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Gunfighter Chronicles #2
Doc Holliday
He came from the American South, a gentleman by breeding, a dentist by training, a gambler by vocation. But as Dr. John H. Holliday, a man fleeing his tragic past, drifted across the West, living among some of the roughest men on the frontier, word spread quickly he never walked away from a fight, and he never drew too late.
Now, from Dodge City to Denver and Cheyenne, from boomtown to sinkholes, "Doc" Holliday was driven by the demons of his past, a skilled gambler and a seasoned mankiller--his name was known and feared long before the O.K. Corral. The story of a man who spoke softly and carried a lightning gun, Doc Holliday is Matt Braun's extraordinary chronicle of the West's most complex and legendary figure.
320 pages, Paperback
First published September 28, 2002
16 people are currently reading
172 people want to read
About the author
Matt Braun
113 books45 followersMatt Braun is an author of fifty-six books, most of which are in the Western genre and has over 40 million copies in print.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
March 24, 2015
I have been a fan of Doc Holliday ever since I have seen the movie Tombstone and Val Kilmer played him. When I saw this book I just had to have so I could learn more about the infamous gunslinger. I am glad I bought it and finally picked it up to read. This was a very good telling of his life story. There was not a lot I knew about him other than his part in Tombstone and that he used to be a dentist. Matt Braun had a way of writing this story so you felt as if you really knew the man behind the legend. After reading this book I actually felt bad for Doc and all that life dealt him. Even though he was a gunslinger I have a lot of respect for him. He never killed a man who did not try to kill him first, he did not like cheaters and would call you out if he thought you were cheating. I recommend this book to historical fiction fans.
March 30, 2014
This is the first Matt Braun book I've read but I already ordered two more. I liked it a lot. Of course, I've always been rather interested in the character of Doc Holliday. Although I don't know the specific history, I'm pretty sure Braun took a lot of liberties with Holliday's life. That's OK. I didn't read it as a biography. The character was well drawn and there was quite a few interesting developments. I did think the book was probably a little longer than it needed to be and sections of it were pretty similar to other sections. Yet, it certainly kept me reading. It actually ends before Deadwood and the shoot out at the OK corral. I thought that would mean a sequel but apparently there is none.
August 11, 2012
I liked this book very much. While reading it I kept picturing Val Kilmer playing the role of Holliday in the movie "Tombstone". This was nothing like Tombstone, covering the times when Holliday discovered his "consumption" and why he then went on to be a gambler.
October 31, 2021
my negative rating lies at the feet of narrator William Dufris: 1) Way too dramatic performance distracted me from the story 2) forte is not pronounced "for-tay" despite what nerds may post on the internet
February 24, 2024
Most of the books written about Doc Holliday are exaggerated yet very interesting. There is a lot of speculation on how many people he really killed and whether he killed out of necessity during old style western shoot-outs or if he killed simply as an outlaw or both. His participation in the Gunfight at the OK Corral is well known, as is his friendship with Wyatt Earp but some of the real facts of what really happened are still debated to this day. There have been documentaries and many books written about The fight at the OK Corral and Wyatt Earp and his brothers and Doc Holliday along with some of the people they were in rivalry with in Tombstone such as Curly Bill Brocius, Ike Clayton, and Johnny Ringo. There have been many old time western movies made about these people and events and major blockbuster movies such as Tombstone to mention one of the most famous ones and although there are some accuracies to each one, I believe for as many accurate details there are just as many, if not more, that are either completely unknown, fabricated, exaggerated, or all three.
This is certainly an interesting book that I believe is meant to be a fiction book based on real events with drama and extra details added in for more interest for the reader, however, in my opinion, I would like to read more of the facts that are proven to be true and not any fictionalized killings because they only add to the bad reputation he may or may not have deserved.
This is certainly an interesting book that I believe is meant to be a fiction book based on real events with drama and extra details added in for more interest for the reader, however, in my opinion, I would like to read more of the facts that are proven to be true and not any fictionalized killings because they only add to the bad reputation he may or may not have deserved.
