Larry McMurtry Criticism
Larry McMurtry, an esteemed American novelist and essayist, has long been celebrated for his vivid portrayals of the American West, capturing its stark beauty and emotional desolation. His narratives often delve into themes of death and existential emptiness, reflecting the arid landscapes of his Texas homeland. McMurtry's ability to breathe life into the imagined West through rich detail and wit is particularly evident in Lonesome Dove, often cited as his masterpiece. While subsequent works are frequently measured against this benchmark, they continue to earn admiration for their depth and narrative skill, as noted by Charles Champlin and others. McMurtry's legacy includes reshaping the Western genre to better capture the evolving essence of the American experience.
Despite some criticism, such as that from Brina Caplan, who suggests that McMurtry's plots can be superficial, his talent for creating vivid characters and settings is widely praised. This narrative skill is apparent in his so-called "urban Westerns," including Moving On and Terms of Endearment. Critics like Larry Goodwyn view these works as pivotal in transforming the Western novel. McMurtry's essays in In A Narrow Grave articulate his ambition to transcend the constraints of earlier Western writers, resulting in a body of work that both acknowledges and challenges Western traditions.
His exceptional wit, keen sense of place, and deeply developed characters are attributes highlighted by Dorothy Rabinowitz in her analysis of Terms of Endearment. Additionally, McMurtry's novel The Last Picture Show is notable for both its literary acclaim and its successful film adaptation, underscoring his influence beyond literature. In Somebody's Darling, McMurtry offers a tragicomic perspective on Hollywood, praised by Jill Robinson for its authentic portrayals of love and multifaceted characters, although David Bartholomew critiques it for a lack of new insights into the film industry. Throughout his works, McMurtry continues to explore complex themes with a blend of humor and compassion.
Contents
- Principal Works
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McMurtry, Larry (Vol. 11)
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Dorothy Rabinowitz
(summary)
In the following essay, Rabinowitz highlights Larry McMurtry's "Terms of Endearment" as a testament to his rare wit, sense of place, and deep character development, while noting some flaws such as his tendency to guide readers' emotions too explicitly.
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David Bartholomew
(summary)
In the following essay, David Bartholomew contends that Larry McMurtry's Somebody's Darling portrays the glossy ugliness of Hollywood through sharply drawn characters and an acerbic tone, ultimately creating a tragicomic examination of the film industry's allure despite its failure to deliver new insights about Hollywood itself.
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Hollywood in the Age of Longing
(summary)
In the following essay, Jill Robinson praises Larry McMurtry's Somebody's Darling as a witty yet compassionate portrayal of Hollywood life, highlighting the novel's refreshing depiction of authentic love and its multifaceted characters, particularly the compelling protagonist Jill Peel, a director navigating the complexities of fame and personal connection.
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Dorothy Rabinowitz
(summary)
- McMurtry, Larry (Vol. 7)
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McMurtry, Larry (Jeff)
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Coming of Age in Texas: The Novels of Larry McMurtry
(summary)
In the following essay, Charles D. Peavy explores how Larry McMurtry's novels, particularly Horseman, Pass By and The Last Picture Show, address the themes of male adolescence, loneliness, and the pursuit of manhood, highlighting McMurtry's realistic, though unsentimental, portrayal of Texas life and the complex interplay of sexuality and self-discovery.
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Daily Life in Texas
(summary)
In the following essay, L. J. Davis criticizes Larry McMurtry's novel Moving On for its excessive length and lack of substantial character and plot development, despite acknowledging McMurtry's skill in creating believable characters and evoking a strong sense of place and time.
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'Shane' and 'Hud': Two Stories in Search of a Medium
(summary)
In the following essay, James K. Folsom explores the challenges of adapting Larry McMurtry's novel "Horseman, Pass By" into the film "Hud," emphasizing the differing narrative techniques and thematic focuses necessitated by the visual medium, which alters character dynamics and the story's moral and symbolic resolutions.
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The Frontier Myth and Southwestern Literature
(summary)
In the following essay, Larry Goodwyn examines Larry McMurtry's exploration of the complexities of the southwestern frontier heritage in his early novels and critiques the author's subsequent shift away from this theme, highlighting McMurtry's struggle to find a new narrative focus while maintaining a connection to his cultural roots.
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Texas Sex
(summary)
In the following essay, Whittemore critiques Larry McMurtry's focus on sexual themes in All My Friends, arguing that while McMurtry's narrative talent and social commentary are evident, his preoccupation with sex undermines the exploration of broader existential and cultural issues in the American landscape.
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Journeying As a Metaphor for Cultural Loss in the Novels of Larry McMurtry
(summary)
In the following essay, Janis P. Stout explores how Larry McMurtry's novels use the motif of wandering journeys as a metaphor for cultural and personal disconnection, reflecting the broader American literary tradition of spatial exploration and its association with a loss of traditional values and direction.
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Existential Shrugging
(summary)
In the following essay, Brina Caplan critiques Larry McMurtry's Somebody's Darling for its clever dialogue and quick-paced narrative but argues that it ultimately sacrifices depth and exploration of "important questions" for superficial entertainment, highlighting McMurtry's struggle between his observational talent and his preoccupation with pace.
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Faltering Realism
(summary)
In the following essay, Joseph J. Esposito argues that Larry McMurtry's novel "Somebody's Darling" employs the conventions of aesthetic realism through complex narration, resulting in a portrayal of unreliable narrators and a protagonist whose lack of agency and artistic dullness reflects the constraints of realism.
