Wonderful Women in Westerns

I fell in love with the Western genre after reading Larry McMurtry’s masterpiece Lonesome Dove. I especially loved reading about Lorena Wood, the strong-willed heroine of the novel. Up until that point, I’d only associated men with the genre, but after Lonesome Dove, I began my own adventure of searching for Westerns that included cool ladies. Here's what I’ve found.

Pretty Deadly: Twisted myth? Check. Action-packed? Check. Multicultural representation? Check. This beautifully drawn Western fantasy graphic novel has it all.

True Grit: With a narrative style reminiscent of Scout Finch, 14-year-old Mattie Ross goes an adventure to avenge her father's death. If you liked either of the True Grit movies, you’ve got to read the book.  

Telegraph Days: After being unexpectedly orphaned, Nellie Courtwright moves with her brother to the town of Rita Blanca to be the telegraph operator. This is a great book if you want to learn about Wild West history through the lens of a female lead. 

Westworld Season 1 and Season 2: Inspired by Michael Crichton’s 1973 film, HBO’s Westworld melds sci-fi with the Wild West. Dolores Abernathy, played by Evan Rachel Wood, is a favorite character for sure.

Do you recommend any other Westerns with such memorable leading ladies?