The Lone Star Ranger

The Lone Star Ranger is a Western novel published by Zane Grey in 1915. It follows the life of Buck Duane, a man who becomes an outlaw and then redeems himself in the eyes of the law.

Plot introduction

Buck Duane is the son of a famous outlaw. Though an outlaw is not always a criminal, if the Rangers say he is an outlaw, its just as bad – he's a hunted man. After killing a man, Duane is forced to 'go on the dodge'. Duane turns up at an outlaw's hideout, still revolting at the idea of outlawry. Worse still, all the men he kills haunt him, for years. At the outlaw hideout, he meets a kidnapped, beautiful young woman and desires to see her free.

In the second part of the book, Duane joins the Rangers, who want him to clear the frontier of outlaws, in return for the governor's pardon of his illegal deeds.

Explanation of the novel's title

The book takes place in Texas, which is known as the Lone Star State. Buck Duane is made a Texas Ranger toward the end of the novel. The title also highlights the social isolation of the main character.

Characters

• Buck Duane – Main character and gunslinging outlaw with a good heart who never kills an innocent man.

Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

The novel was adapted four times to film under the same title as the novel. Silent versions were released in 1919 and 1923. The version released in 1930 was tagged as "Zane Grey's first all talking picture".^[1] The fourth adaptation was released in 1942.^[2]

It was adapted as a radio series in 1933.

References