Prose Sketches and Poems: Written in the Western Country (Southwest Landmark) - Softcover
Few copies of the original 1834 edition of this volume are known to exist today. It is more than just a rare book, though; it is also a unique item of Southwestern Americana that defies classification as reminiscence, fiction, or poetry, for it is all of these.
In these literary forms Albert Pike became New Mexico's first Anglo-American short story writer and poet, and the narrative portion of his book is one of the earliest American travel accounts from the Mexican borderland.
Pike's restless nature led him to follow the Santa Fe trail at a historic period only ten years after its opening, and he made his return through an uncharted area of the Comanche country of Texas.
While not the first to explore the Taos-Santa Fe area of New Mexico, Pike gave the most detailed outsider's view of the area and its people at that time, recording his impressions in both short stories and reminiscences.
This 1967 edition of Prose Sketches and Poems contains an illuminating introduction by David J. Weber, who gives a short biography of Pike's life and explanatory footnotes. The editor also has taken from contemporary newspapers and appended here eight more of Pike's short stories, which did not appear in the original book.
In these literary forms Albert Pike became New Mexico's first Anglo-American short story writer and poet, and the narrative portion of his book is one of the earliest American travel accounts from the Mexican borderland.
Pike's restless nature led him to follow the Santa Fe trail at a historic period only ten years after its opening, and he made his return through an uncharted area of the Comanche country of Texas.
While not the first to explore the Taos-Santa Fe area of New Mexico, Pike gave the most detailed outsider's view of the area and its people at that time, recording his impressions in both short stories and reminiscences.
This 1967 edition of Prose Sketches and Poems contains an illuminating introduction by David J. Weber, who gives a short biography of Pike's life and explanatory footnotes. The editor also has taken from contemporary newspapers and appended here eight more of Pike's short stories, which did not appear in the original book.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author:
David J. Weber is Robert and Nancy Dedman Professor of History at Southern Methodist University.
Review:
"Today this work has special interest for its two long narratives of Pike's 'Journeys in the Prairie' describing the vanished prairie lands. . . . Missouri Tourism Division, take note! "But I'm especially impressed with Pike's poetic skills, in ballads, lyrics, odes, narratives, dirges—in blank verse, Gaelic meters, Spenserian stanzas, heroic couplets and other forms. Pike surely deserves a place in anthologies of American poetry and prose for his sharp, colorful description. As a pioneer of Southwestern literature, he has written authentically and eloquently. Rediscovering his work is like finding a lost vein of New Mexican gold."--Charles Guenther (Charles Guenther)
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherTexas A&M University Press
- Publication date1987
- ISBN 10 0890963231
- ISBN 13 9780890963234
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages336
- EditorWeber David J.
- Rating
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