The Best of the West: An Anthology of Classic Writing from the American West
by Tony Hillerman (Editor)
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From white men's first tentative forays into the West to the highways that crisscross today's West, this anthology spans almost five centuries, celebrating many myths of a legendary landscape and exploding many more. Every facet of the Western experience is crystallized here -- Indians, cowboys, Latinos, frontier justice, homesteaders, the Pony Express, the mines, the railroad, the military, and far, far, more. Included are such well-known documents as Chief Joseph's surrender speech and show more Colonel Travis's letter from the Alamo, as well as less famous but equally evocative texts like Custer's last letter home, the Tombstone Epitaph's report of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and a thoroughly bone-chilling account of a midwinter stagecoach ride. Tony Hillerman has gathered over 140 texts from and about the West. Though these selections vary widely in form -- from diaries to news dispatches to travelogues to short stories to stone inscriptions -- Every one vividly evokes some aspect of the vast, rugged landscape west of the Mississippi and the unique souls who inhabit it. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
This large anthology is divided into 15 parts with each one containing a number of short selections. Mostly nonfiction, there is a section for tall tales and another for fiction, and covers everything from the earliest explorers to traveling Route 66 in the 20th century. The authors of these short selections range from Meriwether Lewis John Wesley Powell to Eleanor McGovern and John Steinbeck. Sometimes a little dry but still fascinating and full of interesting nuggets of information about the Southwestern United States. A book to be read in small bits and an introduction to a lot of intriguing characters and authors. This is a book I wish I didn't have to return to the library!
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Author Information
Tony Hillerman was born in Sacred Heart, Oklahoma on May 27, 1925. During World War II, he enlisted in the Army and was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart after being severely injured during a raid behind German lines. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1948. From 1948 to 1962, he covered show more crime and politics for newspapers in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, eventually working his way up to the position of editor of the Santa Fe New Mexican. He taught at the University of Mexico and went on to chair the journalism department for more than 20 years. He retired in 1985. His first novel, The Blessing Way, was published in 1971. During his lifetime, he wrote 29 books, including the popular 18-book mystery series featuring Navajo police officers Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn, two non-series novels, two children's books, and nonfiction works. He received numerous awards during his lifetime including the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Mystery Novel for Dance Hall of the Dead in 1974, the Western Writers of America's Golden Spur Award for Skinwalkers in 1987, the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master Award in 1991, the Navajo tribe's Special Friend Award, France 's Grand Prix de Litterature Policiere, the 2002 Malice Domestic Lifetime Achievement Award, the Agatha Award for Best Nonfiction Book for Seldom Disappointed, and the Wister Award for Lifetime achievement in 2008. He died from pulmonary failure on October 26, 2008 at the age of 83. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Contains
Is an abridged version of
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Best of the West: An Anthology of Classic Writing from the American West
- Original publication date
- 1991
- Important places
- Dakota Territory, USA; Rocky Mountains, USA; Oregon Trail, USA; California, USA; American Southwest; American West
- First words
- One starts a collection such as this at the earliest possible moment. But when was that?
- Quotations
- It is said by defenders of fiction that it tells the truth while nonfiction merely reports the facts.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)All about him, vast, interminable, stretched the measureless leagues of Death Valley.
- Original language
- English
- Disambiguation notice
- This is not the Reader's Digest Best of the West.
Classifications
- Genre
- Fiction and Literature
- DDC/MDS
- 818.08 — Literature & rhetoric American literature in English American miscellaneous writings in English Anthologies And Quotations
- LCC
- PS561 .B48 — Language and Literature American literature American literature Collections of American literature By region West and Central
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 285
- Popularity
- 112,751
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.88)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 2
- ASINs
- 4
