H. L. Davis was raised in eastern Oregon when the region was still largely a sparsely settled wilderness. Whereas the rich valleys of western Oregon had inspired thousands to undertake the epic trek across the “Great American Desert”, the arid lands of the Great Basin and the intermountain West were settled largely by the backwash from the earlier transcontinental migration. These settlers typically had very few illusions about what awaited them in their new homes but even fewer options for any sort of fresh start. Davis' upbringing was defined by his family's frequent moves, as his father found and either left or lost a long succession of jobs. For various reasons, Davis' memories of the several years that the family spent in Antelope, Oregon, became focal to his perspective on the…
980 words
Citation: Kich, Martin. "H.L. Davis". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 21 March 2003 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=1160, accessed 20 April 2024.]
