Jack Schaefer published Shane in 1949. It is widely acclaimed and often considered among the best westerns ever written. It follows many western tropes, but twists and deepens ideas that could have easily become cliche. The book asks us to consider many questions, though chief among them is about growing up in a world where violence is often accepted and encouraged. Sadly, these questions are just as relevant today as it was half a century ago. Most of all, we will ask "what is the right kind of toughness, and how do we develop it?"
99% Invisible - The Devil's Rope
Listen to episode 157 of the podcast 99% Invisible, called "The Devil's Rope". It will outline much of the historical tensions that are present for the novel.
Fill out these pages as we read through the novel. If you miss a day when we read, I encourage you to read the summaries of the chapter from sparknotes.com