Dear HCN,
I read Tom Knudson’s
article on Bernard DeVoto with great pleasure (HCN, 8/8/94). Among
those who are familiar with his life and writings, DeVoto’s acerbic
wit, lifetime commitment to the twin arts of writing and history
and passionate defense of both individual liberties and the
American West are still inspirational. Yet, his own contributions
to American writing and the American conservation movement are
often overshadowed, perhaps because he defied easy categorization.
He also never sat still long enough to let any accolades
accumulate.
Perhaps DeVoto’s greatest gift lay in
his ability to galvanize others. Many writers, including DeVoto’s
biographer Wallace Stegner, credit DeVoto with prodding them into
action on behalf of the Western environment, as well as for support
and encouragement during their early years as struggling
writers.
Rob
Williams
Albuquerque, New
Mexico
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline DeVoto was a treasure.
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