Historical · Literary
Lonesome Dove
Two retired Texas Rangers decide to drive a herd of cattle from the Rio Grande to Montana. Their journey is full of old friends, hard characters and dangers that wear the men down.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 1985
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Long
- Pages
- 866
- Format
- Book 1 of 4 in Lonesome Dove
Read this if you want a vast, character-rich Western that is part adventure and part elegy for a fading way of life.
Skip this if you want a short book or a clean, heroic Western; it is long, brutal and often bleakly funny.
The feel
Content warnings
Quick answers about Lonesome Dove
- What is Lonesome Dove about?
- Two retired Texas Rangers decide to drive a herd of cattle from the Rio Grande to Montana. Their journey is full of old friends, hard characters and dangers that wear the men down.
- Who should read Lonesome Dove?
- Read it if you want a vast, character-rich Western that is part adventure and part elegy for a fading way of life. Skip it if you want a short book or a clean, heroic Western; it is long, brutal and often bleakly funny.
- How long and how fast is Lonesome Dove?
- It is a slow-paced, long read of about 866 pages, first published in 1985.
- Does Lonesome Dove have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Violence, Death, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Animal death.
- Can I borrow Lonesome Dove for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Lonesome Dove; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after Lonesome Dove?
- Readers who liked it often move on to Blood Meridian, The Grapes of Wrath, Cold Mountain.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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If you loved Lonesome Dove
-
Blood Meridian
A far harsher and more mythic Western that strips away every romantic idea about the frontier.
-
The Grapes of Wrath Another long American journey of endurance, though about families in poverty instead of cowboys.
-
Cold Mountain
A slower, more lyrical travel story about a man crossing a ravaged landscape toward home.
Historical
