Literature of the American West

Literature of the American West is an anthology of both “literary” and popular fiction, historical personal narratives, contemporary reflective essays, and critical perspectives on the images, literatures, and films of the American West.

This distinctive text will enliven and deepen students' understanding and appreciation of the literature, values, ideals, and perceptions of the American West. It moves beyond the traditional literary canon to incorporate pop culture, historical, multi-ethnic, and multi-media approaches. Including stories from popular Western authors such as Zane Grey and Dorothy Johnson, as well as Native American authors such as N. Scott Momaday and Leslie Marmon Silko, this text significantly expands the group of works typically studied in mainstream American literature surveys.