Penguin Book of the American West

Very pleased I spotted this on the 'bargain' table outside my local independent book shop. I learnt a lot about several subjects I knew little of before. Lavender's writing is clear, concise and to the point. Occasionally as dry in places as the prairies and desert lands he writes of, but in the main I really enjoyed the book. Very well illustrated as well with plenty of maps and creepy early photographs of gaunt haggard pioneers and victims of western shootouts etc.