The Desire for a Home: Individualism in Louis L’Amour’s Dark Canyon

Abstract Individualism is a hallmark descriptor of American culture. Frederick Jackson Turner’s seminal Frontier Thesis argued that such individualism has its roots in the frontier. While some have questioned this, subsequent studies have found empirical support for the cultural significance of the frontier experience. It is therefore worth revisiting relevant literature to explore depictions of individualism and all of its nuances. This paper examines individualism in Louis L’Amour’s Dark Canyon. L’Amour’s work, spanning more than fifty years, have embodied the quintessential Western novel. This paper’s analysis is guided by a proposed framework of individualism coming from inherent traits of the American frontier. These include the following: selective migration, rugged conditions, and opportunity for advancement through hard work. The author posits that this picture of individualism is reflected and expressed in Dark Canyon.