The Writings of Norman Maclean

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By Timothy P. Schilling ’87

Published Feb. 20, 2025

The Writings of Norman Maclean (University of Nevada Press) is the first reassessment of Maclean’s work. Schilling explores Maclean’s search for meaning in the face of human tragedy through his brother’s death and the devastating Mann Gulch wildfire of 1949. Schilling finds that Maclean’s use of ambiguity appears to be essential for discovering the truth. Through examining Maclean’s engagement with scientific, literary, philosophical, and theological perspectives, Schilling offers us fresh insights in Maclean’s work, cementing Maclean as an iconic figure of Western American literature. 

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PAW's October 2026 cover, featuring a photo of a loaf of challah bread and the headline "The Braids That Bind."
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