The best-selling author of Lincoln at Gettysburg explores the life and times of John Wayne and his legend, explaining how the man, Marion Morrison, became a myth and how that myth shaped Americans' political attitudes and ideas. 75,000 first printing. $60,000 ad/promo. Tour.

Review:

This book poses an interesting question: How is it that John Wayne came to embody a certain politics for America? In giving his answer, Wills flashes his usual encyclopedic knowledge of intellectual and cultural materials. He knows his Aristotle and his Groucho and knows when to use them. The knee-jerk analysis of Wayne's status is that he was a blustery flag-waver. Wills's answer is more subtle: that Wayne "stood for an America that was disappearing or had disappeared." And according to Wills, Wayne did this in different ways at different stages of his career. In his early successes (such as Stagecoach), he represented naive virtue; later he would portray the dark acceptance of responsibility (Sands of Iwo Jima). And finally, he moved on to model a conscious acceptance of the anachronism of all such individual honor (The Shootist).

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

Clayton Fine Books maintains a stock of approximately 30,000 items, of which our online listings are a small percentage. The largest concentration of titles is modern first editions, largely postwar American and British fiction, drama, and poetry. Lesser concentrations are in fine arts (painting, sculpture, architecture), historical newspapers, history, biography, and sports newspapers (some Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe Dimaggio, and the like, but primarily 1980 to the present. Collectors and libraries searching for materials in these areas who cannot find them in our online listings are encouraged to contact us with specific wants.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information:

Clayton Fine Books
WV, U.S.A.

Terms of Sale:

All books are returnable for any reason within ten days of purchase. All items
are offered subject to prior sale. Payment by PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, or money
order or check. Payment with order except for those customers known to us.
Libraries and institutions invoiced with shipment. All shipments within the U.S.
are made by USPS or Fed/Ex. Larger, heavier items may result in additional
shipping charges. Maryland residents must add 5% sales tax.

Shipping Terms:

Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.

Payment Methods
accepted by seller

Visa Mastercard American Express Apple Pay Google Pay

Check Money Order Cash PayPal

Add to Wants

Items related to JOHN WAYNES AMERICA: The Politics of Celebrity

JOHN WAYNES AMERICA: The Politics of Celebrity

Garry Wills

Seller's business information: