Cowboy American icon (English)

Saddle your horse and ride! Just like the captivating historical terms knight and pirate, the word cowboy pulses with life and resonates with all the beautiful images of a lost, legendary era. The Old West of America offered plenty of challenges for those seeking opportunities there—ranchers, farmers, settlers, businessmen, miners, and other enterprising types. Yet it was the one occupation that set the collective imagination of the country ablaze, that of the humble rancher on horseback. Join the American cowboy in his evolution from hard-working ranch hand and cattle driver to one of the most recognized archetypal folk figures the country has ever produced. What was it about these men that captivated the population? Discover the answers in this comprehensive history of the cowboy, which begins with the earliest explorers of the New World, covers the westward migration of settlers, and examines the origins of the vast, sprawling ranches of Texas. Discover the powerful ranch economy that emerged in the Great Plains of the continent and share the trails and hardships of the cattle drivers. Walk the streets of booming towns and cattle towns where ranch hands entertained themselves on Saturday nights, and meet the larger-than-life figures who have etched themselves into American culture—outlaws, lawmen, showmen, rule-breaking ladies, Mexican vaqueros, black cowboys, Native American warriors—even a future president. Discover how the traditional cowboy fares in the modern era, and marvel at the significant, lasting influences that the colorful cowboy life has had on cinema, art, literature, music, and fashion in America—and the world.

Author: Daniel Pruitt
Co-author: None
Format: 236x285mm
Language: English
Number of pages: 240
ISBN13: 9789464990034