New Novel Writer
Best revisionist western fiction novels
Lonesome Dove
Larry McMurtry
This random mix of anti-western fiction is, by definition, unfinished - so come back for more recommendations later.
There is no ranking, so you be the judge as to which is 'best'. This list of literary westerns is determined by opinions from several sources. Some have been western classics for decades (or even longer!), whilst others have be forced onto western genre bestseller shelves following box-office success as feature films or TV series.
For those reasons, Brokeback Mountain (initially an Annie Proulx short story in Close Range) rubs shoulders with Zane Grey's Riders of the Purple Sage and Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove. Works by the latter revisionist western author, as well as Cormac McCarthy could fill a page on their own in terms of current popular western fiction.
Links from the book covers below will take you to full descriptions of each title, a chance to read an excerpt in most cases, as well as an ability to purchase.
More on revisionist western fiction as a genre is on the previous page...
True Grit
Charles Portis
Blood Meridian
Cormac McCarthy
The Virginian
Owen Wister
Riders of the Purple Sage
Zane Grey
No Country for Old Men
Cormac McCarthy
Little Big Man
Thomas Berger
Hondo
Louis L'Amour
Close Range
Annie Proulx
Warlock
Oakley Hall
In the Distance
Hernan Diaz
Under a Painted Sky Stacey Lee
My Antonia
Willa Cather
Whiskey When We're Dry
John Larison
Angle of Repose
Wallace Stegner
How Much of These Hills is Gold
C Pam Zang
The Trace
Forrest Gander
The Plague of Doves
Louise Erdrich
The Power of the Dog
Thomas Savage
For a comparison between revisionist western fiction (anti-westerns) and classic westerns - read the previous page
Gentler Revisionist Western Fiction
Romantic author J S Morey brings a gentler tone to the revisionist western fiction literary genre.
Set in the traditional territory of Wyoming grasslands favoured by the classic western authors, Wild Hearts Roam Free and Wild Hearts Come Home are available as eBooks, Paperback and - for a special treat or as a gift - in hardback - all on Amazon.
Links to a free sample read are from each book cover.
