Streets of Laredo

Larry Mcmurtry
69 pages2-hour read
Fiction
Novel
Adult
Published in 1993

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Book Brief

Larry Mcmurtry

Streets of Laredo

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1993
Book Details
Pages

547

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre
Western

•

Action & Adventure

•

Classic Fiction
Setting

Western United States • 1890s

Theme
Perseverance

•

Guilt

•

Regret
Topic
World History
First Publication Year

1993

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Streets of Laredo is a Western novel by Larry McMurtry. It continues the story of retired Texas Ranger Woodrow F. Call as he pursues a dangerous Mexican bandit. Set in the late 19th century, the narrative explores themes of justice, aging, and change in the American Southwest.

Gritty

Dark

Melancholic

Mysterious

Emotional

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Reviews for Streets of Laredo by Larry McMurtry are mixed. Readers praise its richly detailed narrative and strong character development, continuing the legacy of Lonesome Dove. However, some criticize its darker tone and slower pacing. While fans appreciate the complexities of the new characters introduced, others find the plot less compelling. Overall, it’s a divisive yet engaging sequel.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Streets of Laredo?

Readers who enjoy gritty, character-driven Westerns with rich historical settings would relish Streets of Laredo. Fans of Larry McMurtry's own Lonesome Dove or Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian will appreciate the novel's exploration of frontier justice and its complex, often flawed characters.

Character List

A legendary Texas Ranger known for his strict adherence to frontier justice, facing physical decline and obsolescence in a changing West.

An intelligent and ruthless outlaw who operates with modern efficiency, using the railroad to his advantage and challenging old Western archetypes.

A resilient former sex worker who becomes a schoolteacher and matriarch, deeply committed to her family's well-being and stability.

A former member of Captain Call’s posse, who struggles to balance his loyalty to Call with his newfound responsibilities as a husband and father.

An accountant from Brooklyn whose urban sensibilities clash comically with the harsh realities of the Texas frontier.

A devoted mother with a resilient spirit, undertaking a perilous journey to protect her son despite his criminal nature.

A secondary antagonist known for his gratuitous cruelty, heightening the narrative's tension with his presence.

A historical figure portrayed as an aging, unrepentant killer, representing the decaying myth of the Old West outlaw.

An aging scout with diminishing skills and an alcohol addiction, maintaining loyalty and unrequited love for Maria.

A former Texas Ranger turned successful cattle rancher, serving as a pragmatic foil to Captain Call.

A Kickapoo tracker with exceptional skills, embodying a connection to the land that is being lost to colonization.

Maria's blind daughter, providing Captain Call with a chance for human connection and affection in his later years.

Book Details
Pages

547

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre
Western

•

Action & Adventure

•

Classic Fiction
Setting

Western United States • 1890s

Theme
Perseverance

•

Guilt

•

Regret
Topic
World History
First Publication Year

1993

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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