Brut McKay here and welcome to another edition of the Art of Manliness Podcast.

If you've been listening to this show, or reading the A-Wim website for a while, then

you likely know my favorite book of all time is Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry.

It's therefore my real pleasure to be able to talk all about that novel today with Stephen

Fry, professor of American literature and the author of Understanding Larry McMurtry.

We last had Steve on the show to talk about the road by Kormack McCarthy.

In this episode, we unpack Lonesome Dove, beginning with some background on McMurtry and the

style and themes he explores and his work.

From there, we turn to Lonesome Dove and its surprising influences, from Jane Austen

to Serbantes.

Steve and I explore the characters of Augustus McRae and Woodrow Call, how they can represent

the archetypes of the Epicurean and the Stoic and what we can learn from their friendship.

We also talk about the complexities of other characters in the novel and inter-conversation

with wide Lonesome Dove despite not having a stereotypically happy ending such a life

affirming book.

A spoiler alert here, we're going to reveal plenty of plot points in this discussion,

so be aware that if you haven't yet read Lonesome Dove.

And why have you read Lonesome Dove yet?

Go out by a copy, read it, come back, listen to the show.

Out at the shows over, check out our show notes at a-wim.is slash Lonesome Dove.

Alright, Stephen Fry, welcome back to the show.

Well, thanks for having me, Brett.

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