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Of Chiles, Cacti, and Fighting Cocks: Notes on the American West
Essays discuss mustangs, Billy the Kid, saguaro cactus, the image of the West, chili, Basque immigrants and cock fighting
200 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 3, 2017
A great book about the late 20th century West.
November 8, 2016
As seems to always be the case with collections of short stories and/or essays, there are some I love, some I think are okay, and one or two that do nothing for me. The essay about cacti spoke to me deeply and made me miss my beloved Sonora Desert with a fierce longing. The one about cock fighting I found deeply disturbing. I finished it, but only just.
Turner is a fine writer. His descriptions are beautifully written and he has captured a great deal of my feelings about Southwest. The book is slightly dated at some points (having been written in 1990); it would be interesting to hear his thoughts now.
Turner is a fine writer. His descriptions are beautifully written and he has captured a great deal of my feelings about Southwest. The book is slightly dated at some points (having been written in 1990); it would be interesting to hear his thoughts now.
April 21, 2012
As of this writing, this well written collection of essays seems to be out of print, and it shouldn't be. Turner has a sharp eye for detail and an ability to craft personal experience and an encyclopedic scale of information into engaging reading on subjects as varied as saguaro cactuses, chili con carne (with a recipe for Basic Texas Red), management of wild horse herds, Billy the Kid, Basque sheepherders in the Great Basin, and a Czech festival each autum in Deming, New Mexico.
Especially interesting for this reader is his essay on the lives of two early 20th-century writers who turned their own frontier experiences into best-sellers that shaped American awareness of the West: James Willard Schultz ("My Life as an Indian," 1907) and Will James ("Lone Cowboy," 1930). Based in Santa Fe, Turner roams over the southern arid states where inhabitants set their clocks to Mountain Time. And his essays are fine examples of travel writing that appreciates both landscape and centuries of human history. This is an excellent addition to any bookshelf of nonfiction Western literature.
Especially interesting for this reader is his essay on the lives of two early 20th-century writers who turned their own frontier experiences into best-sellers that shaped American awareness of the West: James Willard Schultz ("My Life as an Indian," 1907) and Will James ("Lone Cowboy," 1930). Based in Santa Fe, Turner roams over the southern arid states where inhabitants set their clocks to Mountain Time. And his essays are fine examples of travel writing that appreciates both landscape and centuries of human history. This is an excellent addition to any bookshelf of nonfiction Western literature.
October 23, 2012
With attention to unusual details, interesting facts, and witty insights, Frederick Turner takes readers along on an eye-opening journey through the American West. HIs book of travel essays combines personal experiences with historical details and sweeps through rugged landscapes and unique communities scattered west of the 100th meridian to the Great Basin region. The book investigates diverse topics including saguaro cactus, chili con carne, wild horse herds, Billy the Kid, Basque sheepherders, a Czech community in New Mexico, Crazy Horse, Georgia O'Keeffe, buffalo, Will James, and much, much more. This is recommended reading for separating some of the myth and legend from a true understanding of the West. (lj)
May 27, 2011
Great discovery, and not a let-down after Annie Dillard, which says a lot. A wonderful collection of essays based on Turner's travels and amateur research (in the best sense of the term) in the West. Among the most memorable - the story of Billy the Kid, wild horse management, buffalo management, and the Czech beseda/sausage cookout in New Mexico. Conveys a patchwork of what the west is today without undue romanticism - not more than the topic demands. I love Turner's narrative voice - matter of fact, self-deprecating, curious, walking the line between wonder and sobriety. A real gem in the art of the personal essay/literary non-fiction.
December 21, 2012
This is about the REAL Southwest, neither the Tex-Mexified version east of the Rockies, nor the touristy version of Santa Fe, nor the mythical version of the OK Corral.
Most of this book deals with the largest U.S. desert -- the Great Basin desert. A land of rugged climatic extremes and even more rugged geography, it has largely bent men to its will rather than the other way around.
Beginning with his own childhood reading and first trips to this area, Turner paints a portrait of the Southwest's natural and social history while also describing how he, too, has been shaped by this land.
Most of this book deals with the largest U.S. desert -- the Great Basin desert. A land of rugged climatic extremes and even more rugged geography, it has largely bent men to its will rather than the other way around.
Beginning with his own childhood reading and first trips to this area, Turner paints a portrait of the Southwest's natural and social history while also describing how he, too, has been shaped by this land.
September 5, 2009
Great essays on western life in the US with a great deal of focus on the challenges facing those living in the Western United States as econimies, environments, and social thoughts change.
July 27, 2012
Yes! Finished this glorious book of essays. If you want to read about the American West, read this book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews