Who Would Like This Book:
This is the book that kickstarted the Western genre as we know it! It's packed with sweeping descriptions of Utah's wild, untamed landscapes and thrilling scenes - think horse chases, gunfights, and classic good vs. evil drama. What sets it apart is its strong, independent female protagonist and unexpected layers of romance. If you love slow-burn adventure, vivid scenery, and stories about standing up for what's right - even when it's not popular - this is a must-read. Western aficionados, fans of American history fiction, or anyone curious about the roots of cowboy storytelling will find plenty to enjoy.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers find Grey's style overblown and melodramatic, with flowery descriptions that can feel dated or repetitive (prepare to hear a lot about 'purple sage'). The relentless negative portrayal of Mormons also hasn't aged well, and the slow pacing or off-stage action might frustrate those hoping for nonstop shootouts. If you don’t enjoy old-fashioned romance or can't get past writing quirks from a century ago, this might not be your cup of tea.
About:
Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey is a classic Western novel set in Utah in 1871. The story follows Jane Withersteen, a wealthy landowner who defies the Mormon community and faces opposition from church leaders. The plot includes elements typical of the Western genre such as gunfights, rustlers, and a love story between Jane and the mysterious Lassiter. Grey's lush descriptions of Utah's wilderness and vivid portrayal of the conflict between the characters create a slow-moving but engaging plot that culminates in dramatic endings.
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Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of religious oppression, violence, and the nuanced portrayal of a religious community.
Has Romance?
There are significant romantic elements in the story, particularly the relationships between the main characters.
From The Publisher:
No book has a better claim to have invented the myth of the American West.
It is 1871 in Cottonwoods, Utah.
This is the story of the gunman, Lassiter, and the Mormon rancher, Jane Withersteen.
Ratings (11)
Incredible (1) | |
Loved It (2) | |
Liked It (5) | |
It Was OK (3) |
Reader Stats (39):
Read It (11) | |
Want To Read (15) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (12) |
2 comment(s)
This book started out good, but at about the halfway point, it started to drag. While I liked some of the ending, there was way more "Oh, I can't go on! Woe is me!" than earlier in the book. I ended up skipping about 10 minutes in the middle of one chapter near the end that was just too disgusting. Anyway, if you don't care about hearing that Mormons are awful for an entire book, then it is mostly a pleasant read. Good points: interesting descriptions of the southwest and a fantastic horse chase scene. Also, it was interesting to see cowboys who treat women with respect, as opposed to how some "manly" men treat women now. Bad points: the defense of obviously evil people solely because they have positions of power in a religious hierarchy (obviously, this is a plot device, but it was so disgusting), constant repetition, and the occasional whining at the end.
Shame of Zane Grey for creating a well written engaged novel that makes me revaluate how I feel about western novels!
Riders of the Purple Sage tells the story of Jane Withersteen, a rich Morman woman who is at odds with Elder Tull due to her helping non Mormans aka Gentile Ben Venters. When the books begins, Venters is about to be severely whipped by Tull due to him befriending Jane. Just before Venters is taken by Tull and his men, a man rides up on his horse and saves the day by intervening. Tull's men don't know who this interloper is but they know they don't appreciate his butting in. The unknown man is about to come to blows with Tull and his men when Venters announces that the unknown man is the infamous Lassiter.
Lassister has arrived in Cottonwoods to see the grave of Millie Ern although the connection between the two of them isn't made clear. Over time, Lassiter and Jane establish a relationship based on mutual trust and respect.
Through this book, there are two intersecting story lines which is what's happening with Jane and Lassister and what is happening to Venters once he leaves Jane's home. While Venters is away, he shoots a rustler and during the course of the book, Venters finds out that the rustler he shot is not a man but actually a woman. Venters feels so bad for shooting her, he stays by her side and nurses her back to health.
Initially, Jane decides to shower affection on Lassister so he won't kill any Mormon men eventually, she grows to love Lassiter despite him not being Mormon.
I liked that this book had enough twists and turns to keep me engaged. From wanting to know how Lassiter is connected to Millie Ern to finding out the true identity of the rustler, this book is a great way to be introduced to the western reading genre.
What can you read after
Riders of the Purple Sage?
About the Author:
The father of the western novel, Zane Grey (1872 - 1939) was born in Zanesville, Ohio. He wrote 58 westerns and almost 30 other books. Over 130 films have been based on his work.
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