The American West: History, Myth, and Legacy

By: Patrick N. Allitt, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Patrick N. Allitt

Our understanding of the American West has moved far beyond pop culture in recent years. The legendary people and events we associate with the Wild West - the last stand at the Alamo, the Battle of Little Bighorn, the exploits of Calamity Jane, the hardships of the Oregon Trail - are even more fascinating once the historical realities have been separated from the myths.

Designed to shine a light on the American frontier, these 24 lectures are a way for you to experience the grit and grandeur of an epic period in American history. Professor Allitt uncovers new historical angles and perspectives about events and themes ranging from the Lewis and Clark expedition to the Indian Removal Act to the creation America's first national parks.

You'll cover more than 200 years of history and the most important events, themes, and ideas that form the backbone of the frontier's reality - and legend. Among these: the Transcontinental Railroad, the idea of Manifest Destiny, the Gold Rush, the Trail of Tears, and (yes) cowboys. You'll also learn how popular culture - novels like Little House on the Prairie, paintings by artists like Frederic Remington, and decades of Western films - can actually clue us in to the intimate details of life for everyday men and women.

Saddle up for an exciting adventure in learning.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2017 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2017 The Great Courses

Throughly enjoyed this.

I enjoyed this a lot. I agree with a lot of what he days and he seems to understand what he is talking about. I saw some comments about a "foreigner" telling about this, the history professor "not pronouncing things correctly", and the professor "criticizing the USA". I have a few thoughts.
1. He may be a foreigner but he does state that he came to the USA and went to school here to specificly learn about this. He loved this part of our history and watched many wild west movies as a child.
2. Of course he isn't going to pronounce things exactly how someone from that area of the USA would pronounce them. Even people from other parts of the USA may pronounce it differently. Accents are a reality and criticizing them does not show much intelligence on the commentor's part.
3. Of course he criticized what people of the USA did to the Indigenous population here. I love in the "Wild west" area and what he says is true. Just because you don't like being criticized; it does not make it any less true. This is not the "greatest country in the world" as some living here like to believe. We have made terrible mistakes in our history, just like any other country, and we are working on making it a great country. I agree with a lot of his criticism.

Great lectures

informative and entertaining. well worth the price and the time you will spend on it

Growing up watching the Westerns

A very insightful and informative narrative of one of America's links to the past. Gratefully appreciated.

Great Course on the American West

Great Course on the history of American West. Good overview but not much detail each section.

Good, but brrezy light overview of the N.A. West

I enjoyed the discussions, but, unfortunately, it barely scratched the surface of the topic.

I only wish it were longer!

As with many Great Courses lectures like The Rise and Fall of Soviet Communism, I wish it were longer. Now I feel like I have to go read a book to learn as much as I can about it!

Another superb Allitt course

As always with Allitt's lectures, I learned so much. In prior courses, I've been struck by how non-ideological he is. Not this time. Allitt is very passionate about Native Americans. In this course, I think that colored his lectures excessively.

Good lecture

Liked it. Some chapters too sad (knew ahead of time) so I skipped. Narrator charming with his British accent.

Another really interesting book.

This book brings to life southwestern America’s settlement and challenges. The Colorado river portion is especially vividly told.

Well worth a credit!

Balanced, detailed and insightful lectures. I appreciated that the narrator/teacher was from the UK — it gave me the sense of a perspective coming from outside the currently polarized American political landscape.