2. • “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.
3. Appeal Elements
Competent, self-reliant Share some similarity
heroes with mystery/crime fiction
Expression of emotion Endurance and
limited perseverance are
Physical strength as an rewarded
ideal Satisfying resolution of
West as a symbol of conflict
freedom
Nature dominates; most
action outside Disclaimer: many
Life or death conflicts; westerns deliberately
good vs. evil subvert these “formulas”
4. Classic Authors
• Zane Grey
• A. B. Guthrie
• Bret Harte
• Louis L’Amour
• Jack Schaefer
• Owen Wister
5. Later on the Scene
Don Coldsmith
Loren Estleman
Elmer Kelton
Cormac McCarthy
Larry McMurtry
Glendon Swarthout
Norman Zollinger
6. Traditional Themes
• Cattle Drives • Range Wars
• Family Sagas • Singular Women
• Indian Wars • Texas and Mexico
• Land Rush • Trail Drives
• Lawmen • Wagons West
• Mines and Mining • Wild West Celebrities
• Mountain Men
10. 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
11. Contemporary Authors
• Edward Abbey
• Sherman Alexie
• Ivan Doig
• Kent Haruf
• Barbara Kingsolver
• Susan Power
• Wallace Stegner
12. Awards
► Spur Awards (from the Western Writers of
America)
► Western Heritage Awards (also known as
the Wrangler, from the National Cowboy
and Western Heritage Museum)
► Mountains and Plains Bookseller Association
awards
► Willa Awards (Women Writing the West)
13. 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)
14. Keddy’s Three Must-Reads
The Homesman
By
Lonesome Dove
Glendon
Swarthout By
Larry McMurtry
I, Pearl Heart
By
Jane Candia
Coleman
