West's death after running a stop sign recalls the implied and explicit violence in his novel. Learn more about West's life and death and compare and contrast him with Tod Hackett.

Watch a few of the most popular films released between 1929 and 1939 or research their content in books about film history. Many historians have argued that the content of these films helped reinforce popular American values such as individuality and hard work. From what you learn about these films, do you agree with this statement? How does the content of the films compare with West's description of the industry that made the films?

After finishing West's last novel, read one of his earlier novels. Do you think that he was improving as a writer? What in the two novels supports your opinion? If he had lived to write for another thirty years...