In 1995, the Idaho Humanities Council received an Exemplary Award from the National Endowment for the Humanities to conduct a special project highlighting the literature of the Idaho and the Intermountain West. "Idaho, Tough Paradise" explores the relationships between place and human psychology and values. Representing various periods in regional history, various cultural groups, various values, the books in this theme highlight the variety of ways that humans may respond to the challenging landscape of the Idaho and the northern Intermountain West.

Theme development by Susan Swetnam, Professor of English, Idaho State University (1995)

Books in this series include:

Oral / Folk / Family Traditions
Alexie, Sherman. The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven.
Attebery, Louie. Sheep May Safely Graze.
Frey, Rodney. Stories that Make the World: Oral Literature of the Indian Peoples of the Inland Northwest.
Hale, Janet Campbell. Bloodlines: Odyssey of a Native Daughter.
Laxalt, Robert. Sweet Promised Land.
Nichols, Hugh, ed. Passages West: Nineteen Stories of Youth & Identity
Russell, Osborne. Journal of a Trapper.
Swetnam, Susan. Lives of the Saints in Southeast Idaho: An Introduction to Mormon Pioneer Life Story Writing.
Walker, Deward. Myths of the Idaho Indians.

Pioneer Encounters with Idaho and the Intermountain West, 1865-1940
Brink, Carol Ryrie. Buffalo Coat. (People and Places of the novel)
Davis, H. L. Honey in the Horn.
Davis, Nelle Portrey. Stump Ranch Pioneer.
Fisher, Vardis. Mountain Man.
Foote, Mary Hallock. A Victorian Gentlewoman in the Far West.
Greenwood, Annie Pike. We Sagebrush Folks.
Jordan, Grace. Home Below Hell’s Canyon.
McCunn, Ruthanne Lum. A Thousand Pieces of Gold.

Contemporary Voices
Ardinger, Rick and William Studebaker, (eds.). Where the Morning Light’s Still Blue: Personal Essays about Idaho.
Blew, Mary Clearman. Balsamroot: A Memoir.
Leek, Leslie. Heart of a Western Woman.
Hale, Janet Campbell. Bloodlines: Odyssey of a Native Daughter.
Kittredge, William. Hole in the Sky.
Robinson, Marilynne. Housekeeping.
Spanbauer, Tom. Far Away Places.
Stafford, Kim. Lochsa Road.
Williams, Terry Tempest. Refuge.

Read essays written for Tough Paradise.

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