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Book Club: Discuss/find out about a Classic Tale Set in Wyoming: The Virginian

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Front-Ranger:
That's great to read of your annotated version, Meryl. Please share more of those notes with us. Those B&N Classics are on sale now I believe. My copy is a Pocket West in the dime novel tradition, a book that could fit into my jacket pocket just like the books that the schoolmistress gives to The Virginian (just a hint for later!!) I bought it for 10 cents at the Casper, Wyoming, library during their literary festival in October. And, best of all, it has a photo of The Virginian right on the front (tho you can hardly see it since the book is so well used). So it's not difficult for me to visualize The Virginian. He looks much like Jack, with a tan cowboy hat, a grave expression, a red kerchief tied around his neck, thumbs hooked in his belt, a white shirt, and a brown leather vest.

In personality, however, I think TV is more like Ennis. I imagine him being rather reticent and having the maddening (for the narrator) habit of calling people "suh." I agree with you that the author overemphasizes TV's southern accent. But apparently this is done for a reason. John Nesbitt says that TV is depicted as a southern gentleman in the style of Thomas Jefferson, who was the "first Virginian." In fact, Nesbitt points out that "the man with no name" is actually referred to by name once in the story, and that name is Jeff (I'm still hoping to entice Jeff Wrangler over here eventually because of that!)

Let's hope as the story goes on that the writing style will become more fluent. I see a change even in the early chapters whenever the author talks about TV who is plainly his, and our, favorite character.

Front-Ranger:
Buck and Muggins are the two horses that carry TV, the narrator, and his luggage on the journey to Judge Henry's ranch. Buck is aptly named, a low-startle-point horse, and suddenly decides to go AWOL, taking Muggins with him. The ensuing rampage, just one page long in Chapter 4, is described with all the skill of a sports announcer, but the dialogue adds the icing on the cake. This episode helps advance the narrator's urge to be more familiar with who he calls "the trustworthy man" and for a little while TV drops the "suh."


--- Quote ---"...but when the humor seized a bronco, he had to have his spree. Buck would now behave himself as a horse should for probably two months. 'They are just like humans,' the Virginian concluded."
--- End quote ---

BTW, Meryl, the narrator does use a rather self-conscious, prim style, especially in the beginning, which everybody notices and earns him the designation of "Prince of Wales" (along with his dress). The contrast of the talkative, friendly PW with the reticent, respectful TV reminds me a little of the Ennis/Jack combination.

Front-Ranger:
I would like to move along to Chapters 5 and 6 shortly! Calling all last comments about Chapter 4!

Front-Ranger:
We interupt this birthday celebration with Kelda to let you know that we are going to discuss the Virginian shortly, including chapters 5, 6, and 7.

Front-Ranger:
In Chapter Five, Enter the Woman, we first hear of the schoolteacher who may come to Bear Creek from Bennington, Vermont. I find it interesting that the author is setting up a meeting between a Virginian and a Vermonter. She has written a letter to one of the residents about the position of schoolteacher, and TV first gets to meet Miss Mary Stark Wood through her words. It is clear that he is touched by hearing them.

Traveling on the last leg of their journey, the narrator and TV finally arrive at Judge Henry’s ranch at Sunk Creek. Their friendship that was borne of their mutual survival of the horses’ revolt now retreats again, and the narrator is sorry: “Our common peril during the runaway of Buck and Muggins had brought us to a familiarity that I hoped was destined to last.” Fortunately, in Chapter 6, a personage will intervene to bring the narrator and TV together again.

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