Larry McMurtry: A Critical Companion (Critical Companions to Popular Contemporary Writers)

This volume is the most comprehensive of the existing studies of McMurtry's writings, covering all of his works up to the most recent. A biographical chapter introduces the reader to Larry McMurtry. A literary heritage chapter helps students understand how McMurtry transforms the traditional components of the western genre into stories that are models of modern life. Each chapter explores a grouping of McMurtry's novels with in depth literary analysis identifying plot, character development, themes, and narrative construction. Each chapter also includes an alternative critical perspective for reading the texts. A bibliography and lists of general criticism, biographical sources, and reviews complete this volume, making it an indispensable resource for any reader seeking to develop a greater understanding of McMurtry's works. Cover 1 LARRY MCMURTRY 4 ADVISORY BOARD 7 Contents 8 Series Foreword 10 1 The Life of Larry McMurtry 16 2 Larry McMurtry and the Genres of the Popular Western and the Historical Novel 24 3 The Hometown Project—Portrayal and Analysis 36 PLOT STRUCTURE AND NARRATIVE POINT OF VIEW 39 CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT 48 THEMATIC ISSUES 54 A PSYCHOSEXUAL READING OF THE THALIA NOVELS 58 4 City Saga 62 SETTING AND MILIEU 64 PLOT DEVELOPMENT AND GENRE MODELS 68 CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT 72 THEMES AND STRUCTURE 75 A MULTICULTURAL READING OF THE HOUSTON TRILOGY 80 5 Interlude 82 NARRATIVE STYLE 83 CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT 86 PLOT DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN 90 MODES OF NARRATION 93 THEMATIC DEVELOPMENT 95 A BIOGRAPHICAL READING OF THE TRASH NOVELS 97 6 A New History of the Old West 102 OLD MATERIALS FOR THE NEW HISTORY 104 COMPOSITION OF THE NARRATIVES 108 PLOT DEVELOPMENT 110 CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT 114 Major Characters 114 Secondary Characters 121 THEMATIC ISSUES 125 A MARXIST READING OF THE NEW HISTORY 127 7 Heroes in Reality and Legend 130 NARRATIVE VIEWPOINT 132 PLOT DEVELOPMENT 134 CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT 137 THEMATIC ISSUES 142 A NEW HISTORICIST READING 146 8 The Matter of Sequels 148 PLOT DEVELOPMENT 151 CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT 158 THEMATIC ISSUES 162 AN EPISTEMOLOGICAL READING 165 9 Collaborative Legends—Works Written with Diana Ossana 168 PLOT DEVELOPMENT 170 CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT 174 THEMATIC ISSUES 176 A MODERNIST READING 178 Bibliography 182 NOVELS 182 COLLABORATIONS WITH DIANA OSSANA 183 NONFICTION 183 SCREENPLAYS 183 WORKS ABOUT LARRY MCMURTRY 183 Bibliography 183 Biographical Sources 184 GENERAL CRITICISM 185 REVIEWS 189 Horseman, Pass By 189 Leaving Cheyenne 189 The Last Picture Show 189 Moving On 190 All My Friends Are Going to Be Strangers 190 Terms of Endearment 191 Somebody’s Darling 192 Cadillac Jack 192 The Desert Rose 193 Lonesome Dove 194 Texasville 195 Anything for Billy 196 Some Can Whistle 197 Buffalo Girls 197 The Evening Star 198 Streets of Laredo 198 The Late Child 199 Pretty Boy Floyd 199 Dead Man’s Walk 200 Comanche Moon 200 Zeke and Ned 201 Duane’s Depressed 201 OTHER SECONDARY SOURCES 201 Websites 203 Index 204 About the Author 210 Critical Companions to Popular Contemporary Writers 211 Critical Companions to Popular Contemporary Writers 212 Series Foreword / Kathleen Gregory Klein -- The Life Of Larry Mcmurtry -- Larry Mcmurtry And The Genres Of The Popular Western And The Historical Novel -- The Hometown Project--portrayal And Analysis: Horseman, Pass By (1961), Leaving Cheyenne (1962), The Last Picture Show (1966), Texasville (1987), Duane's Depressed (1999) -- City Saga: Moving On (1970), All My Friends Are Going To Be Strangers (1972), Terms Of Endearment (1975) -- Interlude: Somebody's Darling (1978), Cadillac Jack (1982), The Desert Rose (1987) -- A New History Of The Old West: Lonesome Dove (1985), Streets Of Laredo (1993), Dead Man's Walk (1995), Comanche Moon (1997) -- Heroes In Reality And Legend: Anything For Billy (1988), Buffalo Girls (1990) -- The Matter Of Sequels: Some Can Whistle (1989), The Evening Star (1992), The Late Child (1995) -- Collaborative Legends--works Written With Diana Ossana: Pretty Boy Floyd (1994), Zeke And Ned (1997). John M. Reilly. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [167]-188) And Index. Larry McMurtry's award winning novels have redefined not only the literature of the west, but also the essential myths with which the west is associated. Readers were initiated into the world of the modern cowboy with McMurtry's first novel Horseman Pass By. Nearly 35 years later McMurtry revisits his hometown project with his latest update on the characters who populated The Last Picture Show and Texasville in his most recent novel Duane's Depressed. This Critical Companion examines all 22 of McMurtry's works. By considering individual literary elements and overall construction of the novels, this analysis probes how McMurtry has given contemporary relevance to traditional elements of the Western story