Best Westerns (1375 books)

Those books (fiction and nonfiction) that embody the spirit of the Old West, the heroism, tragedy, and drama of this mythic era of American history.

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1	Lonesome Dove (Lonesome Dove, #1) by Larry McMurtry 4.57 avg rating — 236,307 ratings score: 46,433, and 469 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	True Grit by Charles Portis 4.17 avg rating — 71,754 ratings score: 21,651, and 223 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy 4.15 avg rating — 216,989 ratings score: 19,688, and 200 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	All the Pretty Horses (The Border Trilogy, #1) by Cormac McCarthy 4.06 avg rating — 145,228 ratings score: 13,526, and 141 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy 4.17 avg rating — 244,295 ratings score: 12,901, and 133 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West by Dee Brown 4.26 avg rating — 101,765 ratings score: 11,527, and 120 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Riders of the Purple Sage (Riders of the Purple Sage, #1) by Zane Grey 3.75 avg rating — 14,764 ratings score: 9,776, and 103 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck 4.03 avg rating — 989,001 ratings score: 9,522, and 99 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Shane by Jack Schaefer 3.96 avg rating — 14,767 ratings score: 8,030, and 86 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt 3.85 avg rating — 102,886 ratings score: 7,733, and 80 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	Hondo by Louis L'Amour 4.06 avg rating — 14,482 ratings score: 7,640, and 81 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	East of Eden by John Steinbeck 4.44 avg rating — 630,022 ratings score: 7,359, and 77 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Little Big Man by Thomas Berger 4.27 avg rating — 8,848 ratings score: 6,633, and 70 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1) by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.91 avg rating — 660,799 ratings score: 6,402, and 66 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	The Crossing (The Border Trilogy, #2) by Cormac McCarthy 4.17 avg rating — 47,063 ratings score: 6,386, and 67 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Butcher's Crossing by John Williams 4.18 avg rating — 35,128 ratings score: 6,362, and 67 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Old Yeller by Fred Gipson 4.11 avg rating — 103,395 ratings score: 6,360, and 68 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Streets of Laredo (Lonesome Dove, #2) by Larry McMurtry 4.11 avg rating — 25,797 ratings score: 6,146, and 67 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner 4.24 avg rating — 61,944 ratings score: 5,864, and 62 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Appaloosa (Virgil Cole & Everett Hitch, #1) by Robert B. Parker 4.01 avg rating — 9,314 ratings score: 5,666, and 60 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx 4.03 avg rating — 51,747 ratings score: 5,517, and 57 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	The Virginian by Owen Wister 3.91 avg rating — 9,967 ratings score: 5,380, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Dead Man's Walk (Lonesome Dove, #3) by Larry McMurtry 4.06 avg rating — 24,304 ratings score: 5,314, and 57 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	How the West Was Won by Louis L'Amour 4.05 avg rating — 3,688 ratings score: 4,867, and 52 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	The Big Sky (The Big Sky, #1) by A.B. Guthrie Jr. 4.01 avg rating — 5,734 ratings score: 4,770, and 51 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Comanche Moon (Lonesome Dove, #4) by Larry McMurtry 4.15 avg rating — 20,814 ratings score: 4,731, and 51 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Undaunted Courage: The Pioneering First Mission to Explore America's Wild Frontier by Stephen E. Ambrose 4.23 avg rating — 67,536 ratings score: 4,706, and 50 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	The Ox-Bow Incident by Walter Van Tilburg Clark 3.87 avg rating — 6,637 ratings score: 4,635, and 49 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	My Ántonia by Willa Cather 3.84 avg rating — 147,076 ratings score: 4,622, and 50 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck 3.90 avg rating — 2,812,240 ratings score: 4,533, and 50 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Cities of the Plain (The Border Trilogy, #3) by Cormac McCarthy 4.13 avg rating — 31,679 ratings score: 4,425, and 47 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	The Quick and the Dead by Louis L'Amour really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 6,755 ratings score: 4,359, and 46 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Little House on the Prairie (Little House, #3) by Laura Ingalls Wilder 4.21 avg rating — 301,529 ratings score: 4,207, and 46 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	O Pioneers! by Willa Cather 3.90 avg rating — 58,375 ratings score: 4,046, and 43 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans 3.86 avg rating — 61,477 ratings score: 3,978, and 43 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather 3.97 avg rating — 42,999 ratings score: 3,967, and 43 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	The Searchers by Alan LeMay 4.21 avg rating — 4,170 ratings score: 3,677, and 40 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	The Daybreakers (The Sacketts, #6) by Louis L'Amour 4.27 avg rating — 8,768 ratings score: 3,617, and 38 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Dances with Wolves by Michael Blake 4.24 avg rating — 28,980 ratings score: 3,607, and 40 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Centennial by James A. Michener 4.26 avg rating — 44,927 ratings score: 3,508, and 38 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Sackett's Land (The Sacketts, #1) by Louis L'Amour 4.16 avg rating — 14,501 ratings score: 3,131, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	The Son by Philipp Meyer (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 37,740 ratings score: 3,110, and 33 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Warlock (Legends West, #1) by Oakley Hall 4.28 avg rating — 4,615 ratings score: 3,093, and 33 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	The Way West (The Big Sky, #2) by A.B. Guthrie Jr. 3.96 avg rating — 5,855 ratings score: 2,943, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Comstock Lode by Louis L'Amour 4.15 avg rating — 4,337 ratings score: 2,941, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	The Whip by Karen Kondazian (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 7,675 ratings score: 2,888, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	The Sacketts Vol 1 by Louis L'Amour 4.31 avg rating — 363 ratings score: 2,885, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West by Hampton Sides 4.30 avg rating — 19,961 ratings score: 2,862, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	The Time It Never Rained by Elmer Kelton 4.32 avg rating — 2,228 ratings score: 2,804, and 30 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	Doc by Mary Doria Russell (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 17,501 ratings score: 2,794, and 30 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	The Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard by Elmore Leonard 4.14 