37 pages • 1 hour read
The Sisters Brothers
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
325
Novel • Fiction
American West • 1850s
2011
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt follows brothers Charlie and Eli Sisters, hired killers sent by their boss, the Commodore, to track down a man named Warm who allegedly stole from him. Journeying from Oregon to San Francisco in 1851, they encounter various misadventures and characters, eventually discovering Warm's invention that highlights gold in riverbeds and facing its deadly consequences. The novel contains instances of violence, substance abuse, and the depiction of death.
Gritty
Dark
Humorous
Melancholic
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
107,328 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Patrick Dewitt's The Sisters Brothers has been praised for its dark humor, unique narrative voice, and vivid portrayal of the Old West. Critics appreciate its character depth and philosophical undertones. Some, however, find its pacing uneven and the plot occasionally meandering. Overall, it's a compelling and inventive take on the Western genre.
Who Should Read The Sisters Brothers?
Fans of darkly comedic Westerns will enjoy The Sisters Brothers by Patrick Dewitt. The novel's blend of sharp wit and gritty adventure appeals to readers of No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy and True Grit by Charles Portis, offering a similarly thrilling, humorous take on the American frontier.
107,328 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
325
Novel • Fiction
American West • 1850s
2011
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.