March 8, 2019
This was written after the movie Tombstone and I believe his characterization of Holliday is somewhat influenced by the movie.
It's no secret that Braun does not share the popular version of the OK Corral and it's actors. His treatment of Wyatt and the events of the corral are neither neutral or sympathetic, yet he doesn't disparage Doc much in this book. He does however, make him a bit more callous and trigger happy than other accounts. Perhaps it is just artistic license but... The OK Corral account is glossed over in the epilogue. His fictional version of events in his book "Tombstone" leave much to be desired.
Mary Doria Russell's treatment is fantastic in her book "Doc". Be sure to check that one out!!
It's no secret that Braun does not share the popular version of the OK Corral and it's actors. His treatment of Wyatt and the events of the corral are neither neutral or sympathetic, yet he doesn't disparage Doc much in this book. He does however, make him a bit more callous and trigger happy than other accounts. Perhaps it is just artistic license but... The OK Corral account is glossed over in the epilogue. His fictional version of events in his book "Tombstone" leave much to be desired.
Mary Doria Russell's treatment is fantastic in her book "Doc". Be sure to check that one out!!
March 10, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. It was an easy read and I found it difficult to put the book down.
This book covers Dr. John Holliday's life and his transition from dentist to professional gambler. You see "Dr. Holliday" slowly die away with consumption as "Doc" Holliday, the feared man with the gun, takes his place.
The book seems well researched and though it's hard to say how much of it accurate. There is a lot of dialogue that may or may not have actually happened, but most of it is plausible. The book develops "Doc" as a character, and his words and phrasing are a large part of this development. Many of the events were well known historical meetings between wild west characters.
This book covers Dr. John Holliday's life and his transition from dentist to professional gambler. You see "Dr. Holliday" slowly die away with consumption as "Doc" Holliday, the feared man with the gun, takes his place.
The book seems well researched and though it's hard to say how much of it accurate. There is a lot of dialogue that may or may not have actually happened, but most of it is plausible. The book develops "Doc" as a character, and his words and phrasing are a large part of this development. Many of the events were well known historical meetings between wild west characters.
May 14, 2023
Matt Braun has been a favorite western writer of mine for a while, tho I don't read him often. I enjoyed this book, not sure how much was fiction based on history and how much was out right fiction. None the less it is a fiction book and I read it as such.
I do have a new found interest in Doc Holliday and will dive into some research now.
Always interesting to step back into history.
I do have a new found interest in Doc Holliday and will dive into some research now.
Always interesting to step back into history.
November 7, 2017
Disappointed. A figure this large deserves a more scholarly and thorough treatment. How do you treat the Tombstone episode with a mere few paragraphs?
March 10, 2020
Love books about Doc and the Ererps
August 20, 2022
Not a big fan of westerns but enjoyed his style of writing.
December 13, 2010
Sometimes when you can buy a thing for $2 instead of $6, it moves itself up your priority list. Thanks to a local used bookstore, Doc Holliday by Matt Braun found its way into my collection this year (instead of probably never). Many years previously, I had read and enjoyed Braun’s
Wyatt Earp
. It hadn’t wowed me, but was a nice way to explore further the now-mythological gunfight behind the O.K. Corral.
Likewise, Doc Holliday proved to be an easy and enjoyable weekend read. This isn’t deep fiction, but it’s not shallow either. Doc Holliday, like Mr. Braun’s Earp novel, is an attempt to draft a more realistic portrait of the legend without sacrificing the legendary status. And Braun succeeds, albeit with a plotline that is as dry and dusty as the mining towns Holliday visits.
By about halfway through, I’d determined that this book is as much about being a rock star as it is about gun fighting. Mr. Braun begins his story with Holliday receiving his diagnosis of terminal tuberculosis. From there on the novel is mostly a synoptic account of Holliday’s rise to fame on the gambling circuit. There isn’t anything new or innovative here by the standards of westerns, or rock star “tell alls” for that matter.
