Andy and John are joined by authors Shawn Levy (A Year in the Life of Death, Rat Pack Confidential) and Erica Wagner (Chief Engineer, First Light) to discuss US writer Pete Dexter's second novel Deadwood (1986), described by the Washington Post on publication as 'maybe the best Western ever written'. In addition to enjoying this unpredictable and uproarious historical novel, we investigate the differences - and notable similarities - between Dexter's work and the classic TV series of the same name that followed a decade later.

Also this week, John has been reading Katherine May's life-affirming memoir, The Electricity of Every Living Thing, while Andy pays tribute to Nina Simone's Gum by musician Warren Ellis, a book that asks profound questions about what it means to be divine.

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Books mentioned:

Pete Dexter - Deadwood; Paris, Trout; Brotherly Love
Shawn Levy - A Year in the Life of Death; Rat Pack Confidential; Dolce Vita Confidential; Ready, Steady, Go
Erics Wagner - Chief Engineer; First Light
Warren Ellis - Nina Simone’s Gum
Katherine May - The Electricity of Every Living Thing
Raynor Winn - The Salt Path
Elmore Leonard - The Complete Western Stories
Peter Carey - The True History of the Kelly Gang
Larry McMurtry - Lonesome Dove
Michael Ondaatje - The Collected Works of Billy the Kid
Charles Portis - True Grit
Hugh Kenner - Ulysses

Other links:
Erich von Schmidt, ‘Days of 49’ (1960)
Bob Dylan, ‘Days of 49’ (1970)
Pete Dexter speaking at the New York State Writers Institute, 2005
Pete Dexter talks to Vice about Deadwood, 2009
Al Swearingen meets Wild Bill Hickok, Deadwood (2004)
Logan English, ‘What Was Your Name in the States?’ (1957)
Logan English, The Days of '49: Songs of the Gold Rush, Folkways Records (1957)
Doris Day, ‘The Deadwood Stage’ (from Calamity Jane)
Bill Monroe, ‘Christmas Time's a Comin'‘