I, Quantrill (Center Point Premier Western (Large Print)) by Max McCoy

by Max McCoy

Bloody Bill Quantrill, one of the most notorious and brutal guerrilla fighters for the South in the Civil War, relates his side of the story, detailing his many murderous exploits, including his hell-raising days with Frank and Jesse James. (Western)

Library Binding

First published May 6, 2008

About the author

Max McCoy is an award-winning journalist and author. He’s won awards for his reporting on unsolved murders, serial killers, and hate groups. In addition to his daily newspaper work, Max has written for publications as diverse as American Photographer, True West, and The New Territory. He’s the author of four original Indiana Jones adventures for Lucasfilm/Bantam and the novelization of the epic TNT miniseries, Into the West. His novels, including Damnation Road, have won three Spur awards from the Western Writers of America. His novels, Hellfire Canyon and Of Grave Concern, have also been named Kansas Notable Books by the state library. He's a tenured professor of journalism at Emporia State University, in east central Kansas, where he specializes in investigative reporting and nonfiction narrative. He's also director of the university’s Center for Great Plains Studies. His most recent book is Elevations: A Personal Exploration of the Arkansas River, from the University Press of Kansas.

Reviews

[Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this to fulfill my Western requirement for my Readers' Advisory class. I can't say that I've ever really read a Western before, but I can understand the appeal now. Maybe it's all the Deadwood I've been watching lately... I've always liked books that delve into darker characters, and Quantrill definitely falls into that category. There's a bit of magical realism happening in the story as well, which I was really surprised to find. I really liked the way that it ended, too.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting piece of historical fiction written in the form of a western. It is about William Clarke Quantrill and begins with his raid on Lawrence, Kansas, and continues until his final days. It covers some of his other exploits and travels as well as discusses some of the other men who rode with him. It seemed to have a few similarities to a movie which I saw about Quantrill, 'Ride with the Devil.' The main problem I found with this story is that we do not know how much of it is fact and how much is fiction. Otherwise, I liked it and found it to be a quick read.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting, but I think it's because I am from Lawrence.

The book is an historical fiction novel about William Quantrill, a guerilla raider who fought for slavery during the Civil War. An interesting, quick read that "chronicles" his life.

[LaDawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book. Wish I knew more about Quantrill so I knew how much was fictionalized. On my "shelves" I put it under historic-fiction, though it' probably more appropriately a Western. I just don't read enough westerns to make it worth adding another shelf!

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting depiction of life a one of the most notorious Confederate guerrillas. It is not very long which is also good.

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book.

[Michael Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story intertwined with historical facts.