A leading figure in the debate over the literary canon, Jane Tompkins was one of the first to point to the ongoing relevance of popular women's fiction in the 19th century, long overlooked or scorned by literary critics. Now, in West of Everything , Tompkins shows how popular novels and films of the Amercian west have shaped the emotional lives of people in our time. Writing with sympathy, insight, and respect, she probes the main elements of the Western--its preoccupation with death, its barren landscapes, galloping ...
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A leading figure in the debate over the literary canon, Jane Tompkins was one of the first to point to the ongoing relevance of popular women's fiction in the 19th century, long overlooked or scorned by literary critics. Now, in West of Everything , Tompkins shows how popular novels and films of the Amercian west have shaped the emotional lives of people in our time. Writing with sympathy, insight, and respect, she probes the main elements of the Western--its preoccupation with death, its barren landscapes, galloping horses, hard-bitten men and their marginalized women--revealing the view of reality and code of behavior these features contain. Tompkins brings these insights to bear in considering film classics such as Red River and Lonely are the Brave , and novels such as Louis L'Amour's Last of the Breed and Owen Wister's The Virginian . She argues that Westerns originated as a reaction against the female-dominated popular fiction of the mid-19th century and the invasion of the public sphere by women which followed it. The Western countered the inwardness, spirituality, and domesticity of these works with a rough-and-tumble, secular world--anti-Christian, anti-emotional, and, most of all, anti-woman. Writing with humor and a provocative intellect, Tompkins brings these currents to the surface, changing how we see the Western.
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Seller's Description:
Fair. This item is in overall acceptable condition. Covers and dust jackets are intact but may have heavy wear including creases, bends, edge wear, curled corners or minor tears as well as stickers or sticker-residue. Pages are intact but may have minor curls, bends or moderate to considerable highlighting/ writing. Binding is intact; however, spine may have heavy wear. A well-read copy overall. Please note that all items are donated goods and are in used condition. Orders shipped Monday through Friday! Your purchase helps put people to work and learn life skills to reach their full potential. Orders shipped Monday through Friday. Your purchase helps put people to work and learn life skills to reach their full potential. Thank you!
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Seller's Description:
Fair. This is a used book. It may contain highlighting/underlining and/or the book may show heavier signs of wear. It may also be ex-library or without dustjacket. This is a used book. It may contain highlighting/underlining and/or the book may show heavier signs of wear. It may also be ex-library or without dustjacket.
