Dead Man’s Walk (by Larry McMurtry)
I’m delighted to be engrossed in the Lonesome Dove series by Larry McMurtry. I’m reading the books in the order they were written, and Dead Man’s Walk is the third book in the series. Interestingly, I recently started watching the four-part Lonesome Dove television miniseries from 1989. It’s an excellent miniseries, and the star-studded cast of characters makes it easier to visualize the characters in the story. Robert Duvall’s portrayal of Gus McCrae is my favorite. It’s a coincidence that I started reading Dead Man’s Walk around the same time I began watching the miniseries. It’s been a pleasure to read and watch them simultaneously.
Dead Man’s Walk serves as a prequel to Lonesome Dove and is the first chronological novel in the series. Set in the early 1840s, it follows young, inexperienced Texas Rangers Augustus “Gus” McCrae and Woodrow Call as they embark on their initial ventures into the unforgiving and perilous frontier. The story revolves around their expedition to Santa Fe. Led by incompetent and often ruthless officers, the group faces relentless threats, including attacks from the formidable Comanche war chief Buffalo Hump, harsh environmental challenges such as extreme heat, storms, and the treacherous Jornada del Muerto (“Dead Man’s Walk”), betrayal, starvation, and eventual capture by Mexican forces. The narrative vividly captures the raw and unadorned reality of the American West, while also charting the early development of Gus and Call’s enduring friendship and the formation of their legendary personas.
I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with the young Gus and Call. It was entertaining to learn about their meeting and witness the strong foundation they were building. I’m grateful for stories like this that allow me to learn about the old west without having to experience it firsthand. The brutal setting they lived and fought to survive was truly remarkable. I was pleased to learn how Gus met Clara as well. This information greatly helped me understand their relationship in Lonesome Dove.
I purchased the audiobook of Dean Man’s Walk through my Audible membership. I immensely appreciated listening to the story narrated by Will Patton. Recently, I bought the final installment, Comanche Moon, from Audible. I eagerly anticipate listening to it soon.
Feel free to explore my reviews for other books by Larry McMurtry, which are conveniently linked below.
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