West of the American Dream: An Encounter with Texas (Tarleton State University Southwestern Studies in the Humanities) [Hardcover]

Paul Christensen (Author)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Paul Christensen earned his Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania and has been a professor of English at Texas A&M University since 1974. He is a poet and essayist who lives part of the year in France, where he is a contributing editor to France Today.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 360 pages
• Publisher: TAMU Press; 1st edition (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0890967539
• ISBN-13: 978-0890967539
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #716,402 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Texas Poetry "Exposed", May 1, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: West of the American Dream: An Encounter with Texas (Tarleton State University Southwestern Studies in the Humanities) (Hardcover)

Paul Christensen's sweeping analysis of Texas poetry and poets is unprecedented in the critical oeuvre of modern times. His brilliant study is the product of decades of insightful observation and analysis. A highly accomplished poet himself, he lays bare the essence, both artistic and philosophical, of virtually every significant Texas poet of our time. Highly recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars West of the American Dream: a commentary, September 5, 2004

By 

Beverly Verner "Beverly" (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: West of the American Dream: An Encounter with Texas (Tarleton State University Southwestern Studies in the Humanities) (Hardcover)

This book is interesting, and achieves verisimilitude by its somewhat random structure, and stream-of-consciousness execution. One has the sense of peering over the author's shoulder as he composes late at night.
This work reminds me of Flyfishing through the Midlife Crisis by Howell Raines. Christensen's voice is warmer, and slightly less cynical, but then he is writing about Texas, not Washington D.C. Christensen is a poet, and sprinkles his prose with lovely turns of phrase, and flights of fancy.
I was delighted by the fact that there is a tradition of women's poetry societes in Texas, a province thought to be the exclusive domain of snippy New Englanders. Richard C. Hoagland reminds us that people turn to poetry when they are under a state of siege.
Christensen's main concern seems to be that Texas poets have not written an epic about their state, a state worthy of epic writings. Perhaps one brave soul will pick up the gauntlet and succeed at such a challenging undertaking.