Beginning every book with the ending
McMurtry explains that he generally conceives an ending first and lets it simmer for years before writing to discover how the characters arrived there.
Larry McMurtry
American
1936 – 2021
Larry Jeff McMurtry was an American novelist, essayist, and screenwriter whose work was predominantly set in either the Old West or contemporary Texas. During a career spanning six decades, he wrote more than thirty novels, numerous essays and memoirs, and approximately fifty screenplays. Films adapted from McMurtry's works earned 34 Academy Award nominations with 13 wins, and his novels were the basis for several television miniseries.
On LuvemBooks, we've reviewed Lonesome Dove.
1
Books ReviewedIn Larry McMurtry's own words
Larry McMurtry discusses the origins of 'Lonesome Dove', how he found the title, and the dynamic between Woodrow Call and Gus McCrae.
Uploaded by David Masson Concept Artist, 2020 · Watch on YouTube ·
Also in this interview
Ask LuvemBooks about Larry McMurtry
Larry McMurtry was an American novelist, essayist, and screenwriter whose work centered on the Old West and contemporary Texas. LuvemBooks has reviewed 1 of his books so far: Lonesome Dove, his Pulitzer Prize–winning Western about two retired Texas Rangers driving a cattle herd from south Texas to Montana, which holds a 4.8/5 reader rating from nearly 32,000 Amazon ratings and remains the benchmark of the modern Western.
- Where should I start?
- Start with Lonesome Dove. It won the Pulitzer Prize, became a bestseller, and is widely regarded as the benchmark of the modern Western — and it's the one Larry McMurtry book we've reviewed, with a 4.8/5 reader rating from 31,697 Amazon ratings.
- What's their writing style?
- McMurtry's fiction is rooted in place — either the Old West or contemporary Texas — and Lonesome Dove shows the approach at its most ambitious: a sweeping cattle-drive narrative built around two retired Texas Rangers. The result is a Western that became both a bestseller and the standard against which modern entries in the genre are measured.
- Books we've reviewed
- We've reviewed 1 Larry McMurtry book so far. Lonesome Dove is his Pulitzer Prize–winning Western following two retired Texas Rangers on a cattle drive from south Texas to Montana — a bestseller that holds a 4.8/5 reader rating from 31,697 Amazon ratings.
- Why is Lonesome Dove trending?
- Lonesome Dove is currently trending because of an adaptation. The novel already has a strong screen history — it inspired an acclaimed 1989 miniseries — and renewed adaptation interest is bringing fresh attention to the book.
- What genre do they write?
- McMurtry's work is predominantly set in either the Old West or contemporary Texas. Lonesome Dove, the book of his we've reviewed, is classified as Historical Fiction — a Western following a cattle drive from south Texas to Montana.
- Are any books being adapted?
- Yes — Lonesome Dove is trending right now because of an adaptation. The novel previously inspired an acclaimed 1989 miniseries, so screen versions of this story already have a celebrated track record.
- What should I read after Lonesome Dove?
- Lonesome Dove is the only Larry McMurtry book we've reviewed so far, so we can't yet point you to another reviewed title on this hub. If you want to stay with McMurtry, his notable works include The Last Picture Show — check back as our coverage grows.
Who is Larry McMurtry?
Where should I start?
What's their writing style?
Books we've reviewed
Why is Lonesome Dove trending?
What genre do they write?
Are any books being adapted?
What should I read after Lonesome Dove?
Who is Larry McMurtry?
Larry Jeff McMurtry was an American novelist, essayist, and screenwriter whose work was predominantly set in either the Old West or contemporary Texas. His notable works include The Last Picture Show, and his Pulitzer Prize–winning novel Lonesome Dove became a bestseller and inspired an acclaimed 1989 miniseries.
Follow up
What is Larry McMurtry best known for?
Did Larry McMurtry write screenplays?
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