Close Range contains stories about a particular corner of the world. The trials and victories of Proulx's characters are dependent upon their environment. Their reactions, however, reveal important facets of human nature. Even while they fight the peculiar difficulties of Wyoming ranch life, Proulx's characters face more mundane challenges of personal identity and familial strife.

In this way, Close Range works as a window into the generic human condition. How, it asks, do people endeavor to define themselves within their families and their cultures?

Still, the regionalist description Proulx offers is extremely valuable. For all its insight into the human condition, Close Range works like a travel narrative, offering lush description and historical information on a small space of the world. Stories such as "Blood Bay" are historical pieces that show where Wyoming has been, and tales like "The Half-Skinned Steer" assert that the struggle against...