The Illustrated Dictionary of Western Literature by Michael Legat (review)

90 Western American Literature Nelson’swork interesting and now feel more aware of Cather’sdebt to France; however, extreme statements, unproven assertions, and apparent inconsisten­ cies in the application of his theories seem to me to be problems with the book. MARGARET DOANE California State University, San Bernardino The Illustrated Dictionary of Western Literature. By Michael Legatt. (New York: Continuum, 1987. 352 pages, $27.50.) One needs to pick up a book like this occasionally to be reminded of the role of western American literature in the larger framework of the literature of the western world. As scholars of western American literature, we tend to read so much of it, to associate with other scholars who realize its importance, to attend conferences which categorize and explicate it—in short, we tend to become so immersed in our subject that we forget how little attention it gets elsewhere in the literary world. The Illustrated Dictionary of Western Literature will set you straight. You get a paragraph and picture of Willa Cather, a page and picture for Jack London and John Steinbeck. But there is no mention of Wallace Stegner, no Larry McMurtry. Zane Grey and Louis L’Amour get an inch of space each. But there is no Edward Abbey, no Mary Austin, no Raymond Carver, no Walter Van Tilburg Clark, no Frank Waters. Perhaps, then, what I’m saying is that this book does represent western American literature’s place in the literary world. So far. But someone should invite the author to our next WLA conference. CHARLOTTE M. WRIGHT Denton, Texas Ranch Rodeos in West Texas. ByLawrence Clayton. (Abilene, Texas: HardinSimmons University Press, 1988. 80 pages, $10.95.) Lawrence Clayton’s Ranch Rodeos in West Texas, first in a promising series of books on western topics to be published under the Four-O-Imprint of Hardin-Simmons University Press, has authoritative commentary on an important facet of modern ranching life. The text is complemented with excellent photographs by Sonja Irwin Clayton, Lea Clayton and the author. The book is significant for its carefully researched information as well as for its photographs which both explain and help preserve contemporary history in the American West. KENNETH W. DAVIS Texas Tech University ...