Dirty Words in Deadwood showcases literary analyses of the Deadwood television series by leading western American literary critics. Whereas previous reaction to the series has largely addressed the question of historical accuracy rather than intertextuality or literary complexity, Melody Graulich and Nicolas S. Witschi s edited volume brings a much-needed perspective to Deadwood s representation of the frontier West.

As Graulich observes in her introduction: With its emotional coherence, compelling characterizations, compressed structural brilliance, moral...