The Cowboy Encyclopedia: The Old and the New West from the Open Range to the Dude Ranch

Have you ever wondered what the old Westerners meant when they used words like "rustling," "handle," or "blind trap?" This fascinating book has plenty of words like these, but it is not merely a dictionary. It is filled with history and lore that may keep you browsing for hours if you have even the slightest interest in the Old West, or in American culture in general. While somewhat dated (it was first published in the 1950's), it also highlights genuinely little-known history, such as the "Rustler War" in Wyoming in the 1890's. The information about famous Old West artists like Frederick Remington could be valuable to art historians as well. Speaking of art, the illustrations by Jackie and Fiore Mastri add greatly to the book's appeal, as does Grant's cleverly-written text. Even the typeface is well-chosen. This is very, very worth searching out.