Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Join PBS Books and the Library of Congress as we explore Western literature and Wyoming lore and its influence on writers across America. From the rugged landscapes that inspired Ernest Hemingway as he finished Death in the Afternoon, to the birth of the Western genre in Owen Wister’s The Virginian, Wyoming has shaped the imagination of generations— Including Annie Proulx who drew on her years of ranching here to craft unforgettable works like Close Range and Brokeback Mountain.
Hear from celebrated contemporary voices who call Wyoming home and whose stories echo the state’s vast landscapes and cowboy heritage—Craig Johnson, author of the beloved Longmire series, and C.J. Box, creator of game warden Joe Pickett. Wyoming is also home to children’s authors who preserve local history, such as Casey Rislov—whose A Home for Steamboat was named a 2025 National Book Pick—and poets like Matt Daly, who finds inspiration in small towns and family roots.
The only route through Wyoming is the scenic route. Along the way, discover independent bookstores and the treasures of the American Heritage Center, home to the renowned Toppan Rare Books Library. From Yellowstone National Park to working dude ranches, Wyoming’s literary landscape is as expansive and unforgettable as its horizon.
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Join the Readers Club: facebook.com/groups/pbsbooksreadersclub
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#pbsbooks #pbs #author #bookclub #books #readingroadtrip #wyoming
Join PBS Books and the Library of Congress as we explore Western literature and Wyoming lore and its influence on writers across America. From the rugged landscapes that inspired Ernest Hemingway as he finished Death in the Afternoon, to the birth of the Western genre in Owen Wister’s The Virginian, Wyoming has shaped the imagination of generations— Including Annie Proulx who drew on her years of ranching here to craft unforgettable works like Close Range and Brokeback Mountain.
Hear from celebrated contemporary voices who call Wyoming home and whose stories echo the state’s vast landscapes and cowboy heritage—Craig Johnson, author of the beloved Longmire series, and C.J. Box, creator of game warden Joe Pickett. Wyoming is also home to children’s authors who preserve local history, such as Casey Rislov—whose A Home for Steamboat was named a 2025 National Book Pick—and poets like Matt Daly, who finds inspiration in small towns and family roots.
The only route through Wyoming is the scenic route. Along the way, discover independent bookstores and the treasures of the American Heritage Center, home to the renowned Toppan Rare Books Library. From Yellowstone National Park to working dude ranches, Wyoming’s literary landscape is as expansive and unforgettable as its horizon.
Explore our website: pbsbooks.org
Subscribe to our newsletter: pbsbooks.org/subscribe
Join the Readers Club: facebook.com/groups/pbsbooksreadersclub
Support us: pbsbooks.org/donate
Find your next book: pbsbooks.org/bookshop
#pbsbooks #pbs #author #bookclub #books #readingroadtrip #wyoming
