The Virginian

An average history student’s depiction of the “Wild West” or frontier life during the 1870s would consist of a cowboy hero who is fighting a villain that is usually Native American. This depiction is a stereotype that resulted from such television shows like “Bonanza” during the 1950s and novels. The images portrayed in these items are passed on from generation to generation thus changing the perception of a history student today. A book that …

…get a better understanding of history in the Great Plains during the 1870’s. A history student can learn about the life, culture, and the environment of an average Great Plains settler. Although, some of the Virginian’s stories were fictional and not related to real history, most of it explains the real life struggles of a real cowboy. A history student can understand the hardships of what a real life cowboy does and appreciate it.