greatest western of all time!

I have read and listened to The Virginian many times over my life. An essential story for every young man.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Insight

Not at all what I had expected. Growing up in the 1950 and 1960s I was in love with the Virginian. I now know things were greatly changed and romanticized. I know now the old West was hard and not everyone was wealthy. Maybe the show Gunsmoke had it right. Nesters-do get old and haggard before their time. I found the reader at times exaggerated bit much. Another bucket list read checked off.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A must read American classic

An exceptionally written tale that holds true to the real early days of the West. For anyone wishing to read as many "classics" as possible, The Virginian is a must

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