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| Plot Summary of Lonesome Dove |
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"Larry McMurtry's vast, wild epic of a cattle drive that is something more is full of action and unforgettable characters. The story follows two long-time friends and former Texas Rangers, Woodrow Call and Augustus McCrae at the end of the 1800's. Their lives as cattle ranchers along the Rio Grande have lost the excitement of their younger lawman days. They set off on a long and difficult cattle drive to Montana along with an outlaw named Jake Spoon, who suggests the journey, a dancehall girl, Lorena Wood, Call's son Newt, and numerous ranch hands.
Along the way to Montana, Lorena is kidnapped by a fierce Indian warrior named Blue Duck but is rescued by McCrae. Jake eventually abandons the trail as he takes up with several prior criminal acquaintances who then proceed to steal horses and murder “sod busters”. Jake is caught and hanged by his old friends Gus and Woodrow. Sheriff July Johnson is traveling from Arkansas trying to track down his runaway wife. They encounter a desperate and starving tribe of Indians. Call reunites with his old flame Clara and leaves Newt with her. The cattle and horses make it to Montana at last although the same cannot be said for many of the original riders who set out from Texas, as several of the cattle drive riders (including one very shockingly prominent character) die along the way by water moccasins, Indian attacks, gunshot wounds, etc.
Lonesome Dove is a long novel with dozens of subplots and storylines. It is emotionally draining to follow along at times. The reader may feel the achievement of reaching the book's end comparable to the efforts of the story's heroes. "
David Fletcher, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Lonesome Dove |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 20%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 30%
Tone of story
- very upbeat
Time/era of story:
- 19th century
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Western
Yes
Story primarily about
- attacked on ride through the West
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- police/lawman
Age:
- 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How much violence does he/she use?
- just the right amount
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- natural phenomena
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Texas
- West
Prairie?
Yes
Farm/Ranch?
Yes
Farm/Ranch:
- farm
- ranch
- lots of descript of animal care
Style
Part of a series?
Yes
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- very gorey descriptions deaths/dead bodies
How many deaths?
- 8 or more
Unusual forms of death
- hanging
- perforation--bullets
Unusual form of death?
Yes
Amount of dialog
- significantly more descript than dialog
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Click here for more information about this book
Larry McMurtry Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 David Fletcher
SCHOLARS:
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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