University of Nebraska Press in (cyber)space

It is a most unusual Donner Party narrative, for rather than writing a narrative of the Donner’s cross-country journey, Gabrielle Burton takes her husband and five daughters on a road trip, visiting spots that Tamsen Donner lived in along the way. The catch? The road trip was in 1977, when Burton was trying to write a novel that touched, but did not focus, on Tamsen Donner. … The result is part memoir, part historical recreation, part travelogue. This is from the blog Ghost Word, which today features a post on University of Nebraska Press author Gabrielle Burton and her newest … Continue reading University of Nebraska Press in (cyber)space

The backstory of Rainy River Lives

Today is the official release of Rainy River Lives, the text of which was written nearly 100 years ago, and which almost never saw publication. In 1932 anthropologist Ruth Landes arrived at the Manitou Rapids Reserve on the Rainy River, which flows along the Ontario-Minnesota border, to conduct her doctoral research. There, Landes met Maggie Wilson, who became both a friend and an invaluable source. Wilson, a traditional Ojibwe storyteller, described to Landes what life was like on the reservation during the early 20th century, as the Ojibwes were being relocated and forced to assimilate. After Landes left the reservation, … Continue reading The backstory of Rainy River Lives

A color e-reader, Kokomo Joe and Microfictions

A new week, and new e-reader news: Today’s PW Morning Report says perhaps a color e-reader is on the way. The new color e-reader will use the same technology Kindle uses to replicate the look of paper on a screen. Here’s the link, if you want to know more. In University of Nebraska Press news, Kokomo Joe author John Christgau was on the Writer’s Block on KQED (the public radio affiliate serving Northern California) last week. A podcast of Christgau reading from Kokomo Joe is archived on the KQED Web site, and you can hear it here. Kokomo Joe, by … Continue reading A color e-reader, Kokomo Joe and Microfictions

Off the Shelf: Under the Big Sky: A Biography of A. B. Guthrie Jr. by Jackson J. Benson

Under the Big Sky cover image Read from the first chapter of Under the Big Sky: A Biography of A. B. Guthrie Jr. by Jackson J. Benson:

"Alfred Bertram Guthrie Jr. was a hell of a writer, but he could be an ornery cuss. Bud, as he was called, could be dogmatic, insistent, opinionated, and contrary. At the same time, however, he was a gentleman in the old-fashioned sense of the word—gallant, fair-minded, generous, and kind. Some people hated him for his unabashed political and environmentalist opinions, while others loved him for the man he was. He had a firm social conscience and was determined in his writing to reflect what he saw as the historical truth. But he was not a stern man—he could be funny, a prankster, and a person who loved a good time, drinking, socializing, and telling stories. People liked to be around him.

Continue reading “Off the Shelf: Under the Big Sky: A Biography of A. B. Guthrie Jr. by Jackson J. Benson”

A sneak preview

An upcoming University of Nebraska Press title made the Smithsonian blog, The Daily Planet, today. An excerpt of Never Land: Adventures, Wonder, and One World Record in a Very Small Plane (it's so new, we don't even have a link to it on our Web site yet), by Scott Olsen was posted on the blog today. Never Land is forthcoming from the University of Nebraska Press in spring 2010, and Olsen is notable in that he holds the world record for the fastest flight across North Dakota. Even more impressive: he set this record in “an airplane often passed by … Continue reading A sneak preview

Poetry in Washington, poetry in Lincoln

Perhaps you’ve already heard, but there was poetry in the White House last night. The Obamas hosted a poetry slam, which, in addition to poets, also featured readings by distinctive-voiced celebrities including James Earl Jones. Interesting fact about slam poetry: its early days can be traced to the Obamas former hometown, Chicago. Here in Nebraska, one notable poet has also received some attention lately. William Kloefkorn’s new memoir, Breathing in the Fullness of Time, was reviewed in the Lincoln Journal Star on Friday. Reviewer Charles Stephen described Kloefkorn’s writing as “pure joy.” Other nice words appear here. Continue reading Poetry in Washington, poetry in Lincoln

Sports books (and others) on sale, plus an award and a review

Happy Mother’s Day, one day late. Our Mother’s Day sale is over, but if you missed out on that one, we’re in the midst of a new sale – one offering a variety of baseball, science fiction and Lewis and Clark titles at 75 percent off. The sale continues through June 12, so there’s still lots of time to take advantage of low prices on great University of Nebraska Press titles. Speaking of baseball titles, Center Field Shot: A History of Baseball on Television, by James R. Walker and Robert V. Bellamy Jr., has won the Society of American Baseball … Continue reading Sports books (and others) on sale, plus an award and a review

Off the Shelf: Louise Pound: Scholar, Athlete, Feminist Pioneer by Robert Cochran

Louise Pound cover image Read from the first chapter of Louise Pound: Scholar, Athlete, Feminist Pioneer by Robert Cochran:

"And here is a place, less arbitrary than most, to begin the story of Louise Pound. She was by any measure an extraordinary woman. In the academic world she was a pioneering scholar who made important contributions to at least three disciplines. In the world of sports she was an outstanding athlete who would have been at one point the nation’s top-ranked woman tennis player had such listings been compiled at the time. She excelled at every sport she attempted, and she attempted them all. She was a passionate supporter, both as a player and as a coach, of high-level athletic competition for women; Title IX legislation, had she lived to see it, would have seemed to her the restoration on a national scale of a golden age for women’s athletics at the University of Nebraska in which she played a central role. She fought (and lost, in the short term) her life’s bitterest battle in support of women’s athletics at the University of Nebraska. But such gender-based commitments extended far beyond the playing fields—Louise Pound was throughout her long career as a teacher and scholar a dedicated advocate of opportunities for women in general and more especially for their educational and professional advancement. No cause—and she was active in many—gained her greater loyalty.

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This day in history: May 8

Happy Friday, UNP blog readers! It’s time for another edition of This Day in History, and this week’s featured historical occurrence is an interesting one. On this day in 1973, the second battle of Wounded Knee ended. From the New York Times that day: Wounded Knee, S.D., May 8 — The Second Battle of Wounded Knee ended Today. After 70 days, two deaths, numerous injuries, countless meetings, bureaucratic bickering and a last-minute gunfight, more than 100 militants lay down their arms and surrendered this occupied reservation town to wary Federal officials. Nearly 20 years after the occupation, which the NYT … Continue reading This day in history: May 8

An assortment of Thursday news, including new Kindle, best books list and Louise Pound

I’m back in the office today, just in time for a post on the new large-screen Kindle, which was unveiled yesterday. This new Kindle would facilitate the reading of cookbooks, textbooks and newspapers, as well as just plain books. Publisher's Weekly Morning Report has helpfully compiled a list of reviews of the new Kindle, if you’re interested. Another link: NPR’s Dick Meyer has compiled a list of his favorite 100 novels of the 20th century. UNP authors Willa Cather and Wallace Stegner both have titles in the list, which was something Meyer began compiling years ago and has only recently … Continue reading An assortment of Thursday news, including new Kindle, best books list and Louise Pound