Larry McMurtry's award winning novels have redefined not only the literature of the west, but also the essential myths with which the west is associated. Readers were initiated into the world of the modern cowboy with McMurtry's first novel Horseman Pass By. Nearly 35 years later McMurtry revisits his hometown project with his latest update on the characters who populated The Last Picture Show and Texasville in his most recent novel Duane's Depressed. This Critical Companion examines all 22 of McMurtry's works, grouping the stories into chapters such as the historical novels, launched by the popular Lonesome Dove, and the modern city sagas like the poignant Terms of Endearment, to show the connections among related works. There are also chapters devoted to the sequels such as The Evening Star, the collaborative works like Pretty Boy Floyd, and a look at the heroes in Reality, Legend in Anything for Billy and Buffalo Girls. By considering individual literary elements and overall construction of the novels, this analysis probes how McMurtry has given contemporary relevance to traditional elements of the Western story. This volume is the most comprehensive of the existing studies of McMurtry's writings, covering all of his works up to the most recent. A biographical chapter introduces the reader to Larry McMurtry. A literary heritage chapter helps students understand how McMurtry transforms the traditional components of the western genre into stories that are models of modern life. Each chapter explores a grouping of McMurtry's novels with in depth literary analysis identifying plot, character development, themes, and narrative construction. Each chapter also includes an alternative critical perspective for reading the texts. A bibliography and lists of general criticism, biographical sources, and reviews complete this volume, making it an indispensable resource for any reader seeking to develop a greater understanding of McMurtry's works.