Out West: Travels Through the American West—Past and Present

Written by Tim Slessor
Review by Janice Derr

British writer and filmmaker Tim Slessor created documentaries featuring the American West for the BBC for over 40 years. He became so intrigued by the landscape and the people that he and his wife took a year-long hiatus from England to live in Nebraska. Since retiring, his interest in the West has not waned, and in his book, he presents some of the biggest stories and best-known figures who shaped the land west of the Mississippi River.

Though the United States is young in comparison to other parts of the world, writing a book that covers such a vast geographical landscape, and 200-plus years, is no small undertaking. One imagines Slessor must have struggled to narrow down to the stories he included, but he does hit most of the highlights, from Lewis and Clark to the Gold Rush to Wounded Knee to Butch Cassidy. Interspersed with the historical information are Slessor’s own insights and observations, based on his years of research and interviews he conducted during his filmmaking career. His asides are smart and witty, and he draws interesting parallels between the West’s past and contemporary events. Slessor’s book reads like a love letter to the land that stole his heart. He has written a history book that is both entertaining and well researched. Highly recommended.