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Cadillac Jack
(summary)
In the following review, the critic evaluates Larry McMurtry's "Cadillac Jack" as a novel that attempts to sustain itself on McMurtry's signature blend of comedic elements and Americana charm, ultimately finding the romantic and narrative elements to be lacking compared to his earlier work, "Somebody's Darling."
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Cadillac Jack
(summary)
In the following essay, John Brosnahan highlights Larry McMurtry's "Cadillac Jack" as a humorous and poignant exploration of a man's journey to find meaning amidst romantic confusion and memorable character interactions, despite a seemingly aimless plot.
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A Good Ol' Antique Dealer
(summary)
In the following essay, Peter Prince critiques Larry McMurtry's novel Cadillac Jack, arguing that the book fails to capture the emotional depth and character engagement found in McMurtry's earlier works, instead presenting a flat narrative with a jaded protagonist, ultimately suggesting a return to his more successful Texan settings.
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A Cast of American Originals
(summary)
In the following essay, Eden Ross Lipson critiques Larry McMurtry's narrative style in "Cadillac Jack," highlighting how its episodic structure and focus on quirky Americana reflect the author's tendency towards satirical and cartoonish storytelling, contrasting with the substantive depth found in his earlier works like "Leaving Cheyenne."
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Joseph Browne
(summary)
The critic argues that Larry McMurtry’s novel Cadillac Jack falls short of literary art due to its focus on eccentric character caricatures and a lack of substantial plot, though it hints at a deeper exploration of America's values without fully realizing it.
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Coming of Age in Texas: The Novels of Larry McMurtry
(summary)
- McMurtry, Larry (Vol. 2)
- McMurtry, Larry (Vol. 3)
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McMurtry, Larry (Vol. 127)
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The Last Word: An Overlooked Novel
(summary)
In the following review, Clemons praises Leaving Cheyenne as McMurtry's best work, lamenting its lack of popularity.
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Larry McMurtry's Leaving Cheyenne and the Novels of John Rechy: Four Trips Along 'The Mythical Pecos'
(summary)
In the following essay, Giles, a professor of American Literature at Northern Illinois University, considers the transformation of Texas literature and compares the work of McMurtry and John Rechy.
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The Ranch as Place and Symbol in the Novels of Larry McMurtry
(summary)
In the following essay, Phillips explores the transition in McMurtry's portrayal of the Western frontier legend, examining the symbolic treatment of the ranch in the author's first five novels.
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Larry McMurtry: The First Phase
(summary)
In the following essay, Morrow, who teaches literature at Auburn University, evaluates the structure, purpose and style of Hud and The Last Picture Show, comparing them to McMurtry's subsequent works.
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Film Flam: Essays on Hollywood
(summary)
In the review below, Champlin praises McMurtry for his analysis of the emerging problems with the American film industry.
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Anything for Larry
(summary)
In the review below, Gish, the author of Frontier's End, praises Anything for Billy as an intriguing example of a new type of Western.
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Across Texas by Non Sequitor
(summary)
In the following review, Kingsolver, a novelist and author of The Bean Trees, states that despite a weak ending, Some Can Whistle is engaging and entertaining.
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Old Corrals: Texas According to 80s Films and TV and Texas According to Larry McMurtry
(summary)
In the following essay, Sanderson—in the context of considering modern Texan popular culture—critiques Anything for Billy, commenting on McMurtry's dual role as a writer reacting to and creating Texas myths.
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Lonesome Jane
(summary)
In the following review of Buffalo Girls, Schaeffer—also an author—praises McMurtry's work, saying the appeal of the novel stems from McMurtry's portrayal of an era at the cusp of change.
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Anything for Billy: A Fiction Stranger than Truth
(summary)
In the following essay, Cox compares the historic record of Billy the Kid with McMurtry's depiction of him in Anything for Billy.
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Books of the Times: McMurtry's Sequel to Terms of Endearment
(summary)
In the following review of The Evening Star, noted critic Kakutani states that while McMurtry's writing is not always balanced, he is skilled enough to overcome the novel's weaknesses and tell an entertaining story.
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Woodrow Call Rides Again
(summary)
In the following review, Perrin writes that while the dialogue in Streets of Laredo matches the high quality in Lonesome Dove, the rest of the novel falls short.
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Boundaries, Borders and Frontiers: A Revisionary Reading of Larry McMurtry's Horseman, Pass By
(summary)
In the following essay Sarll, a member of the Department of American and Canadian Studies at the University of Nottingham, discusses the way McMurtry juxtaposes conflicting ideas in Horseman, Pass By.
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Books of the Times: Deconstructionist Turns to Building
(summary)
In the following review of Pretty Boy Floyd, Kakutani argues that McMurtry and Diana Ossana embellish the myth of the character, but fail to make readers care about his fate.
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Lonesome Dove: The Prequel
(summary)
In the following review, Flanagan compares Dead Man's Walk to Lonesome Dove, praising McMurtry handling of atmosphere and theme in both novels.
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The Eve of Destruction
(summary)
In the following review of Zeke and Ned, Maynard, a novelist, states that McMurtry and coauthor Diana Ossana have created a rich, entertaining, embellished myth.
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A Review of Texasville
(summary)
In the review below, Ronald, a professor at the University of Nevada, argues that Texasville does not measure up to earlier novels in the series such as The Last Picture Show.
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The Last Word: An Overlooked Novel
(summary)
- Further Reading