Great Plains, by Ian Frazier
Ian Frazier's Great Plains takes readers on an unforgettable journey through the heart of America. This bestselling travelogue captures the essence of the American West with vivid storytelling and a keen eye for detail. Leaving the bustling streets of New York behind, Frazier embarked on a life-changing adventure that saw him clock over 25,000 miles across the vast prairies and rugged landscapes of Montana and beyond.
As we follow Frazier's winding path, we're treated to a rich tapestry of experiences. From the haunting silence of Sitting Bull's cabin to the chilling atmosphere of the house made famous by Truman Capote's In Cold Blood, each stop peels back another layer of the region's complex history. State parks, strip-mined lands, and sleepy rural towns paint a picture of a land both beautiful and scarred. Cattle ranches stand in stark contrast to Cold War-era missile silos, highlighting the diverse and sometimes conflicting nature of the Great Plains.
What truly sets Frazier's work apart is his insatiable curiosity and dry wit. He approaches each encounter with genuine interest, whether he's chatting with local ranchers or delving into the often-overlooked stories of Native Americans and early settlers. His humor lightens even the heaviest historical moments, making the book as entertaining as it is informative. Great Plains is more than just a travel diary – it's a love letter to a misunderstood region. Frazier's authentic admiration for the land and its people shines through on every page, inviting readers to see the beauty and importance of this vital piece of American geography.
“I believe that when Crazy Horse was killed something more than a man’s life was snuffed out. Once, America’s size in the imagination was limitless. After Europeans settled and changed it, working from the coasts inland, its size in the imagination shrank. Like the center of a dying fire, the Great Plains held that original vision longest. Just as people finally came to the Great Plains and changed them, so they came to where Crazy Horse lived and killed him. Crazy Horse had the misfortune to live in a place that existed both in reality and in the dreams of people far away; he managed to leave both the real and the imaginary place unbetrayed.”
Interesting Facts & Links:
Ian Frazier is a funny writer and a well-known contributor to The New Yorker. His writing goes deep, whether reconstructing two hundred years of middle-class life with his book Family or with On the Rez, his insightful and personal look at the American Indian. We also recommend his travelogue Travels in Siberia. He has also published several humorous collections of his work with magazines.
Here is a good interview with the author from www.believermag.com.
Frazier was the guest editor for the 2003 edition of The Best American Travel Writing series.
Recommendations for Those Who Like Ian Frazier
Recommendations for Those Who Like Ian Frazier
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