Westerns

Westerns are typified by have the American West as their setting. This fiction genre may be further divided into historical and traditional westerns. Historical westerns incorporate themes and circumstances common to or affected by daily life at the time the story is set, such as living conditions on the frontier or the relations between settlers and Native Americans. In contrast, traditional westerns typically feature a tough man fighting the “bad guys,” usually Native Americans or outlaws, in order to protect the innocent. In the traditional western, less attention is given to social themes and circumstances and more attention is given to the scenery and landscape of the West. The Western collection at the Bloomington Public Library includes both historical and traditional westerns.

In this collection you’ll find books by the following authors:

Many of these authors’ works are also available in the Large Print collection.

Looking for more Westerns?

The following titles, located in the Reader’s Corner section of the library, are especially helpful if you’re looking for a Western with a particular setting.

Looking for more sources for Westerns?

Try some of these web sites:

  • Spur Awards
    Annual award given since 1953 for distinguished writing about the American West.
  • Western Heritage Awards
    Awarded by the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum since 1960 for distinguished works of Western literature. 
  • Good Reads Online Form
    If you still can't find what you're looking for get personal suggestions from a librarian! Simply fill out the form for recommendations within 24 business hours.