avg rating — 3,290 ratings score: 2,638, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	Hombre by Elmore Leonard 4.01 avg rating — 5,315 ratings score: 2,630, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	The Trail by M.L. Dunn (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 74 ratings score: 2,570, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	Roughing It by Mark Twain 3.87 avg rating — 10,239 ratings score: 2,532, and 28 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	The Blessing Way (Leaphorn & Chee, #1) by Tony Hillerman really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 31,816 ratings score: 2,415, and 28 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	A River Runs Through It and Other Stories by Norman Maclean 4.19 avg rating — 30,339 ratings score: 2,383, and 27 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	Close Range: Wyoming Stories by Annie Proulx 3.99 avg rating — 18,400 ratings score: 2,296, and 25 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	The Nations by Ken Farmer (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 442 ratings score: 2,269, and 23 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford by Ron Hansen 3.91 avg rating — 3,638 ratings score: 2,224, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Ride the Wind by Lucia St. Clair Robson 4.40 avg rating — 6,359 ratings score: 2,152, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	The Haunted Mesa by Louis L'Amour 3.81 avg rating — 7,386 ratings score: 2,106, and 23 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	The Shootist by Glendon Swarthout 4.14 avg rating — 3,094 ratings score: 2,071, and 23 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	News of the World by Paulette Jiles 4.08 avg rating — 111,934 ratings score: 2,067, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	Plainsong (Plainsong, #1) by Kent Haruf 4.04 avg rating — 79,439 ratings score: 2,038, and 23 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	Resolution (Virgil Cole & Everett Hitch, #2) by Robert B. Parker really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 5,486 ratings score: 1,989, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	Three-Ten to Yuma and Other Stories by Elmore Leonard 3.95 avg rating — 2,861 ratings score: 1,863, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	Nothing Like It in the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-69 by Stephen E. Ambrose 3.99 avg rating — 13,966 ratings score: 1,855, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	On the Road by Jack Kerouac 3.61 avg rating — 446,224 ratings score: 1,854, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	Yuma Gold by Steven Law (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 55 ratings score: 1,853, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	The Revenant by Michael Punke 3.96 avg rating — 54,533 ratings score: 1,847, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	By the Shores of Silver Lake (Little House, #5) by Laura Ingalls Wilder 4.18 avg rating — 82,544 ratings score: 1,833, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	On the Banks of Plum Creek (Little House, #4) by Laura Ingalls Wilder 4.23 avg rating — 107,115 ratings score: 1,828, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	The Good Old Boys (Hewey Calloway, #1) by Elmer Kelton 4.35 avg rating — 963 ratings score: 1,817, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
74	Fastest in the West by Anfaney Gladwin 4.57 avg rating — 44 ratings score: 1,800, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
75	The Lonesome Gods by Louis L'Amour 4.23 avg rating — 9,456 ratings score: 1,741, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	Little Town on the Prairie (Little House, #7) by Laura Ingalls Wilder 4.20 avg rating — 93,376 ratings score: 1,738, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
77	Jubal Sackett (The Sacketts, #4) by Louis L'Amour 4.25 avg rating — 8,892 ratings score: 1,723, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	The Legendary Wolf by Ammar Habib (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 5,251 ratings score: 1,700, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
79	Sackett (The Sacketts, #8) by Louis L'Amour 4.26 avg rating — 8,965 ratings score: 1,623, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	Dancing at the Rascal Fair by Ivan Doig 4.24 avg rating — 7,169 ratings score: 1,560, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters by Robert Lewis Taylor 3.97 avg rating — 3,275 ratings score: 1,560, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: Screenplay by William Goldman 4.29 avg rating — 550 ratings score: 1,554, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
83	Love Medicine (Love Medicine, #1) by Louise Erdrich 4.01 avg rating — 28,442 ratings score: 1,540, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	The Day the Cowboys Quit by Elmer Kelton 4.20 avg rating — 787 ratings score: 1,501, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
85	Haunted Falls by Ken Farmer (Goodreads Author) 4.48 avg rating — 242 ratings score: 1,477, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	Valdez Is Coming by Elmore Leonard 4.07 avg rating — 3,429 ratings score: 1,475, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
87	The Unforgiven by Alan LeMay 4.07 avg rating — 1,842 ratings score: 1,448, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History by S.C. Gwynne 4.25 avg rating — 66,681 ratings score: 1,395, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
89	Deep Creek by Dana Hand (Goodreads Author) 3.82 avg rating — 1,128 ratings score: 1,390, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
90	Kilkenny (Kilkenny, #3) by Louis L'Amour 4.11 avg rating — 3,208 ratings score: 1,352, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	Monte Walsh by Jack Schaefer 4.36 avg rating — 825 ratings score: 1,328, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
92	Brimstone (Virgil Cole & Everett Hitch, #3) by Robert B. Parker 4.04 avg rating — 5,238 ratings score: 1,325, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	Deadman's Fury (The Deadman #2) by Linell Jeppsen (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 252 ratings score: 1,280, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing by Marilyn Durham 3.69 avg rating — 237 ratings score: 1,279, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
95	Hard Land to Rule by Anthony Whitt (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 74 ratings score: 1,278, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	The Wanderers by Matthew Finneran (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 8 ratings score: 1,243, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto by Vine Deloria Jr. 4.13 avg rating — 4,130 ratings score: 1,238, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
98	The Bounty Hunters by Elmore Leonard 3.75 avg rating — 2,088 ratings score: 1,233, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
99	Crazy Horse and Custer by Stephen E. Ambrose 4.23 avg rating — 9,274 ratings score: 1,205, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
100	Trail of Tears: The Rise and Fall of the Cherokee Nation by John Ehle 4.12 avg rating — 4,540 ratings score: 1,200, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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1,375 books · 1,500 voters · list created December 19th, 2008 by Ann Keller (votes) .

