The Earp Brothers of Tombstone: The Story of Mrs. Virgil Earp

by Frank Waters

The Earp Brothers of Tombstone and the famous fight at the O. K. Corral are well known to American history and even better known to American legend. This composite biography of Wyatt, Morgan, Virgil, James, and Warner Earp is based on the recollections of Mrs. Virgil Earp, dictated to the author in the 1930s, and amplified by documents he unearthed in 1959. In his review of the book for Library Journal , W. S. Wallace stated that he considered The Earp Brothers of Tombstone "the most authoritative account ever to be published on the subject."

Genres: History, Westerns, Biography

247 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1976

About the author

Frank Waters was an American novelist, essayist, and cultural historian best known for his profound explorations of the American Southwest and Native American spirituality. Deeply influenced by his Cheyenne heritage and early experiences on the Navajo Reservation, Waters wove themes of indigenous identity, mysticism, and the clash between tradition and modernity into much of his work. His celebrated novel The Man Who Killed the Deer (1942) is considered a cornerstone of Southwestern literature, offering a powerful portrayal of a Pueblo man’s internal struggle with cultural dislocation. Over the decades, Waters produced an impressive body of work, including both fiction and non-fiction, such as Book of the Hopi, Mexico Mystique, and The Colorado, which blended mythology, history, and esoteric thought. A strong advocate for the arts, he held various editorial and academic positions and was honored with several awards. His legacy lives on through the Frank Waters Foundation, which supports writers and artists in the spirit of his creative vision.

Reviews

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was published in 1960 but it is based on the available records from earlier authors and extensive interviews with Allison Earp, Virgil Earp’s wife, in 1935.

This is a strange and disturbing non-fiction story of the legend of Wyatt Earp and his brothers before and after their awful killing spree in Tombstone, AZ in the last decades of the 1800s. The Earps along with their gang of associates (Doc Holliday being the most famous) were really a family of thieves who robbed the stage that left Tombstone baring loads of silver bound for the Bank in Tucson. When other goons tried to do the same, the Earps and their people needed to “take care” of the competition. They were the worst sort of criminal. Always looking for the frontier, where life was chaotic and law was limited.

Wyatt, the worst of the brothers (Wyatt, Morgan, Virgil and young Warren). He always ran for office and mostly failed but found a way to be a deputy or a Marshall with a license to kill. He was a thief, a bigamist, a murderer, and an agent of death while always slipping out of the charges that were often made against him.

[Gerry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of what I knew of the Earps came from Stuart Lake's Wyatt Earp: Frontier Marshall, Walter Noble Burns' Tombstone, and the TV show. Then along comes this book which tells another tale and has as its protagonist Virgil Earp's wife Allie. Or so she claimed.

So what you have is a conflicting set of stories. Fair enough: just know that Earp and other western "heroes" (remember the Western Heroes card game from the 50s?) are no more certain than Robin Hood or Rob Roy. Entertainment, and that's about it.

Author Waters, believing everything the old lady told him (and nearly getting sued in the process) presents us with the "anti-Earps." It's as much a story about "Aunt Allie" and it is about Tombstone. R.I.P. Hugh O'Brien.

[Jo Burl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This seems to be a bit authoritative than other books since large parts of were dictated to the author by one who lived the other times. It really changed how I see the Earps and Doc Holliday. Makes me sad that what I thought I knew was all myth. It’s a great myth though.

[Sibel SkO · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an interesting read. Not what I expected of Mr. Wyatt Esrp. I'm glad I found this book and read it. More research on my part is to be done for my own interest.

[Sharon Zink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having lived twice in Dodge City, KS, it should be expected that I would pick up this book to read. The subtitle is, "The Story of Mrs. Virgil Earp." In Dodge City the main drag is named after Wyatt Earp, and on that street is his statue. Yet he did not live in Dodge City very long--less than five years--and he was not a good man. The other town that is associated with his life is Tombstone, Arizona, because of the gun fight at the OK Corral. That gun fight did not last more than 30 seconds. The old, wild, dangerous West is a fascinating period to read about, and this book is good and well written.

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Facinating look at what really happened that lead to the shootout at the OK corral and beyond. A terrific peak behind the legend and how they come about. (Yes, those that live the longest get to set history.)

[David Grassé · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waters' book debunks the Wyatt Earp myth and is worth reading for that reason alone.