The Imprint of Alan Swallow: Quality Publishing in the West

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 Ana s 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.