A horseman of the plains is a 1902 novel by the american author owen wister 18601938, set in wyoming. Overviewat the dawn of the twentieth century, many americans were filled with both pride in their nations past achievements and confidence in their bright future. Filmed in color, the virginian became televisions first. Source for information on the 1900s arts and entertainment. The virginian repackaged as the men from shiloh in its final year is an american western television series starring james drury, doug mcclure, and lee j. Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands affordable prices. James drury, tv western legend and star of the virginian, dead at 85 from natural causes. In response to advance criticism which charged that the novel was episodic and fragmentary, wister was prompted to change the virginian s subtitle from a tale of sundry adventures to a horseman of the plains. Its narrator, fresh from the east, encounters in wyoming cattle country a beautiful, baffling, and sometimes violent land where the handsome figure of the virginian battles trampas for supremacy and demonstrates that the customs of the country must eventually prevail. The 1902 novel by owen wister had already seen four movie adaptations when frank price mentioned the storys series potential to nbc. The 1929 western, coopers first talkie film, was based on the 1902 novel by owen wister. James drury, who starred in one of the longest running westerns in tv history, the virginian, has died. The virginian 1902 owen wister, sps 1878 sps books.
The binding is tight with light wear to the spine and edges. The virginian owen wister first edition raptis rare books. The virginian by owen wister first edition 1902 from. With eight fullpage illustrations by arthur keller. Its narrator, fresh from the east, encounters in wyoming cattle country a strange, seductive and often violent land where the handsome figure of the virginian battlesfor supremacy with trampas and other neerdowells. It describes the life of a cowboy on a cattle ranch and is considered the first true fictional western ever written, aside from short stories and pulp dime novels, though modern scholars debate this. In the genre of western novels, owen wisters the virginian is certainly the grandaddy of them all.
A horseman of the plains when i was in junior high school. The official website of james drury the virginian home. James drury, tv western legend and star of the virginian. It brought world wide recognition to medicine bow and made famous the phrase when you call me that, smile. Based on the 1902 owen wister book, it centered on the activities and adventures of the foreman of a cattle ranch known as shiloh. The virginian of the novel is the forefather of hondo and shane and every other strong but silent cowboy found in films. The television series was adapted from the 1902 owen wister western novel, the virginian, a horseman of the plains. It was a spinoff from a 1958 summer series called decision. By nick thomas originally airing on nbc from 1962 to 1971 and currently rerunning on several cable networks insp and starz, the enduring popularity of the the virginian doesnt surprise 85yearold james drury who starred throughout the series in the title role see. Filmmakings friendship with the virginian the laconic hero of owen wisters 1902 novel is winningly renewed in this robust observant western that follows four previous movie versions and a tv series. Its narrator, fresh from the east, encounters in wyoming cattle country a beautiful, baffling, and sometimes violent land where the handsome figure of the virginian battles trampas for supremacy and demonstrates that the customs of the country must. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. The virginian by wister, owen and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. James drury, the one true virginian by whom all others are measured, is the star of the first 90minute color western tv series, the virginian, which aired from 19621971.
First edition of the first true fictional western ever written. The virginian 1902 is owen wisters classic popular romance, and a significant shaping influence on cowboy fiction. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. This is widely regarded as being the first cowboy novel and was reprinted fourteen times in eight months.
Signet is proud to present a special centennial edition of the virginian, a novel featuring the first fully realized cowboy hero in american literarturea nearmythic figure whose idealized image has profoundly influenced our national consciousness. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Cobb, which aired on nbc from 1962 to 1971 for a total of 249 episodes. I read the book in high school, so was well aware of the story, said james.
A horseman of the plains by owen wister macmillan 1902. Owen wister, born july 14, 1860, philadelphia, pennsylvania, u. The virginian by owen wister seller yjs boxes of books published 1903 condition the virginian is a pioneering 1902 novel set in the wild west by the american author owen wister. In owen wisters novel, the virginian 1902, the american cowboy was. The setting medicine bow, wyoming the virginian was the first western ever written. The virginian is a wonderful story full of adventure and romance. One of the main conflicts in the story is between the virginian and cattlerustlermurderer trampas. The virginian s foremost original innovation and hallowed template, previously unknown in a novel, is the model western hero of mythic primal humanity. Bill pullman plays the title role and directs steeping his film in the language and customs of the old west shaping it with story elements that wister turned into staples of the western genre and. The virginian is the third longest running western series in the history of television. The virginian himself is quietly heroic but without the manufactured stature of the typically represented cowboy in the white hat. Based on owen wisters 1902 novel of the same name, the nbc series ran for nine seasons from 19621971. Owen wisters enormously popular novel, the virginian, published in 1902, was set in wyoming and established the cowboy in american literature as the noble, competent, humorous, laconic hero still familiar today. Octavo, original tan cloth stamped in red, black and gilt.
I liked it, but felt it was a somewhat idealized version of the period and the lead character. It still holds up, said drury from his home in houston. The virginian was a western television series which aired from 1962 to 1971. The 1929 western and coopers first talkie film was based on the 1902 novel by owen wister. The foremans name was never revealed and he was only known as the virginian. A western classic paperback 2 january 2016 by owen wister author 4. The virginian by wister owen, first edition abebooks. James drury is the star of the first 90minute color western television series, the virginian, which aired from 19621971. I read the book in high school so was well aware of the story, james drury said from his home in houston.
I first read owen wisters the virginian in 1950, when big westerns were returning to. Set in the semimythical town of medicine bow, wyoming in the 1890s, it chronicled the lives and relationships of the people who came west and settled the wild land. This book, published in 1902, has been hailed as the first western. The story, the characters, the realism of the settings all make this the quintessential western. The virginian himself is quietly heroic but without the manufactured stature of. Hardly surpassable as an impactful 20th century 1st edition. Owen wisters 1902 western novel the virginian was one of the first great novels of the american west. A lovely copy of this true first edition with the words set up and electrotyped april, 1902 printed on the page.
Set in the semimythical town of medicine bow, wyoming in the 1890s, it chronicles the lives and relationships of the people who came out west and settles the wild land. In near fine condition, with a contemporary blairhame bookplate. The book is written from the perspective of the virginian s cityboy friend, and the two enjoy several exciting escapades. Get the best deals on the virginian owen wister when you shop the largest online selection at. The virginian, western novel by owen wister, published in 1902. A chivalrous and courageous but mysterious cowboy known only as the virginian works as foreman of a. Ninety years ago, paramount released the virginian, starring gary cooper. His courtship of the genteel vermont schoolteacher. Its great popularity contributed to the enshrinement of the american cowboy as an icon of american popular culture and a folk ideal. After looking upon the ford again, even though it was dry and not at all the same place, he journeyed in attentively.
The virginian 1902 is owen wisters classic popular romance, and the most significant shaping influence on cowboy fiction. The virginian is one of the longest running western series in the history of television. Filmed in color, the virginian became televisions first 90minute western series 75 minutes excluding. Howard horwitzfor the virginian pilot it was a poor people and class thing, charlene said from her home in. Ninety years ago, paramount released the virginian starring gary cooper. Wisters most famous work remains the 1902 novel the virginian, the loosely constructed story of a cowboy who is a natural aristocrat, set against a highly mythologized version of the johnson county war and taking the side of the large land owners. The series was adapted from the 1902 owen wister western novel, the virginian.
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