WesternsWesterns

GiddyGiddy--up at the Libraryup at the Library

• “Westerns play first and last to a Wild West of the psyche”

• – Jane Tompkins, West of Everything: The Inner Life of Westerns,

• Oxford University Press, 1992.

Appeal ElementsAppeal ElementsCompetent, selfCompetent, self--reliant reliant heroesheroesExpression of emotion Expression of emotion limitedlimitedPhysical strength as an Physical strength as an idealidealWest as a symbol of West as a symbol of freedomfreedomNature dominates; most Nature dominates; most action outside action outside Life or death conflicts; Life or death conflicts; good vs. evilgood vs. evil

Share some similarity Share some similarity with mystery/crime fictionwith mystery/crime fictionEndurance and Endurance and perseverance are perseverance are rewardedrewardedSatisfying resolution of Satisfying resolution of conflictconflict

Disclaimer: many Disclaimer: many westerns deliberately westerns deliberately subvert these subvert these ““formulasformulas””

Classic Authors

• Zane Grey • A. B. Guthrie• Bret Harte• Louis L’Amour • Jack Schaefer• Owen Wister

Later on the SceneLater on the Scene

Don ColdsmithDon ColdsmithLoren EstlemanLoren EstlemanElmer KeltonElmer KeltonCormac McCarthyCormac McCarthyLarry McMurtryLarry McMurtryGlendon SwarthoutGlendon SwarthoutNorman ZollingerNorman Zollinger

Traditional Themes

• Cattle Drives• Family Sagas• Indian Wars• Land Rush• Lawmen• Mines and Mining• Mountain Men

• Range Wars• Singular Women• Texas and Mexico• Trail Drives• Wagons West• Wild West Celebrities

Hybrids

““AdultAdult”” WesternsWesterns

Feature more explicit violence & sexFeature more explicit violence & sexHarry CombsHarry CombsWesley EllisWesley EllisTabor EvansTabor EvansJake LoganJake LoganCharles PikeCharles Pike

Christian & InspirationalChristian & Inspirational

Stephen BlyStephen BlyAl LacyAl LacyJoanna Lacy Joanna Lacy Lee NelsonLee NelsonJim WalkerJim Walker

Contemporary Novels of the West

• Distinctive setting continues to appeal• More multicultural and less stereotypical• May show connection to the “Old West”• May involve social critique, challenging

status quo• May re-examine western myths and

archetypes

Contemporary Authors

• Edward Abbey• Sherman Alexie• Ivan Doig• Kent Haruf• Barbara Kingsolver• Susan Power• Wallace Stegner

AwardsAwards

►►Spur Awards (from the Western Writers of Spur Awards (from the Western Writers of America) America)

►►Western Heritage Awards (also known as Western Heritage Awards (also known as the Wrangler, from the National Cowboy the Wrangler, from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum) and Western Heritage Museum)

►►Mountains and Plains Bookseller Association Mountains and Plains Bookseller Association awards awards

►►Willa Awards (Women Writing the West)Willa Awards (Women Writing the West)

Online Resources

• Western Writers of America -www.WesternWriters.org (including Roundup magazine)

• Read the West - www.ReadtheWest.com(bookstore, book lists, etc.)

• American Western Magazine -www.AmericanWesternMagazine.com(stories and book reviews)

Keddy’s Three Must-Reads

The Homesman

By

Glendon Swarthout

I, Pearl Heart

By

Jane Candia Coleman

Lonesome Dove

By

Larry McMurtry