One of the most famous is the story of Jesse James. He was a bank and train robber. His gang carried out numerous heists, and he became a sort of Robin Hood - like figure in some people's eyes, though he was still an outlaw. He was eventually betrayed and killed by a member of his own gang.
One of the best is 'True Grit' by Charles Portis. It has a great story of a young girl seeking revenge with the help of a tough U.S. Marshal. Another good one is 'The Ox - Bow Incident' which shows the dark side of mob justice in the Wild West. And 'Riders of the Purple Sage' by Zane Grey is also a classic, with its vivid descriptions of the western landscape and the conflicts between outlaws and settlers.
A really good one is 'The Virginian' by Owen Wister. It's often considered one of the first great western novels. The main character, the Virginian, has to deal with outlaws and uphold justice in the wild west. The book does a great job of showing the code of the west and the relationships between different characters.
Jesse James was also very famous. He led a gang of outlaws and they carried out numerous bank and train robberies. His story was a complex one, with some seeing him as a hero fighting against the big banks and railroads, while others saw him simply as a criminal. His daring raids and narrow escapes made him a popular figure in old west gunfighter lore.
One of the best old west stories is about the Earp brothers in Tombstone. Wyatt Earp, along with his brothers Virgil and Morgan, were involved in the famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. It was a clash between the lawmen and a group of outlaws. Their actions in upholding the law in a wild and lawless town became legendary.
Another good option is 'The Ox - Bow Incident' by Walter Van Tilburg Clark. It delves into the dark side of the wild west with the story of a lynching. There are outlaws and the sense of the wild and lawless nature of the west. The characters are complex and their interactions add to the overall appeal of the book.
A common theme is the struggle between good and evil. You often have the law - abiding citizens like sheriffs fighting against outlaws. Another theme is the search for wealth, like prospecting for gold.
One characteristic is the tough environment. In old west love stories, the harsh landscape and difficult living conditions often test the love between characters. For example, in many stories, the couple has to face droughts or attacks from outlaws together.
Billy the Kid is also a well - known outlaw story from the old west. He was a young gunfighter who got involved in various conflicts. He had a reputation for being quick on the draw and was constantly on the run from the law. There are many tales of his narrow escapes and his life in the wild west.