“The creak of bed springs suffering under the weight of a restless man is as lonely a sound as I know.”
Tales of bravery, chivalry and heroism usually against incredible odds, it’s clear how Western fiction became so entrenched in certain parts of American culture. Typically set between the late 18th to late 19th centuries as the United States struggled towards its fifty-state-strong Union, this subgenre in the fiction world peaked in the 1960s as on-screen heroes lit up the big and small screens. And whilst it might not be in its heyday quite so much these days, there are still plenty of gems out there for readers to saddle up for. Join us here at What We Reading as we take you through xx of the best Western Historical novels!
Dead Man’s Walk – Larry McMurtry
Nearly three decades on from its initial release, Larry McMurtry still stands as one of America’s greatest Western authors with Dead Man’s Walk. The book is the third in McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove series, but the first in terms of chronology. Following two young rangers, Augustus McCrae and Woodrow Call, who are forced to experience the many dangers of 1840s Texas on the Jornada del Muerto (“Dead Man’s Walk”) following a failed expedition to Santa Fe.
McMurtry immerses readers in a strikingly-authentic recreation of Texas during this period, with vibrant landscapes, captivating dialogue, and relationships that does a wonderful job in introducing his two main stars.
Act Of Oblivion – Robert Harris
Sunday Times bestselling author Robert Harris has become world-renowned for both his non-fiction and fiction works, and his 2022 Western Historical novel Act of Oblivion sees the British author returning to his scintillating best.
Based on real-life events, Act of Oblivion follows Colonel Edward Whalley and his son-in-law Colonel William Goffe on a breathtaking manhunt across oceans and continents. Following the Restoration of the British Monarchy in 1660, the two men were accused of high treason and must stage a daring escape to the New World, and evade capture by the authorities pursuing them.
Combining all the compelling features of a thriller with an eye for detail from a biography, Act of Oblivion is a remarkable page-turner made even more incredible thanks to its historical accuracy.
The Son – Philipp Meyer
The Comanche Wars is a criminally-overlooked part of American history but is an era that is wonderfully given the spotlight in Philipp Meyer’s Western fiction novel, The Son. Author of American Rust, Meyer introduces readers to Eli McCullough, the first male son born since the establishment of the Republic of Texas. Following a Comanche raid on his homestead, his sister and mother are killed, and he is taken captive, growing up in the limbo between Indian and American.
The Son is a powerful multigenerational story that taps into everything from ambition, survival, honour, and love in what is undoubtedly one of the most harrowing yet undeniably awesome imaginings of life on the Frontier in the fiction world.
One For The Blackbird, One For The Crow – Olivia Hawker
Author of The Rise of Light and The Ragged Edge of Night, renowned storyteller Olivia Hawker gives readers a beautiful look at sacrifice and survival on the Frontier in One For The Blackbird, One For The Crow.
This western fiction story follows two families: the Bemis and Webbers. The two families survive on the Frontier by relying on each other, however, this is thrown into jeopardy when Ernest Bemis discovers his wife, Cora, with their neighbour. With one man dead, and one being carted off to jail, it is up to Cora and the remaining members of this small community to deal with the growing resentment, suspicion, and the impending harsh winter to navigate their way through the fallout.
West – Carys Davies
Carys Davies’ stunning debut novel has been nominated Rathbones Folio Prize and won the Wales Book of the Year for Fiction. In this Western Historical fiction book, American settler Cy Bellman reads of a huge set of ancient bones being discovered in the swamplands of Kentucky. Spurred on by the stories of hulking beasts roaming free past the Mississippi River, leaving behind his daughter, Bess.
Alternating between Cy’s journeys and Bess awaiting his return at home. Combining the ‘Lewis and Clark’ magic of unearthing a New World with all-together familiar themes of hunger for knowledge, grief and a longing for home, West is one of the most beautifully-constructed novels in the genre.
The Sisters Brothers – Patrick deWitt
One of the most acclaimed Western novels of all time, Patrick deWitt presents the story of Eli and Charlie Sisters. A Goodreads Choice Award winner that has gone on to become a major blockbuster hit, The Sisters Brothers is an exploration into all the wild and wacky characters that made up the old Frontier of the 1850s.
Following these two assassins from Oregon to Sacramento, it is also an incredibly captivating and depth-driven character study of how the pair diverge through their interactions and experiences. It is an absolute must-read for those looking to capture all the hilarity and despair that come in equal measurements with the period.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
