Owen Wister's paladin of the plains : The Virginian as a cultural hero

Thumbnail
Date
2008
Author
Smith, David A.
Publisher
South Dakota State Historical Society
Type
Article
Refereed Paper
Metadata
Show full item record
Abstract
In 1902, Owen Wister published The Virginian : A Horseman of the Plains. It is possible the most widely read novel ever written by an American. Smith explores the origins of Wister's cowboy hero and the reasons behind the public's enthusiastic acceptance of him at the time when the United States was becoming a global power. The article also examines the continuing influence of The Virginian's cowboy hero on America today.
Citation
South Dakota History vol. 38, no. 1 (Spring 2008): 47-77
URI
Subject
Wister, Owen, 1860-1938
The Virginian (1902)
American West
American history
Description
This article received the 2009 Spur Award for Best Short Nonfiction from the Western Writers of America.
Collections