“Here on the Verge of Town . . . I Am Myself” : Selective Western Exceptionalism in the Work of Six Contemporary Idaho Writers

Abstract

This paper examines the work of six contemporary Idaho writers born around the middle of the twentieth century who challenge several persistent myths of the American West while firmly endorsing another. Across the boundaries of gender and genre, these writers debunk the notions that the West is a friendly, open place that values non-conformity (particularly self-determination in women); that the region inherently fosters strong families; and that the opportunities of the West all but assure success and happiness. On the other hand, their work does uniformly present an exceptionalist view of Western landscape, crediting it with the potential to nurture and inspire individuals in a quasi-mystic way, and even endowing that landscape with animate power. Such selective exceptionalism, the paper argues, can be traced to the concerns of their particular generation. Writers discussed are John Rember, Mary Clearman Blew, Marilynne Robinson, Janet Campbell Hale, William Vern Studebaker, and Ford Swetnam.

Keywords

• Abuse
• Conservation
• Economic Failure in the West
• Ecospirituality
• Exceptionalism
• Family