The Frontier World of Doc Holliday

by Pat Jahns, Roger D. McGrath (Introduction)

Eaten by tuberculosis, sustained by alcohol, John Henry “Doc” Holliday walked the streets of Dodge City, Dallas, Denver, Leadville, Deadwood, and Tombstone in their roistering heydays. The frail-looking dentist could be deadly when the drink wore off and someone crossed him. Doc Holliday was a paradox: respectable citizen and notorious gambler, gentleman and murderer, married to a prostitute called Big-Nosed Kate but devoted only to the memory of his mother. Pat Jahns includes a full and exciting account of the shootout at the O.K. Corral.

Genres: History, Biography

305 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

Patricia Jahns

Reviews

[Mary Walton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, gave away

[JP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Portrays J.H. Holliday and his life along each point of the expanding frontier. Doc was well-educated and came from a notable southern family. Throughout most of his 20 years in adventurous boom towns, he was continuously told he had a short time to live, which fostered a boldness and willingness to seek dangerous situations. Doc learned to a be a cool gambler and cold-hearted fighter when facing an opponent. He was seemingly involved in several dishonest deals at several times. Doc backed up Wyatt Earp when at a time when Wyatt was outnumbered. Their friendship continued through the famous fight at the OK corral. They seem to have split ways after that to some extent. He wrote periodically to Mattie and his condition deteriorated considerably upon hearing of her entering a convent. Doc moved between Denver, Leadville, and Pueblo duing his last days. The author paints a very critical view of the Earps, although he does bring out some balance not seen elsewhere with regard to the incidents in Tombstone.

[Mark Valentine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jahn's biography does a fine job in portraying Holliday's maladies and myths--both self-inflicted. Holliday's Devil-may-care attitude sustained him and it seemed to be the same thing that fueled his mystic.

I found this book a fine expansion and exploration of the era and culture of the West (having been to several of the same towns that Holliday lived in) and I thought the author had researched her topic very well. My one criticism is this: I was a little unclear of the narrative of the shooting at the OK corral. She presented the depositions of several of the participants, which is solid history, but the flow of the events seemed disjointed.