The Imprint of Alan Swallow

Book excerpt: Born and raised on the windswept prairies of northwest Wyoming, Alan Swallow (1915–1966) nurtured a passion for literature and poetry at an early age. Quickly realizing he was not suited to a life of farming and ranching, Swallow entered the University of Wyoming to study literature and earned a fellowship to further his studies at Louisiana State University. It was there, under the influence of Robert Penn Warren and Cleanth Brooks, that Swallow began his almost three-decade long career as a publisher, teacher, and poet. This outstanding biography is the first to explore the fascinating life of Alan Swallow, a pioneering western publisher whose authors included such literary luminaries as Anaïs Nin, Allen Tate, and Yvor Winters. Returning to Colorado, Swallow founded the Swallow Press and dedicated himself to bringing literary authors, both regional and well known, to print in high-quality yet affordable books. Swallow’s tireless work as an editor and innovative publisher gave him much integrity, becoming a revered literary figure of his day, while his fondness for whiskey and gambling earned him a different notoriety. Nelson brings this forgotten episode of publishing history vividly back to life, shining a bright light on the rich literary legacy of the West.