John Wayne--the man, actor, and icon--remains synonymous with certain American values. He represents conservative political views, aggressive militarism, and a masculine bravado which seemed anachronistic at the time of his death in 1979, but which the Reagan and Bush years have revived as meaningful to American society. In film history, Wayne has a place as one of the great stars, perhaps even one of the great actors.

This book provides a full introduction to the study of John Wayne: his life, the components of his image, and the resources available for further inquiry. Of special importance is the book's extensive bibliography, notably its index to fan magazine articles about Wayne, which is unavailable elsewhere. Also included is the complete 1971 controversial Playboy magazine interview.