Still, the novel has its moments. Braun does justice to the unexpectedly complicated romance between Holliday and Kate Elder, which exists in the shadow of Holliday’s pre-tubercular engagement to his cousin. The novel also presents several rich tableaus of the seamy sporting districts of the old West. Like Holliday, they appear both dangerous and irresistible. If you like this genre you probably won’t be disappointed, even if you fail to be wowed.
Likewise, Doc Holliday proved to be an easy and enjoyable weekend read. This isn’t deep fiction, but it’s not shallow either. Doc Holliday, like Mr. Braun’s Earp novel, is an attempt to draft a more realistic portrait of the legend without sacrificing the legendary status. And Braun succeeds, albeit with a plotline that is as dry and dusty as the mining towns Holliday visits.
By about halfway through, I’d determined that this book is as much about being a rock star as it is about gun fighting. Mr. Braun begins his story with Holliday receiving his diagnosis of terminal tuberculosis. From there on the novel is mostly a synoptic account of Holliday’s rise to fame on the gambling circuit. There isn’t anything new or innovative here by the standards of westerns, or rock star “tell alls” for that matter.
Still, the novel has its moments. Braun does justice to the unexpectedly complicated romance between Holliday and Kate Elder, which exists in the shadow of Holliday’s pre-tubercular engagement to his cousin. The novel also presents several rich tableaus of the seamy sporting districts of the old West. Like Holliday, they appear both dangerous and irresistible. If you like this genre you probably won’t be disappointed, even if you fail to be wowed.
February 29, 2016
The major saving grave and appeal of this novel is its author's name. Beyond that, it offers very little that is worthwhile.
It is written in a double-minded sort of way, as if the author had gathered all his information about this Fort, this boomtown, this city---- and studied up on Doc Holliday in order to write a biography, but then discovered that the material didn't lend itself to a biography without a lot more work and so then decided to make it into a biographical novel. Which is why the book lacks a sense of balance. The author gets in such a hurry to move Doc to the next town he has studied out carefully, and plotted the historical background that another shooting takes place and Doc is forced to leave. These shootings were real events, but the author uses them to excuse his lack of novel material to introduce and to move the story forward.
Wyatt Earp is written as a good guy, while history shows he was nothing more than one of the baddest bad buys ever. Until the very end of the novel, as the Earps move toward Tombstone with a plan to take over the town and the terriritory do we see the ambititious dishonesty of Earp.
Even if one leaves aside the historical flaws, accepting it as a novel, we have the problem of Doc sitting at a gambling table over and over and over again outdrawing his opponents. After awhile it gets completely unbelieveable, spring loaded holseter or no.
This book's redeeming quality is its description of crooked gambling schemes.
It is written in a double-minded sort of way, as if the author had gathered all his information about this Fort, this boomtown, this city---- and studied up on Doc Holliday in order to write a biography, but then discovered that the material didn't lend itself to a biography without a lot more work and so then decided to make it into a biographical novel. Which is why the book lacks a sense of balance. The author gets in such a hurry to move Doc to the next town he has studied out carefully, and plotted the historical background that another shooting takes place and Doc is forced to leave. These shootings were real events, but the author uses them to excuse his lack of novel material to introduce and to move the story forward.
Wyatt Earp is written as a good guy, while history shows he was nothing more than one of the baddest bad buys ever. Until the very end of the novel, as the Earps move toward Tombstone with a plan to take over the town and the terriritory do we see the ambititious dishonesty of Earp.
Even if one leaves aside the historical flaws, accepting it as a novel, we have the problem of Doc sitting at a gambling table over and over and over again outdrawing his opponents. After awhile it gets completely unbelieveable, spring loaded holseter or no.
This book's redeeming quality is its description of crooked gambling schemes.
September 14, 2012
"Doc Holliday" has made me a fan of the genre! The only downside to this book is that it had to have ended. Who'd have known that in a plight to avoid idle daily conversation I would walk into Barnes & Noble and pick up such a great read.
