The Virginian (1902) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Characters edit see section history

• The Virginian: The foreman on the Shiloh Ranch, Wyoming. He is the main character, and he is only known as 'The Virginian'.
• Molly Stark Wood: Schoolteacher "spinster" from back east and hired to teach at the new school in Bear Creek, she draws the attention of The Virginian.
• Trampas: Cowboy, cattle rustler and enemy of The Virginian.

Quotes edit see section history

• “When you call me that...SMILE”

  The Virginian

• “A public back-down is an unfinished thing...”

• “If you were to try it in your native town, you would not merely be arrested, you would be hanged, and everybody would be glad, and the clergyman would not bury you.”

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• All America is divided into two classes,—the quality and the equality. The latter will always recognize the former when mistaken for it. Both will be with us until our women bear nothing but kings.

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• In their flesh our natural passions ran tumultuous; but often in their spirit sat hidden a true nobility, and often beneath its unexpected shining their figures took on heroic stature.

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• I have thought that matters of dress and speech should not carry with them so much mistrust in our democracy; thieves are presumed innocent until proved guilty, but a starched collar is condemned at once.

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• The creature we call a gentleman lies deep in the hearts of thousands that are born without chance to master the outward graces of the type.

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• For the Virginian had been equal to the occasion: that is the only kind of equality which I recognize.

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• 'I could not live without it now,' he said. 'This has got into my system.'

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• The cow-boy is now gone to worlds invisible; the wind has blown away the white ashes of his camp-fires; but the empty sardine box lies rusting over the face of the Western earth.

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• So I perceived a new example of the old truth, that the letter means nothing until the spirit gives it life.

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• 'We ain't a Christian outfit a little bit, and maybe we have most forgotten what decency feels like. But I reckon we haven't forgot what it means. You can sit down now, if you want.'

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• More of death it undoubtedly saw, but less of vice, than did its New York equivalents. And death is a thing much cleaner than vice.

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Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Medicine Bow, WY: Location of the Shiloh Ranch
• Bennington, VT: Where Miss Mary Stark Wood is from and where her family lives.
• Jackson Hole, Wyoming: Described as a place those looking to escape the law migrated to in the old west.

First Sentence edit see section history

Series & Lists edit see section history

Preceded by Lovey Mary, and followed by Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch.

Followed by Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Owen Wister (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Copyright Status: Public Domain
• Library of Congress: PS3345.V5
• Dewey: 813.52

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Literature & Fiction › Genre Fiction › Westerns
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Classics

Movie Connections edit see section history

• The Virginian (1914) (IMDb): Silent film adaptation, directed by Cecil B. DeMille
• The Virginian (1923) (IMDb): Silent film remake
• The Virginian (1929) (IMDb): First film adaptation with sound, starring Gary Cooper and Walter Huston; considered the best version
• The Virginian (1946) (IMDb): Starring Joel McCrea and Brian Donlevy; considered inferior to 1929 version with Gary Cooper
• The Virginian (TV Series 1962-1971) (IMDb): Starring James Drury, Doug McClure, and Lee J. Cobb
• The Virginian (2000) (IMDb): First film adaptation for television, made for TNT

Books That Cite This Book edit see section history