Although best known for The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains (1902), a novel often credited--if inaccurately--with being "the first Western," Owen Wister was in talent and predilection perhaps more a short-story writer than a novelist. He produced ove...

The importance of Owen Wister to the literature of the American West--and, by extension, to the development of American literature in the twentieth century--cannot be overstated. The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains (1902) lifted the frontier story ou...

Owen Wister is most often thought of, not inappropriately, as a writer about the American West. Indeed, his stories and books were extremely important in establishing in the 1890s and early twentieth century the ideas held by the majority of people about...

Virtual reality: Gawking at writers in unnatural habitats NOVEL May 7 through June 4 Opening party May 7, 7 to 10 p.m. Closing party June 4, 7 to 10 p.m. Flux Factory 38-38 43rd Street Long Island...

Taxes were the central issue of this year's race for governor of Virginia. A recent Mason Dixon public survey shows that Virginians, by a margin of 2 to 1, would rather have their taxes cut than see new government spending. Is it little wonder...

The family that owns Landmark Communications is reportedly exploring the possible sale of the company, which owns the Weather Channel and nine daily newspapers.The privately held, Norfolk-based company could be sold in whole or in part or not at all, its flagship newspaper, The Virginian-Pilot,...

Mike Bloomberg drives gun nuts crazy. Or crazier, as the case may be. Mention the Mayor’s name in the gun-owning heartland of America and you might wind up picking buckshot from your backside. Mr. Bloomberg’s offense, of course, is that he’d like to cut down...