Tags: fiction, genre-fiction, historical-fiction, history, non-fiction, western, westerns

378 likes · Like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

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Comments Showing 1-39 of 39 (39 new)

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message 1: by Nina (new)

Dec 22, 2008 07:32PM

Of course I had to vote for "Unsinkable Molly Brown," as that was the name of our sailboat. nina

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message 2: by Roger (new)

Dec 26, 2008 02:16PM

That's an ecclectic selection of westerns. Like a lot of people, my introduction to westerns has been through movies and this has shaped my taste. Of course, most of my novels and film scripts are in fact westerns, even if they're set in places like Birmingham, the Black Country and Yorkshire mining villages during the strike.

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message 3: by [deleted user] (new)

Jan 19, 2009 09:28PM

I was very surprised not to see more Elmer Kelton!!!!!

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message 4: by Roger (new)

Jan 25, 2009 03:18AM

I agree
ROGER

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message 5: by Robert (new)

May 07, 2009 07:50PM

What about Angle of Repose?

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message 6: by [deleted user] (new)

May 09, 2010 10:01PM

deleted user wrote: "I was very surprised not to see more Elmer Kelton!!!!!"

I agree, its amazing!

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message 7: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (new)

Dec 27, 2010 07:19AM

Both "Angle of Repose" and a few books by Elmer Kelton are now on the list! :)

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message 8: by Seth (new)

Apr 27, 2011 08:41AM

Surprised to not see more Cormac McCarthy, especially the Border Trilogy: All the Pretty Horses, The Crossing, and Cities of the Plain. Glad to see Blood Meridian is high on the list. McCarthy is the greatest Western writer, in my opinion.

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message 9: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (new)

May 05, 2011 02:15PM

"All the Pretty Horses" is on the list, too ... (currently #57).

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message 10: by Manray9 (last edited Jul 01, 2016 08:37AM) (new)

Mar 26, 2012 03:49PM

I had to add Elmer Kelton's Hewey Calloway trilogy and Monte Walsh.

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message 11: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (new)

Mar 27, 2012 01:10AM

On the Road? The Grapes of Wrath? I can see where there's a case to be made to include Wallace Stegner and Tony Hillerman. But those two books ... and "spirit of the Old West?" Seriously??

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message 12: by Martin (new)

Mar 01, 2013 02:08PM

This list needs more Zane Grey, too :)

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message 13: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (new)

Mar 23, 2013 03:30PM

Martin wrote: "This list needs more Zane Grey, too :)"

Everyone can add books -- there's a tab up top next to "all votes."

