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Western Star: The Life and Legends of Larry McMurtry – An Intimate Biography of the Pulitzer and Oscar-Winning Texas Icon Behind Lonesome Dove and Brokeback Mountain
By his longtime friend and a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist, the definitive biography of Larry McMurtry, the legendary author and screenwriter of Lonesome Dove, The Last Picture Show, Brokeback Mountain, and others, who single-handedly served America its image of the West.
464 pages, Hardcover
Published March 24, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 9, 2026
Larry McMurtry was in my life as a non-fiction writer well before I finally tackled his fiction, with his short, laconic books about whatever subject caught his fancy resonating with me for God knows what reason. Then I took the plunge into his fiction, with his best-known and most celebrated novel, "Lonesome Dove," in 2023. Two years later, I finally started reading his other novels, and I would consider myself a huge fan. So when I saw this book at the library early last month, I knew I had to have it, and I also knew that I had to put it off until I could devote some time to it, as I had papers to grade from students at the time as well as final papers to prepare for. So now, at long last, I find a literary biography with a lot to love.
"Western Star" is David Streitfeld's attempt to be Boswell to McMurtry's Samuel Johnson, in some ways; the two, biographer and subject, were friends, with Streitfeld being a fan first before becoming acquainted with the crusty old soul. But Streitfeld doesn't raise McMurtry up to be a saint; this work is pretty grounded and willing to puncture some myths around Larry, some perpetrated by the man himself either through willful lying or benign neglect of the truth. Through it all, Streitfeld shoes why McMurtry matters.
A son of Texas who stood out like a sore thumb because he didn't fit in, Larry McMurtry was destined to be the writer who defined Texas. From his earliest books demystifying the West to his landmark Western saga of Gus and Call on the cattle trail, Larry never really strayed from his central thesis that Texas was both more than its myths and anything but easy to pin down. Larry certainly pulled no punches with "The Last Picture Show," which put him on the map after the film version came out in the early Seventies, and Streitfeld shows how McMurtry struggled to reconcile his vision of Texas with those of his neighbors (many of whom were *pissed* at Larry's portrait of them).
At his best, McMurtry could be a prose master, capturing the nuance and depth behind the most standard myth of a man high in the saddle; indeed, as a reader I prefer his more contemporary-set novels, like "Terms of Endearment" or "Leaving Cheyenne." But the Westerns made McMurtry a star, especially "Lonesome Dove." The miniseries of that was a television event in 1989, and in many ways Larry's windfall through "Dove" both helped and hindered his work in the subsequent years; people expected another "Lonesome Dove" but never got it. Streitfeld is adept at showing us how much Larry's success weighed on him when he failed to capture as much of the public imagination as he did with that novel.
But aside from the literary life, Streitfeld shows how complicated Larry McMurtry was as a human being. His relationships with family and friends, his book-collecting and book shops, his fears and his emotional highs are all documented here, and they help to provide a well-rounded portrait of a man who was unique. Larry McMurtry was more than just his many words printed on paper, though those will outlast any of the other things that defined him, and "Western Star" makes it abundantly clear why his name is so magical when considering authors of the past sixty or so years in American literature. The subject is matched by the writer in terms of literary skill, and Larry McMurtry has a fine biographer in David Streitfeld.
"Western Star" is David Streitfeld's attempt to be Boswell to McMurtry's Samuel Johnson, in some ways; the two, biographer and subject, were friends, with Streitfeld being a fan first before becoming acquainted with the crusty old soul. But Streitfeld doesn't raise McMurtry up to be a saint; this work is pretty grounded and willing to puncture some myths around Larry, some perpetrated by the man himself either through willful lying or benign neglect of the truth. Through it all, Streitfeld shoes why McMurtry matters.
A son of Texas who stood out like a sore thumb because he didn't fit in, Larry McMurtry was destined to be the writer who defined Texas. From his earliest books demystifying the West to his landmark Western saga of Gus and Call on the cattle trail, Larry never really strayed from his central thesis that Texas was both more than its myths and anything but easy to pin down. Larry certainly pulled no punches with "The Last Picture Show," which put him on the map after the film version came out in the early Seventies, and Streitfeld shows how McMurtry struggled to reconcile his vision of Texas with those of his neighbors (many of whom were *pissed* at Larry's portrait of them).
