# The Virginian — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Virginian by Owen Wister.

- [Dedication](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/dedication.md): The author dedicates the book to Theodore Roosevelt, acknowledging his previous readings and criticisms, and expressing enduring admiration.
- [To the Reader](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/to-the-reader.md): The author addresses the reader directly, explaining that the novel is historical in nature, depicting Wyoming between 1874 and 1890 as a vanished world. He reflects on the romantic figure of the cowpuncher, his integrit
- [The Virginian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/the-virginian.md): The narrator arrives in Medicine Bow, Wyoming, and meets the enigmatic Virginian, a cowboy who embodies the Code of the West. The chapter introduces the rough, untamed landscape and the characters who inhabit it, setting
- [Enter the Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/i-enter-the-man.md): The narrator arrives by train at Medicine Bow, Wyoming, where he witnesses a cowboy roping a clever pony in a corral. After disembarking, he learns his trunk is lost and feels forlorn. His attention is captured by a conv
- [II: “When You Call Me That, Smile!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/ii-when-you-call-me-that-smile.md): The narrator arrives in Medicine Bow and observes the raw frontier town. He meets the Virginian, who demonstrates a quiet dignity and a code of conduct that surprises the narrator. The Virginian interacts with his friend

> 34 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=the_virginian_se_1787kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [III: Steve Treats](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/iii-steve-treats.md)
- [IV: Deep Into Cattle Land](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/iv-deep-into-cattle-land.md)
- [V: Enter the Woman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/v-enter-the-woman.md)
- [VI: Em'ly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/vi-em-ly.md)
- [VII: Through Two Snows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/vii-through-two-snows.md)
- [The Sincere Spinster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/viii-the-sincere-spinster.md)
- [The Spinster Meets the Unknown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/ix-the-spinster-meets-the-unknown.md)
- [X: Where Fancy Was Bred](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/x-where-fancy-was-bred.md)
- [XI: “You’re Going to Love Me Before We Get Through”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xi-you-re-going-to-love-me-before-we-get-through.md)
- [XII: Quality and Equality](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xii-quality-and-equality.md)
- [XIII: The Game and the Nation—Act First](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xiii-the-game-and-the-nation-act-first.md)
- [XIV: Between the Acts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xiv-between-the-acts.md)
- [XV: The Game and the Nation—Act Second](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xv-the-game-and-the-nation-act-second.md)
- [XVI: The Game and the Nation—Last Act](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xvi-the-game-and-the-nation-last-act.md)
- [XVII: Scipio Moralizes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xvii-scipio-moralizes.md)
- [XVIII: "Would You Be a Parson?"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xviii-would-you-be-a-parson.md)
- [XIX: Dr. Macbride Begs Pardon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xix-dr-macbride-begs-pardon.md)
- [XX: The Judge Ignores Particulars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xx-the-judge-ignores-particulars.md)
- [XXI: In a State of Sin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxi-in-a-state-of-sin.md)
- [XXII: “What Is a Rustler?”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxii-what-is-a-rustler.md)
- [Various Points](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxiii-various-points.md)
- [A Letter with a Moral](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxiv-a-letter-with-a-moral.md)
- [Progress of the Lost Dog](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxv-progress-of-the-lost-dog.md)
- [Balaam and Pedro](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxvi-balaam-and-pedro.md)
- [Grandmother Stark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxvii-grandmother-stark.md)
- [XXVIII: No Dream to Wake from](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxviii-no-dream-to-wake-from.md)
- [Word to Bennington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxix-word-to-bennington.md)
- [A Stable on the Flat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxx-a-stable-on-the-flat.md)
- [The Cottonwoods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxxi-the-cottonwoods.md)
- [Superstition Trail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxxii-superstition-trail.md)
- [The Spinster Loses Some Sleep](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-spinster-loses-some-sleep.md)
- [To Fit Her Finger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxxiv-to-fit-her-finger.md)
- [With Malice Aforethought](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxxv-with-malice-aforethought.md)
- [At Dunbarton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxxvi-at-dunbarton.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters