Riders of the Purple Sage

by Zane Grey
Riders of the Purple Sage cover
Good Books rating 4.25
Western
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Technical
  • ID: 10115
  • Added: 2026-01-15
  • Updated: 2026-01-24
  • ISBN: 9791041803507
  • Publisher: BoD - Books on Demand
  • Published: 2023-04-02
  • Reviews: 4

Jane Withersteen, a young, unmarried Mormon woman, faces mounting pressure to marry Elder Tull, a polygamist seeking control of her ranch. Her resistance ignites resentment against Gentiles in the area, leading to violence and threats. Bern Venters, one of her ranch hands, becomes a target of this resentment and is nearly killed before a mysterious gunslinger, Lassiter, intervenes. This sets off a chain of events that forces Jane to fight for her ranch and independence./n/nFirst published in 1912, Riders of the Purple Sage is considered a cornerstone of the Western genre. Zane Grey's best-selling book remains popular for its vivid portrayal of the American West and its complex characters.

Reviews
Waywords Studio · 2025-04-17
refreshing 4.00

As a first Western read in many years, the book was a refreshing and enjoyable experience. The landscape descriptions are particularly noteworthy.

This reviewer found Riders of the Purple Sage to be a refreshing read, especially as it was their first Western in many years. They appreciated the vivid descriptions of the landscape, which added a lot to the overall enjoyment of the book. The story itself was engaging and provided a good escape into the frontier era. They didn't find any major flaws, making it a solid recommendation for those looking to explore the Western genre.

Quick quotes

    This is my first by Zane Grey, and the first Western I've read in many years.

    At that level it was a refreshing read!

    The landscape descriptions are particularly noteworthy.

Something Ever Read · 2025-03-28
enthusiastic 4.50

The book is highly recommended for its engaging narrative and vivid depiction of the frontier era. The only caveat is its potential offense to Mormon readers.

The reviewer absolutely loved this book and can't recommend it enough. They found the story engaging and the depiction of the frontier era vivid and captivating. The only caveat they mention is that the book might be offensive to Mormon readers, which is something to keep in mind. Overall, it's a fantastic read that they thoroughly enjoyed.

Quick quotes

    This month, we read Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey, and we LOVED IT.

    I truly can't recommend this book enough, unless you are Mormon, in which case you might want to steer clear.

    The story is engaging and the depiction of the frontier era is vivid and captivating.

The Edge of the Precipice · 2013-11-16
adoring 5.00

The book is a favorite, praised for its cover and Grey's descriptive writing. The reviewer became obsessed with the story and its details.

The reviewer counts this book among their favorites, loving everything from the cover to Grey's marvelous descriptions. They found themselves becoming a little obsessed with the story, immersing themselves in its details. The reviewer particularly appreciated the way Grey brought the landscape and characters to life, making the story feel vivid and real.

Quick quotes

    One of my favorite stories!

    I love everything about this book, from the cover to Grey's marvelous descriptions.

    I became a little obsessed with the story and its details.

Chris Wolak · Chris Wolak · 2012-02-09
mixed 3.50

The book features beautiful scenes and a compelling plot, though some scenes feel hokey and certain problems could have been avoided with better communication.

Chris Wolak found Riders of the Purple Sage to be a book with both beautiful and hokey scenes. They appreciated the compelling plot and the vivid descriptions of the frontier landscape. However, they noted that some problems in the story could have been avoided if characters had communicated better. Overall, it's a good read with some notable strengths and a few weaknesses that keep it from being perfect.

Quick quotes

    There are some beautiful scenes, some hokey scenes, and lots of problems that could have been avoided had people spoken up sooner.

    Overall, it's a good read with some notable strengths and a few weaknesses that keep it from being perfect.

    The vivid descriptions of the frontier landscape are particularly noteworthy.

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