Zane Grey's Riders of the Purple Sage is a classic Western following Jane Withersteen as she defends her ranch and Mormon faith against a corrupt elder, aided by the mysterious gunslinger Lassiter. Through action, romance, and stunning Utah landscape descriptions, Grey created one of the defining Western novels. The book becomes both adventure story and critique of religious tyranny, proving that Grey understood the Western genre's potential for social commentary and that some Westerns are also love stories and tales of liberation.

WHY WE PICKED IT: Because Grey wrote the Western that defined the genre, with a strong protagonist fighting for independence. This classic reminds us that Westerns can balance the masculine and feminine, that the purple sage landscape is a character itself, and that Lassiter is the archetypal mysterious gunslinger.

DETAILS: • Author: Zane Grey • Publisher: Penguin Classics • Format: Paperback • Publication Date: May 1, 1990 • ISBN: 9780140184402 • Ships direct from distributor in 3–7 business days