At his best, McMurtry could be a prose master, capturing the nuance and depth behind the most standard myth of a man high in the saddle; indeed, as a reader I prefer his more contemporary-set novels, like "Terms of Endearment" or "Leaving Cheyenne." But the Westerns made McMurtry a star, especially "Lonesome Dove." The miniseries of that was a television event in 1989, and in many ways Larry's windfall through "Dove" both helped and hindered his work in the subsequent years; people expected another "Lonesome Dove" but never got it. Streitfeld is adept at showing us how much Larry's success weighed on him when he failed to capture as much of the public imagination as he did with that novel.
But aside from the literary life, Streitfeld shows how complicated Larry McMurtry was as a human being. His relationships with family and friends, his book-collecting and book shops, his fears and his emotional highs are all documented here, and they help to provide a well-rounded portrait of a man who was unique. Larry McMurtry was more than just his many words printed on paper, though those will outlast any of the other things that defined him, and "Western Star" makes it abundantly clear why his name is so magical when considering authors of the past sixty or so years in American literature. The subject is matched by the writer in terms of literary skill, and Larry McMurtry has a fine biographer in David Streitfeld.
April 24, 2026
Let's call this 4.5 stars marked up to five by Goodreads. Very well-written, a joy to read, and I learned a lot about Larry McMurtry (as you would expect) but not so much that it ever seemed overly detailed (as in NO minutiae for minutiae's sake).
The author, who is an experienced and celebrated journalist and definitely NOT a Texan, shared McMurtry's interest/obsession with book-collecting and apparently gained McMurtry's confidence over the years at least partly because of that. Streitfeld's approach to this biography is "new-journalistic" rather than "old-school journalism objective observer" or strictly scholarly, meaning that the author is one of the characters in the story, not an observer from outside. This makes the book a bit informal but certainly not sloppy or casual with the facts. And the author is not shy about telling the reader when the "facts" may not really be facts -- because there often is no contemporary documentation.
One theme throughout is McMurtry's love-hate relationship with his home town, with Texas in general, with contemporary Texans, and with the history of Texas and Texans. Much of the USA and many Americans are absolutely THRILLED to hate Texas and Texans, so they may not understand and appreciate McMurtry's feelings as much as I do. Having lived in West Texas for five college years, knowing lots of West Texans, and having been a frequent visitor and summer resident in Dallas, I really appreciate the experience but wouldn't want to live there -- especially not in West Texas. So McMurtry's love-hate makes sense.
Another theme is McMurtry's respect for women, despite having a horrible mother. His female characters may be among his best, so we're told.
I was the first in my town to snag this from the library and couldn't renew it, so I'm wrting this without the book present, but I think it did NOT include a bibliography -- the lack of which always is a flaw in a serious history or biography. It had notes at the end, but as so often occurs these days the reader is given no clue to look for a note. I often keep a bookmark in a book's notes and look at them frequently, but in this case the notes generally didn't contain much information other than the citation, so one wasn't missing much (or anything) by not looking at the notes.
And perhaps my biggest gripe is that Streitfeld did not include a list of McMurtry's works -- or at least the published books and the screen plays that were produced. One would have expected that list, as this is a biography that is as much about McMurtry’s works as it is about his life.
Recommended by review in WSJ and timely because book club will be reading Lonesome Dove next month.
May 6, 2026
I vacillated on whether to give this one 3 or 4 stars. I felt this was a well-written and entertaining book, but it falls short as an attempt at definitive biography.
Streitfeld was a friend of McMurtry's and clearly has literary aspirations beyond non-fiction. Following the cliches of "End of the Tour" style ingratiating biographers, Streitfeld inserts himself into the story, meanders into literary digressions, and looks for the most interesting angle on a given moment rather than the most relevant. This last habit was particularly tough to swallow when a celebrity entered the picture. The work on Cybil Shepherd often seemed like it was written with one hand.
That being said, Streitfeld's appreciation, and even love, of McMurtry comes through so clearly. He writes movingly about the two great pillars of the author's life, "The Last Picture Show" and "Lonesome Dove." He situates McMurtry among his peers with razor-sharp precision. And yet, one can't help but feel that this will become merely a source for a more definitive and rigorous biography written by someone a little further from the subject. You can feel that Streitfeld really wants McMurtry to like him and like his biography from beyond the grave.
So, while I felt great joy while listening to this book and I devoured the 16 hours of listening, I leave the book convinced that this biographer is not the man for the job, not matter how bad he wants to be. Because, a good biographer should want to have a command on their subject and they should not want to be their subject.
