Western Annotation: Shane

 

Author: Jack Schaefer

Title: Shane

Genre: Western

Publication Date: 1949

Number of Pages: 214

Geographical Setting: Wyoming

Time Period: 1889

Plot Summary: The storyline and tropes of Shane are likely to ring familiar with many readers. Told from the perspective of a young boy named Bob Starrett, the book begins with a mysterious stranger (Shane) appearing on horseback in a small Wyoming farm town. Joe and Marian Starrett (Bob's parents), show hospitality to Shane out of kindness and generosity, but also out of curiosity as to the kind of man Shane might be. We learn hints about his past as a dangerously skilled gunslinger from the speculation of Bob's father, as well as Bob's inspection of Shane's belongings. It happens to be a time of high tension between the small-scale farmers (who have unofficially elected Joe Starrett as their leader), and a large-scale rancher who persists in trying to take over their land. Thus, the Starrett family feels safer keeping Shane around as a farmhand in case things get ugly, though Shane himself clearly hopes to escape the violent lifestyle of his past. Shane quickly becomes very close friends with Joe and Bob, while also developing romantic feelings for Marian, all while tensions escalate in the town, and serious conflict seems to become inevitable. Everything that unfolds is viewed through the innocent eyes of Bob, who is too young at the time to understand the nuances of life, love, and violence. 

This book was a delight. I particularly appreciated that it did not shy away from its representation of platonic love between men. 

Subject Headings:

• Western
• Classic Literature
• Adventure
• Westward Expansion

Appeal:

• Character: Complex
• Storyline: Action-packed
• Writing Style: Engaging

3 terms that best describe this book:

• Gripping
• Concise
• Folkloric

Relevant Fiction Works and Authors:

• Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
• Along with Shane, this book seems to regularly be included in lists of the best western novels of all time. While it has a lot of similar elements (cowboys, the hardships of the west, outlaws) it is a much longer book with a much more complex storyline, which would be good for those who want a western they can sink their teeth into a bit more.
• True Grit by Charles Portis
• True Grit is a bit drier, a bit more ironic, and a bit goofier than Shane, but it has emotionally resonant moments and explores surprisingly complex questions just like Shane does. It's fun, action-packed, and also told from the perspective of a child who, in many ways, does not yet understand the word of violence and revenge she has ventured into.
• Little Big Man by Thomas Berger
• This book is sort of a satire of the western genre that has received greater critical acclaim in recent years than in the time of its publication (1964). It is narrated by a 111-year old man who recounts wild, dramatic, and absurd adventures in the west beginning from his childhood. It seems like a very intriguing read for those who want something a little different in the western genre.

Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors:

• Wild West Movies: Or How the West Was Found, Won, Lost, Lied About, Filmed and Forgotten by Kim Newman. 
• The title is self-explanatory. The book looks like a must-read for anyone who is interested in western films, and especially in the way they represent and misrepresent reality. Shane has been adapted into a popular film and into a TV series, and a lot of those who find the book are likely to have been fans of the film first. 
• Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides
• This would be a great nonfiction read for those who appreciate the western genre with all of its heroes and mythology, but who want to understand the history of western expansion as it truly occurred. It tells the story of Kit Carson and The Army of the West in their battles to claim territory from Mexico and the Navajos.