THE ROUGH GUIDE TO WESTERNS

The Rough Guide to Westerns examines one of the cinemas most durable, influential, genres, offering the reader an insight into its history, its place in popular culture in America and the rest of the world, the key iconic figures both in front of the lens and behind it, and the genres essential movies. The guide looks at what makes a good Western, considering the seven basic Western plots, the pens behind the movies, the major historic events and their influences, and the genres central ritual - the gunfight. There is a potted history of the Western decade-by-decade and a critical canon of the 50 greatest Westerns. From the pioneers and directors to the iconic cowboys and railroads, this guide covers it all.