[281] L’Amour’s literature revives America’s drive westward on ‘MTSU On the Record’

MURFREESBORO — The 19^th century American frontier returns to life on the next edition of the “MTSU On the Record” radio program.

Host Gina Logue’s interview with MTSU alumnus Tim Champlin will air from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18, and from 8 to 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, on WMOT-FM (89.5 and www.wmot.org).

Champlin’s latest book is “The Wild West of Louis L’Amour,” an examination of America’s most popular and prolific author of Western fiction by an accomplished author of more than 35 Western novels of his own.

Illustrated with more than 240 images, including full-color photographs, maps and daguerreotypes (old-style photographs), Champlin’s nonfiction appreciation of L’Amour analyzes his descriptions of landscapes, women, gunfighters, ranchers and other familiar figures of the Old West.

“You could always be guaranteed an exciting story, an exciting tale, some character development, a good hero or heroine you could root for,” Champlin said of L’Amour’s writing style. “It was good escape reading. It was fun.”

Nashville-based Tim Champlin graduated from MTSU in 1960 with a bachelor’s degree in English. He earned his master’s degree from Vanderbilt’s Peabody College in 1964. He was born in Fargo, N.D., and grew up in the western United States.

To hear previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, go to http://bit.ly/mtsu-otr.

For more information, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.