Larry Jeff
He had much to say
about Texas, Texans, Mexicans,
and the cowboy way.
McMurtry, best known
for essays, books, and movie scripts
which Hollywood’s Oscar would pay.
But Larry most loved book scouting,
a proud bibliopolist,
another dying breed.
Look both ways learning about history, myth, legend, and reality.
Mind the gaps because therein may hide the best of the stories.
Larry Jeff McMurtry (1936-2021) was an American novelist, essayist, bookseller (book-scout) and screenwriter whose work was predominantly set in either the Old West or contemporary Texas. Dying breeds, historical truth, and books attracted him personally and professionally. My favorite McMurtry quotes are:
“People would be bored shitless if they had to love only the good in someone they care about.”
“Backward is just not a natural direction for Americans to look – historical ignorance remains a national characteristic.”
“Only a rank degenerate would drive 1,500 miles across Texas without eating a chicken fried steak.”
Our Literary Journey 
Excellent!
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Thank you, Susan. 🙂
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Never heard of him, maybe vaguely. Larry Jeff is an odd coupling of names. He seems os interesting
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I hope you’ve heard of “Lonesome Dove” “Terms of Endearment” and “Brokeback Mountain.” 🙂
There is a family history reason for the Jeff, but he never used it as a pen or screen name.
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I’ve heard of those movies. He was really influential then
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He wrote the books. For “Brokeback Mountain” he wrote the screenplay with his partner.
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Excellent rendition of a great word!
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Thank you, Peter.
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Thanks for introducing me to an interesting character through your excellent 39!
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He literally tried to recreate Hay on Wye in Archer City, Texas. 🙂
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Excellent and I love his quote on the love of books I so know what he means ❤
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Thank you. 🙂
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I didn’t realize the name, but had heard of that author: this is a wonderful poem.
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Thank you.
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