Dancin' in Anson : a history of the Texas Cowboys' Christmas ball / Paul H. Carlson ; foreword by Michael Martin Murphey.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Carlson, Paul Howard, author.

Murphey, Michael, 1945- author of foreword.

Series:

Grover E. Murray studies in the American Southwest

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Chittenden, William Lawrence, 1862-1934--Criticism and interpretation.

Chittenden, William Lawrence.

Chittenden, William Lawrence, 1862-1934.

Christmas--Texas.

Christmas.

American poetry--History and criticism.

American poetry.

Criticism and interpretation.

West (U.S.)--In literature.

West (U.S.).

Texas.

Physical Description:

xx, 148 pages : illustration ; 25 cm.

Other Title:

Dancing in Anson

Place of Publication:

Lubbock, Texas : Texas Tech University Press, [2014]

Summary:

"Celebrating the celebration of the Old West. In the 1880s, there wasn't much in Anson, Texas, in the way of entertainment for the area's cowhands. But Star Hotel operator M. G. Rhodes changed that when he hosted a Grand Ball the weekend before Christmas. A restless traveling salesman, rancher, and poet from New York named William Lawrence Chittenden, a guest at the Star Hotel, was so impressed with the soiree that he penned his observances in the poem "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball." Reenacted annually since 1934 based on Chittenden's poem, the contemporary dances attract people from coast to coast, from Canada, and from across Europe and elsewhere. Since 1993 Grammy Award-winning musical artist Michael Martin Murphey has played at the popular event. Far more than a history of the Jones County dance, Paul Carlson analyzes the long poem, defining the many people and events mentioned and explaining the Jones County landscape Chittenden lays out in his celebrated work. The book covers the evolution of cowboy poetry and places Chittenden and his poem chronologically within the ever-changing western genre. Dancin' in Anson: A History of the Texas Cowboys' Christmas Ball is a novel but refreshing look at a cowboy poet, his poem, and a joyous Christmas-time family event that traces its roots back nearly 130 years"-- Provided by publisher.

""Explores the history and reenactment of the Texas Cowboys' Christmas Ball held in Anson, TX every year since 1934; analyzes the poem by William Lawrence Chittenden written about the Anson Christmas dances in the 1880s and is the basis for the reenactment."--Provided by publisher"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Texas Cowboys' Christmas Ball: The Background 3

Chapter 2 Anson and Jones County in the 1880s 21

Chapter 3 Larry Chittenden: His Life and Letters 37

Chapter 4 Explicating Chittenden's Popular Poem 57

Chapter 5 Cowboy Poetry and Pioneer Dances 79

Chapter 6 Michael Martin Murphey and the Modern Texas Cowboys' Christmas Ball 93.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780896728912

0896728919

OCLC:

877367633