The Big empty The Great Plains in the twentieth century

Hurt (Purdue), a respected historian of the 20th-century West, examines the Great Plains by first admitting that the region's geographical dimensions are ill defined at best. His reference to the "Big Empty" will strike a responsive chord among people familiar with the area, though it may anger local chambers of commerce that do their best to avoid this imagery. Utilizing a great variety of primary and secondary sources, Hurt synthesizes some of the most important themes in recent Plains history by focusing on environment, race, politics, and agriculture. He directs secondary attention to ethnicity, economic change, and daily life. Chapters follow a loose chronological approach and fairly represent all the Plains states, including urban and rural settings. Furthermore, even in its attempt to find common themes within the region, the book never underestimates the vast differences that exist within this heterogeneous entity. For instance, political preferences have ranged from mainstream Republicanism to the radical Industrial Workers of the World. Likewise, economic anchors range from the boom-and-bust oil industry of West Texas's Permian Basin to the cornfields of Nebraska. This well-written overview deserves an examination by all adult readers. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. M. L. Tate University of Nebraska at Omaha