About:
'The Wister Trace' by Loren D. Estleman is an assay of classic Western fiction, where the author discusses the qualities that make a Western novel classic. Estleman presents a number of titles that he believes possess these qualities, delving into both the literary and cinematic aspects of these works. also critiques various Western novels and movies, offering insights into the author's personal opinions and preferences regarding the genre.
From The Publisher:
Estleman's title indicates the importance he assigns Owen Wister's 1902 classic, The Virginian. Wister was not the first writer of Westerns, but he defined the genre, contrasting chivalry with the lawlessness of the border and introducing such lines as "When you call me that, smile!" Estleman tips his hat to Wister's predecessors, among them Ned Buntline, the inventor of the dime novel, and Buffalo Bill. His assessments of Wister's successors-Zane Grey, Walter Van Tilburg Clark, and Louis L'Amour, to name but three-soon make clear the impossibility of differentiating great western writing from great American writing.
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