The Imprint of Alan Swallow

Born and raised on the windswept prairies of northwest Wyoming, Alan Swallow (1915-1966) developed a passion for literature and poetry at an early age. Quickly realizing he was not suited to a life of farming and ranching, Swallo 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 four-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 Anais Nin, Allen Tate, and Yvor Winters. Moving to Colorado, Swallow founded the Swallow Press and dedicated himself to bringing literary authors, both regionally and nationally recognized, to print in high-quality yet affordable books. Although rumors of marital infidelities and his fondness for fast cars earned Swallow a certain notoriety, it was his tireless work as an editor and innovative publisher that established his reputation for integrity; Swallow became one of the most revered literary figures of his day. Nelson brings this forgotten episode of publishing history vividly back to life, shining a bright light on the rich literary legacy of the West.

spent forty years as a reporter for the Associated Press. During his twenty years in Washington, he received the Aldo Beckman Award for excellence in reporting about the presidency. He is the author of numerous books including Who Speaks for the President? The White House Press Secretary from Cleveland to Clinton and Gin Before Breakfast: The Dilemma of the Poet in the Newsroom.