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message 14: by MomToKippy (new)

Jun 21, 2014 06:28PM

Cold Mountain is not Western!! It is Appalachia - mid atlantic. Please fix.

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message 15: by Robert (new)

Oct 10, 2014 03:01PM

Here are some good Westerns Novels.
Site : http://myfivekids.hubpages.com/hub/be...

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message 16: by Patricia (new)

Mar 06, 2015 10:23AM

What about "The Collected Stories of Wallace Stegner"? Many of them are connected and one is a novella.

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message 17: by John (new)

Jun 21, 2015 11:15AM

mountain man needs re-filming; jeremiah johnson didn't do it justice!(john)

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message 18: by Shane (new)

Aug 31, 2015 08:49AM

Maybe I have misunderstood the purpose of this list, but just because a novel takes place in the west doesn't make it a western.

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message 19: by MomToKippy (new)

Aug 31, 2015 09:18AM

True, the list is well defined at the top under the title. The owner of the list or a librarian can delete books that don't fit.

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message 20: by Shane (new)

Sep 01, 2015 08:14AM

Don't get me wrong. I love On the Road, but maybe it doesn't belong in this particular list.

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message 21: by Jeff (new)

Nov 05, 2015 11:12PM

Brian wrote: "Don't get me wrong. I love On the Road, but maybe it doesn't belong in this particular list."

I have to agree with you here.

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message 22: by Raymond (new)

Feb 11, 2016 05:05AM

Martin wrote: "This list needs more Zane Grey, too :)"

I agree completely.

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message 23: by Energizeddiva (new)

Mar 31, 2016 01:42PM

I am glad to see Westerns making a comeback. There are some really good new authors.

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message 24: by Valerie (last edited Jul 01, 2016 08:26AM) (new)

Jul 01, 2016 08:26AM

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West is a "Western?"

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message 25: by Manray9 (new)

Jul 01, 2016 08:36AM

Valerie wrote: "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West is a "Western?""

I consider the term "Western" to mean fiction -- although the list maker didn't specify such. That certainly doesn't apply to Dee Brown's book.

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message 26: by Richard (new)

Jul 09, 2016 07:11PM

True Grit is entered more than once.

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message 27: by MomToKippy (new)

Jul 09, 2016 07:17PM

fixed

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message 28: by Nina (new)

Jul 10, 2016 12:53PM

How about "Plain Song," by Wright Morris?

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message 29: by MomToKippy (new)

Jul 10, 2016 01:08PM

Nina wrote: "How about "Plain Song," by Wright Morris?" You should add it if you think it fits the list Nina.

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message 30: by Richard (new)

Jul 10, 2016 02:37PM

MomToKippy wrote: "fixed"

thank you!

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message 31: by Lobstergirl (last edited Jul 23, 2017 06:45PM) (new)

Jul 23, 2017 06:45PM

Should Into the Wild be on the list? It's set in Alaska.

On p. 4.

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message 32: by Lobstergirl (last edited Jul 23, 2017 06:50PM) (new)

Jul 23, 2017 06:49PM

Earth Abides is sci-fi. Should it be on here?

On p. 6.

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message 33: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jul 23, 2017 06:52PM

One of Ours is set in Nebraska and France. Does that count as a western? On p. 8.

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message 34: by Jon (new)

Mar 10, 2018 05:14AM

Lobstergirl wrote: "Earth Abides is sci-fi. Should it be on here?

On p. 6."

Removed.

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message 35: by Shane (new)

Jul 15, 2020 01:13PM

Thanks, I really enjoyed this list. I like the fact that the definition of western is kept broad, so that modern tales with spirit akin to the 'Wild West' are included. I'm still wondering about Steinbeck, though. Into the Wild, for sure; even todays Alaska is in the wild west!

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message 36: by Elyse (new)

Dec 03, 2020 02:05PM

I removed #134 Last of the Mohicans. It is an "Eastern", not a "Western". It took place in New York State and thereabouts.

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message 37: by Shane (new)

Dec 07, 2020 09:47AM

Yes, but it was 'the West' then. And it ticks the right boxes. The Native and the frontiersmen, the clash, and sometimes harmony, of different civilisations, power exercised by remote eastern rulers, the potential and fragility of the wilderness, good versus evil and so on. Set in the times before the push for American independence, this book forms something of a template for subsequent Westerns. It might be too geographically literal to remove it, though I suppose some criterion of location must apply.

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message 38: by Mark (new)

Apr 27, 2021 02:04PM

Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales is a set of five novels (available together in a two vol Library of America set) that follows the adventures of the hero, Natty Bumppo, from his youth in the Eastern forests to his final years in '"The Prairie" (published 1827) where he is dealing with Indians on the Central Plains (in his 80s!) and would be a good match for this list geograpically.

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message 39: by Richard (new)

Sep 11, 2023 02:43PM