Ernest Haycox

In this engaging, thought-provoking examination of Haycoxs westerns, Stephen L. Tanner broadens such a narrow critical perspective to address this long-standing literary dichotomy: How does one evaluate a first-rate author in an allegedly second-rate genre? Tanner analyzes the westerns themselves, which Haycox wrote with a keen eye for detail and historical accuracy, and also looks extensively at Haycoxs correspondence with his editors and longtime friends. Haycoxs best fiction, according to Tanner, breaks away from stereotypes and enters the realm of art, with its complexities of character and dramatic tension. Because the Haycox story is grounded in the history of a specific time and evokes a vivid sense of place, the environment does not serve as a mere picturesque backdrop.