Doc Holliday is not the good guy. In fact, he's pretty damn close to a bad guy. Sure, he lived off of principle, but it seems he instigated others into putting him into a "defensive" posture. That being said, I love him for it!
Matt Braun made you love the characters, he made John honorable for not wanting to break Mattie's heart, he made him... no, he showed him to be tough and witty.
More importantly, he showed that John Holliday was human. Like all of us, he was a product of his environment and honed by circumstance. John loved Mattie, but he needed Kate's companionship.. However lacking it was. He justified his misdeeds.. but lived honorably, in his way.
This book has ensured I will read many other Westerns!
Doc Holliday is not the good guy. In fact, he's pretty damn close to a bad guy. Sure, he lived off of principle, but it seems he instigated others into putting him into a "defensive" posture. That being said, I love him for it!
Matt Braun made you love the characters, he made John honorable for not wanting to break Mattie's heart, he made him... no, he showed him to be tough and witty.
More importantly, he showed that John Holliday was human. Like all of us, he was a product of his environment and honed by circumstance. John loved Mattie, but he needed Kate's companionship.. However lacking it was. He justified his misdeeds.. but lived honorably, in his way.
This book has ensured I will read many other Westerns!
June 4, 2013
The notorious Doc Holliday, prior to the gunfight at the OK Corral. Matt Braun paints a detailed and colorful picture of the life and times of Doc Holliday, the development of his legend, and his friendship with the lawman, Wyatt Earp. Interesting look at "the sporting life" in the old west, and the wild cattle and railroad towns where that life flourished. Very well done, sympathetic, look at a true legend of the West.
January 28, 2015
I liked this story as it describes the life and times of this historical character in a straight-ahead uncomplicated way through the calendars dates, locations, and events (bourbon-some card play-some bourbon-some gun play. Doc is written in a sympathetic way with much good insight into who and what he was. Val Kilmer played Doc in the movie & set fort what the Doc should be. The dialogue was clever and clear and it moved the story along.
December 15, 2014
I wouldn't normally pick up a historical fiction type book like this, but my coworker had it on her desk as she was researching historical fiction, and told me it was a good read. I really liked the story and the writing. The scene of the old west is really fun, and it's a relaxing read. I'll check out more of his books!
May 17, 2015
Super repetitive: guy shows up, wins a ton of money at poker, shoots someone, then moves on to the next town. At least ten times. The author then proceeds to completely bypass the story of Tombstone and the OK Corral shootout, which would have actually been much more interesting to read about. I'm glad I only spent $1 on it, and even that might have been a bit much.
November 3, 2014
It was a little bit like groundhogs day. Doc would go into a town, make a lot of money on gambling, get in a gun fight, and kill the other guy. After the 5th iteration of this I started to get bored.
April 16, 2009
"I'm your Huckleberry!" Although he probably never uttered those words, this guy is one of my favorite characters in history. This book tells about his life and times. I loved it!
Read
September 10, 2009Because I am very interested in the "wild west" and the characters that are memorialized in westerns, I truly enjoyed this book. It was informative and entertaining.
Read
March 26, 2010Doc Holliday (Gunfighter Chronicles) by Matt Braun (1997)
May 12, 2011
It's been 7 years since I read this book, but I remember loving it.
Read
August 4, 2013Now this one I remember. A lot of historical facts, some fiction. All in all, an enjoyable read.
January 5, 2013
Not the true story of the famous gunfighter, but a good dramatization of his exploits from the time he was diagnosed with tuberculosis until he heads to Tombstore.
December 13, 2013
I love his story.
August 9, 2015
Enjoyed the book. Would like to read more of Matt Braun
April 17, 2016
Not a bad biographical novel. Listened to it on CD while traveling - it kept my interest and helped the time pass quickly.
January 20, 2020
This is the best book about Doc Holiday I’ve ever read. It’s well written and I definitely suggest it.
June 21, 2012
Listened to the abridged version may come back later
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews