內容介紹
Huarong Wang's examination of Owen Wister and his seminal novel will enlighten readers in China about how simple heroic tales set in exotic frontier locations in the United States became an aspect of nationalistic idealism.The "cowboy hero" had existed in American popular fiction before Wister's Virginian, but the cultural influence of this figure took on greater significance because of his representation in the novel-and later in Holly-wood films and television series. As Huarong Wang explains in this fascinating study, the myth of the American West took shape before Wister wrote his fictional tale, but once his hero rode into the popular imagination, the power of this mythology increased and galloped ahead throughout the twentieth century. This well crafted, thoughtful book contributes to our ongoing interest in the significance of stories that can reveal larger cultural issues and influence national identity.
