The Mythic West in Twentieth-Century America - Hardcover

"The Mythic West is by no means meant as a full treatment of its subject. Instead Athearn uses each chapter to consider from a different angle certain developments that have shaped the modern West and some of the ways these transformations have in turn molded what people have thought and dreamed about that land. . . . It is informed by his characteristic intelligence and graced by the humor and felicity of style his readers have come to expect. As do his other works, it leaves us with a deeper, richer understanding of that elusive and complex place, the West, which he knew as well as anyone ever will."—from the Foreword "The best interpretative study of the twentieth-century American West to date: it is informed, witty, personal. . . . This is high country history at its best."—Martin Ridge, coauthor of Westward Expansion "One of the most delightful, thoughtful, penetrating, and knowledgeable books on the American West. . . . A real love affair, and a joy to read."—Alvin M. Josephy, Jr., author of Now That the Buffalo's Gone "Magnificent. . . . This book is a must for anyone interested in understanding the recent history of a major portion of the American West."—Howard R. Lamar in Colorado Heritage

This "blend of scholarship, personal observation, and opinion" identifies the social and economic forces that molded the West in the 20th century, contrasting the realities of Western development with the ever-changing public perceptions and fantasies responsible for the Western myth. Athearn draws from a wide range of scholarly and popular sources in the course of his discussion. But despite clever turns of phrase, witty analogies, and sporadic insights, the book suffers from the lack of a clearly stated premise and logically structured narrative. It reads like an interminable monologue that never gets to the point. The best features are the illustrations and the "Essay Sources" which include the author's references as well as recommendations for additional reading. Frank Schroth, Technology Training Assoc., Cambridge, Mass.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.