The West of Where? Musings on Frontier Fiction

Ed, Emma and Jess tackle one of the toughest questions in literature since 'what comes after post-modernism' and 'are dog-eared pages ok': what makes a good Western? Prepare to be introduced to some cracking classics in full cowboy-regalia, as well as a range of genre-bending contemporary frontier tales. We also talk to novelist and short-story writer Donald Ray Pollock about his most recent novel The Heavenly Table. Hosted by Jessica Johannesson Music by The Bookshop Band Books discussed in this episode (including those we talked about which didn’t make the final cut due to time constrains)  Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey The Heavenly Table by Donald Ray Pollock The Devil all the Time by Donald Ray Pollock Knockemstiff by Donald Ray Pollock The Birthday Boys by Beryl Bainbridge Blood, Bone, and Marrow: A Biography of Harry Crews by Ted Geltner The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt The Power of the Dog by Thomas Savage The Orenda by Joseph Boyden St Agnes’ Stand by Thomas Eidson Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry Far as the Eye can See by Robert Baush Dog Run Moonby Callan Wink True Grit by Charles Portis All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy The Far Empty Todd J. Scott