NEW hardcover

Way Down Yonder in the Indian Nation: Writings from Americas Heartland Wallis, Michael

From Library JournalIn the style of Will Rogers, Wallis gives a moving tribute to Oklahomaits colorful history and inhabitants Composed of 16 essays, this work reflects the spirit of Oklahoma by focusing on the individual towns and cities that make up the state, such as Texahoma and Tulsa, along with interesting characters that have called Oklahoma home Featured are such notables as oilman Frank Phillips, balladeer Woody Guthrie, Cherokee Chief Wilma Mankiller, cowboy Freckles Brown, and Pretty Boy Floyd Wallis, a Southwestern reporter and author, has also written biographies of Floyd and Phillips The essays included in this work are enjoyable to read Recommended for those libraries with an interest in Oklahoma and Americana Terri P Summey, Emporia State Univ, KanCopyright 1993 Reed Business Information, IncProduct DescriptionA collection of essays reflects on the diversity of the state of Oklahoma, from its oldtime images of Native Americans and cowboys to such new icons as new oil money and Friday night footballFrom Publishers WeeklyOklahoma is suffering an identity problem, according to Wallis Route 66 , due to a denial of its history and an enduring secondclass citizen attitude Seeking to shatter some of the stereotypes and to find the essence of our 46th state, Wallis offers an engaging piece on Americans He writes about Woody Guthrie, about Pretty Boy Floyd, Cherokee Chief Wilma Mankiller and Frank Phillips of petroleum fame Escorting us mile by mile down Americas highway, Route 66, he tells us about the Miller familys ranch and its touring Wild West Shows of the preWW I era Wallis pays triubte to the Thunderbirds, the Armys 45th Infantry Division, and to its leaders He also points out prime barbecue emporiums in this vivid portrait of Oklahoma and its inhabitants, past and present, which should spark strong local and regional interest Photos not seen by PWCopyright 1993 Reed Business Information, IncFrom Kirkus ReviewsA broader view of the ground Wallis covered in Oil Man 1988 and Pretty Boy 1992: the history and lore of Oklahoma and its inhabitants, from the earliest days to the present One of Walliss strong suits is his ability to convey the collision between Oklahomas frontier origins and its role in the modern world Theres plenty of solid material here: Topics run the gamut from the rowdy 1889 land rush to the quiet modern influx of Mennonite farmers; from a visit to the sleepy panhandle town of Texoma to a survey of Tulsas numerous artdeco buildings The author is at his best in affectionate sketches of such Oklahoma originals as maverick footballstar Joe Don Looney, Cherokee Chief Wilma Mankiller, and cowboy Jim Jordan Most of the chapters originally appeared as magazine pieces in Oklahoma Today, American West, etc, and three are reprinted from the authors previous booksso the approach is inconsistent from one chapter to the next Some, such as the one on the Thunderbirds, the 45th Infantry Division of WW II, effectively combine history, personal observation, and color, but others, such as a guide to popular barbecue joints, are puff pieces of little lasting valueespecially since theres no evidence that the article has been revised or updated in the 11 years since its magazine appearance And while Walliss upbeat attitude and aggressively folksy style are probably perfect for Oklahoma Today, they dont wear well at book length Wellresearched and sympathetic view of the American heartlandbut best read the way it was originally written, in chaptersize bites Copyright 1993, Kirkus Associates, LP All rights reserved