CIRCLE OF WOMEN: An Anthology of Contemporary Western Women Writers

The landscape and culture of the American West has long been associated with reticent, leathery-skinned men. Whether signified by the Marlboro Man's billboard squint or evoked by the contemporary herd of male writers that includes Rick Bass, Ivan Doig, and William Kittredge, the West has traditionally been seen as a guy thing. This anthology of essays, verse, and fiction written by women is up front about its remedial intent. In a brief introduction, Blew (Balsamroot, 1994, etc.) and short-story writer Barnes write that the female vision of the West ""draws on the self-reliance and courage of the old western mythology but sees greater strength in community, in making connections, in interdependence."" Contributors include Tess Gallagher, Marilynne Robinson, Pam Houston, and Terry Tempest Williams.