Streitfeld was a friend of McMurtry's and clearly has literary aspirations beyond non-fiction. Following the cliches of "End of the Tour" style ingratiating biographers, Streitfeld inserts himself into the story, meanders into literary digressions, and looks for the most interesting angle on a given moment rather than the most relevant. This last habit was particularly tough to swallow when a celebrity entered the picture. The work on Cybil Shepherd often seemed like it was written with one hand.
That being said, Streitfeld's appreciation, and even love, of McMurtry comes through so clearly. He writes movingly about the two great pillars of the author's life, "The Last Picture Show" and "Lonesome Dove." He situates McMurtry among his peers with razor-sharp precision. And yet, one can't help but feel that this will become merely a source for a more definitive and rigorous biography written by someone a little further from the subject. You can feel that Streitfeld really wants McMurtry to like him and like his biography from beyond the grave.
So, while I felt great joy while listening to this book and I devoured the 16 hours of listening, I leave the book convinced that this biographer is not the man for the job, not matter how bad he wants to be. Because, a good biographer should want to have a command on their subject and they should not want to be their subject.
April 18, 2026
A biography of the Texas author and screenwriter Larry McMurtry.
An enlightening glimpse into the life and career of the great Texas author Larry McMurtry. I enjoyed this a great deal. Due to his friendship with McMurtry, the author, David Streitfeld, is able to paint a comprehensive and compassionate portrait. I must admit, for being a longtime reader of McMurtry's work and for holding "Lonesome Dove" in the highest esteem, I didn't know much about his life. It was fascinating to learn about Larry's youth and first forays into literature. His career spanned decades and because he was so prolific, this book had rich fodder.
By Streitfeld's own admission, McMurtry wasn't keen to analyze his own career or have other people do it for him. Nevertheless, this book had the support and participation of many of Larry's loved ones, collaborators and contemporaries. At times, the novel's narrative can drift, as we are lead backwards and forwards in Larry's life and career, but the book is never less than engaging. I could have done without the multiple mentions of anonymous reviewers of McMurtry's work on Goodreads, IMDb and Amazon, but Streitfeld does an excellent job of establishing McMurtry's importance and continued relevance in the literary world.
An enlightening glimpse into the life and career of the great Texas author Larry McMurtry. I enjoyed this a great deal. Due to his friendship with McMurtry, the author, David Streitfeld, is able to paint a comprehensive and compassionate portrait. I must admit, for being a longtime reader of McMurtry's work and for holding "Lonesome Dove" in the highest esteem, I didn't know much about his life. It was fascinating to learn about Larry's youth and first forays into literature. His career spanned decades and because he was so prolific, this book had rich fodder.
By Streitfeld's own admission, McMurtry wasn't keen to analyze his own career or have other people do it for him. Nevertheless, this book had the support and participation of many of Larry's loved ones, collaborators and contemporaries. At times, the novel's narrative can drift, as we are lead backwards and forwards in Larry's life and career, but the book is never less than engaging. I could have done without the multiple mentions of anonymous reviewers of McMurtry's work on Goodreads, IMDb and Amazon, but Streitfeld does an excellent job of establishing McMurtry's importance and continued relevance in the literary world.
April 20, 2026
Famously taciturn, famously prickly, McMurtry could be a difficult person to write objectively about. It's questionable that his own memoirs are completely truthful (spoiler alert: they aren't, either by intention or forgetfulness).
Streitfeld was a pretty good friend of Larry's but didn't seem to have a particular axe to grind. He had access to a lot of documents and talked to a LOT of people to put this chronological biography together. There's McMurtry the novelist, McMurtry the scriptwriter, McMurtry the book scout and bookseller, and above all McMurtry the Texan, with his love/hate relationship with his home state and especially his hometown, Archer City. We also get a lot of McMurtry the womanizer. He chronically fell in love with most every interesting and beautiful woman he met.
The stories about his experiences with Hollywood and trying to get movies made are quite juicy. There's lots of stories about Peter Bogdanovich and Cybill Shepherd and the make of The Last Picture Show, as well as the director of Brokeback Mountain, Ang Lee. There is, of course, discussion of the adaptations of Lonesome Dove and its sequels/prequels.
The more you are familiar with his books and movies adapted from his work, the better you'll appreciate this book.
Streitfeld was a pretty good friend of Larry's but didn't seem to have a particular axe to grind. He had access to a lot of documents and talked to a LOT of people to put this chronological biography together. There's McMurtry the novelist, McMurtry the scriptwriter, McMurtry the book scout and bookseller, and above all McMurtry the Texan, with his love/hate relationship with his home state and especially his hometown, Archer City. We also get a lot of McMurtry the womanizer. He chronically fell in love with most every interesting and beautiful woman he met.
