The Virginian

Set against the backdrop of the Wyoming frontier, the story follows a cattle ranch foreman who grapples with the harsh realities of the honor code, leading him to make devastating choices, including lynching a friend. With classic Western elements such as a rugged hero, a charming schoolmarm, and a villain facing justice, this influential novel, published in 1902, has inspired numerous adaptations and was voted the top Western novel by the Western Writers of America in 1977. It offers a profound exploration of the Western hero myth.