Thread: Historical novels set in Texas (or CO, NV or AZ)

Check out Elmer Kelton. He has a series involving Texas Ranger. Kelton's books are definitely a cut above average.

Terry C Johnston wrote some great Western fiction with CO, KS, MT,SD,ND,NM and others as the setting. He is very accurate with his geography and history although he wrote mostly fiction. GL2

"Giant" by Edna Ferber. Most of Larry McMurtry's novels are Texas specific: Texasville The Last Picture Show (exceptional book) Duane's Depressed etc

there is an entire series of paperback books that is historical fiction. it is the wagons west series by dana fuller ross. they are quite entertaining. i read them many years ago. you might also try books by john jakes. they are not Texas specific, but they are also entertaining..

Well, the obvious would be Lonesome Dove.....

Cormac McCarthy's trilogy of novels, All The Pretty Horses , The Crossing and Cities of the Plain . They're mostly about the US-Mexico border and in fact a lot of the story takes place in Mexico. Lots to do with psychological and cultural crossings. There's a magnificent soliloquy near the end of All The Pretty Horses . It pretty much encapsulates the themes, not really strictly about Texas, but if you're talking about...

I was also going to mention "Lonesome Dove," or pretty much anything else by Larry McMurtry. Louis L'Amour is another great "cowboy" author, but I wouldn't categorize his work as "historical fiction." You might also enjoy, "Where the Rivers Run North," although it is set in Wyoming and Montana. Then there's, "Giant," which is pretty much a...

Tony Hillerman's books are very good. They are mysteries set in New Mexico and Arizona with the main characters being Navajo policemen, so a lot of Indian culture is included.

There's a new book that just came out, historical fiction set in Texas, post Civil-war. The Color of Lightning, by Paulette Jiles. From School Library Journal Starred Review. As the Civil War winds down, freed slave Britt Johnson moves his wife and three children to Young County, TX. He dreams of starting a freight business, and his wife wants to teach school. But when the Comanche and Kiowa come raiding, Britt is not there to defend his...