The stories about his experiences with Hollywood and trying to get movies made are quite juicy. There's lots of stories about Peter Bogdanovich and Cybill Shepherd and the make of The Last Picture Show, as well as the director of Brokeback Mountain, Ang Lee. There is, of course, discussion of the adaptations of Lonesome Dove and its sequels/prequels.
The more you are familiar with his books and movies adapted from his work, the better you'll appreciate this book.
April 8, 2026
Western Star: The Life and Legends of Larry McMurtry is a richly detailed and authoritative biography that captures the full scope of Larry McMurtry’s life and literary legacy. David Streitfeld combines meticulous archival research with intimate interviews to paint a portrait of McMurtry as both a towering figure in American literature and a man of contradictions romantic yet pragmatic, playful yet serious, fiercely private yet profoundly influential.
Streitfeld illuminates McMurtry’s formative years on a Texas ranch, his complex relationships, and his creative genius that produced classics like Lonesome Dove and Brokeback Mountain. Readers gain insight into not only his literary achievements but also his lifelong engagement with the myths and realities of the American West. This biography is essential for fans of Western literature, American cultural history, and anyone seeking to understand the mind behind some of the 20th century’s most enduring stories.
Streitfeld illuminates McMurtry’s formative years on a Texas ranch, his complex relationships, and his creative genius that produced classics like Lonesome Dove and Brokeback Mountain. Readers gain insight into not only his literary achievements but also his lifelong engagement with the myths and realities of the American West. This biography is essential for fans of Western literature, American cultural history, and anyone seeking to understand the mind behind some of the 20th century’s most enduring stories.
April 2, 2026
David Streitfeld has achieved something remarkable: a biography that matches its subject in scope, complexity, and quiet heartbreak. Larry McMurtry spent decades deconstructing the myths of the American West while carefully constructing his own, and Streitfeld honors both projects without flinching. The book moves fluidly between McMurtry's ranching roots, his literary ascent, his Hollywood tangents, and his final years as an obsessive bookseller, always circling back to the central tension: a man who wrote about connection yet struggled to sustain it. Streitfeld's access as a longtime friend never curdles into hagiography. Instead, we get a fully dimensional portrait of a writer who understood that legends, like the West itself, are built from longing as much as fact. Essential reading for anyone who cares about American literature.
April 30, 2026
Biography is so often a trap; sometimes the biographer is too much in love with their subject and sometimes they form a resentment; either one gets in the way of what a biography should be. The author was a close friend of McMurtry's and I was afraid he would be overly generous but that was not the case. He sees McMurtry with a clear eye, praising him for his successes and not shying away from pointing out his failures. Streitfeld has done his homework exhaustively, speaking with those still alive, studying old reviews and essays, and even noting reviews on the internet--including Goodreads. And Streitfeld is a good writer himself. He has an eye for the personal details and anecdotes that make a biography truly enjoyable. The last few chapters, covering McMurtry's later years and his legacy, are understated and moving. One of the best biographies I've read in recent years.
April 1, 2026
Western Star: The Life and Legends of Larry McMurtry is a meticulously researched and authoritative biography.
David Streitfeld provides comprehensive archival research and detailed interviews, offering a clear portrait of McMurtry’s life, work, and cultural influence.
Essential reading for readers of literary biography, American history, and the life of one of the twentieth century’s most influential writers.
David Streitfeld provides comprehensive archival research and detailed interviews, offering a clear portrait of McMurtry’s life, work, and cultural influence.
Essential reading for readers of literary biography, American history, and the life of one of the twentieth century’s most influential writers.
April 6, 2026
Western Star was meticulously researched. Streitfeld knew the author and went the distance in finding people, reading everything out there about McMurtry, his work, his lives, and on and on. I think I am not the target audience. This was too deep a dive for me. TMI.
But I can see how true McMurtry fans will live this work.
But I can see how true McMurtry fans will live this work.
May 14, 2026
The second newly published biography of McMurtry I've read this spring. The author knew McMurtry well and that flavors the piece. Given that there are notes but no bibliography, I took it as a long remembrance of the author's friend. Paired with the Daugherty book and I definitely feel I know McMurtry better.
April 7, 2026
Wonder story biography about Larry McMurtry. A good read if you enjoy his storytelling.
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April 24, 2026Biography of Larry McMurtry.
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