Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (novel)

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues is a 1976 novel by American author Tom Robbins. It is a postmodern comic novel known for its whimsical prose, exploration of counter-culture themes, and unconventional characters. The story centers on Sissy Hankshaw, a beautiful woman born with exceptionally large thumbs, which give her a natural talent for hitchhiking.

The novel follows Sissy's journey through various subcultures and experiences, including working on a beauty ranch in the American West run by the flamboyant Miss Adrian, encountering a group of cowgirls who have taken over the ranch, and navigating themes of sexual identity, freedom, and the search for meaning.

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues is characterized by its playful use of language, its philosophical musings, and its embrace of the absurd. It satirizes societal norms and celebrates individuality and nonconformity.

The novel was adapted into a film of the same name in 1993, directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Uma Thurman as Sissy Hankshaw. The film was not as well-received as the novel and is generally considered a critical and commercial failure. However, the novel remains a popular and influential work of postmodern American literature.