"Presents the cream of Nye's funny creations from his seven Wyoming years, 1876-1883. The eighty-three short selections are from Laramie, Cheyenne, and Denver newspapers, and from six of Nye's books, which were compiled from previous newspaper columns. The columns give insight to the color, politics, Indian questions, agriculture, and human nature of the times."--Arizona and the West. Takes an important place among the volumes of western humor now in print."--Western American Literature. "Nye's technique is precisely the same as Ring Lardner's or Irving Cobb's or today's Art Buchwald's--the clear brief statement of a situation in the opening paragraph and then the outrageous, dead-pan utterly unexpected process of poking wry fun at it. . . . We could certainly use Bill Nye these days."--Marshall Sprague, Colorado Magazine. "Nye's clever use of words and tone will appeal to students who enjoy all sorts of humor and to those who wish to understand the flavor of a historical era through its writings. The editor's helpful introduction and selective bibliography and the inclusion of original illustrations . . . Make this an attractive book, especially for students of western cultural history."--Richard W. Etulain, Pacific Northwest Quarterly. T. A. Larson is head of the Department of History and director of the School of American Studies at the University of Wyoming. His History of Wyoming is also published by the University of Nebraska Press.

Reviewers hailed the original edition of T.A. Larson's "History of Wyoming "(Winner of an Award of Merit of the American Association for State and Local History) as "a refreshing new look at the most western of the Western States," "an excellent model of what a state history should be." In that first comprehensive, critical history of Wyoming, the author was not concerned to recapitulate the familiar tales of fast guns and renegades associated with the pre-territorial years; his focus was on the men, women, and events which have shaped the state's history since 18965, when the name "Wyoming" was first applied to the area.

Although dramatic incidents and changes occurred in Wyoming from time to time during its territorial and statehood years into the 1960's, the state remained preeminently a cattlemen's domain and tourist mecca. Then the world energy crisis greatly enhanced the value of these state's vast reserves of oil, gas, uranium, and coal. Unprecedented growth resulted (the state was losing population in 1965, when the first edition of this book was published), bringing expanded payrolls and wealth on the one hand and serious problems on the other as developers and environmentalists competed for control of Wyoming's future.

Incorporating new chapters on the state's abrupt turnaround from "the lonesome land" to an important national center of energy development, this edition continues to emphasize political, economic, and social history and to offer new interpretations and information. Examining the great changes of the 1970's, Larson concludes that trade-offs and compromises are inevitable, major decisions lie ahead, and it's an exciting and challenging era for Wyoming citizens.

First published in the famous "American Guide Series of the Work Projects Administration" in 1941, "Wyoming: A Guide" remains a distinguished survey of the state, its centers of interest, and its history. Now issued in paperback for the first time, it can introduce to new readers the geographic spectacle and pioneer history that continue to shape the character of Wyoming.

A new introduction by T. A. Larson, author of "History of Wyoming," updates the "Guide" and evaluates changes seen in the state since the book was first published.

Valuable to the resident as a reference to the state's many treasures, and useful to the tourist who wants to know more than the road signs tell, "Wyoming: A Guide" commemorates those who passed through to the West and those who stayed to forge a state in the heart of the frontier.