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Famous Gunfighters of the Western Frontier: Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Luke Short and Others
A fascinating, historical read of the outlaws of the west: Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Luke Short and others. Included are over 40 photos.
122 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 17, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 28, 2018
Yes, you read that correctly. This book was written by none other than famous western lawman Bat Masterson himself! Actually, it's a series of magazine articles he wrote after he'd retired from peacemaking. He became a newspaperman, you see, and in 1907 (the year John Wayne was born, just FYI), he wrote these little biographies of fellow famous gunmen.
By far the most interesting to me were his articles on Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp. You see, Earp was a dear friend of Masterson's, but Masterson couldn't stand Holliday. You definitely get the sense that he tolerated Holliday only for Earp's sake.
Masterson describes the now-famous Tombstone gunfight at the O.K. Corral in glowing terms, even giving Doc Holliday his due when it comes to standing up against the Clantons and McLowrys. He says, "The fight was hardly started before it was over, and the result showed that nearly every shot fired by the Earp party went straight home to the mark" (p. 61). Now, Masterson wasn't present in Tombstone at that time, so we can only assume he's mostly basing this account off what his friend Earp told him, but he does seem to try to present a fair view of the issue between the Earps and their enemies. The whole description of that affair alone is worth getting a copy of this book to read.
Masterson's writing only fills up 65 pages of this slim volume, and the rest of the space contains photographs of people and places he talks about. These aren't interspersed among the articles, as you might expect, but just clumped together at the end.
I greatly enjoyed Masterson's writing style -- he's dramatic, but not florid, and me made me chuckle more than once. He has a dry wit that uses understatement to great advantage, which is a style of humor I enjoy. He's a shrewd student of human nature, too, and I found some of his passages about the nature of courage and other deep matters to be revelatory.
By far the most interesting to me were his articles on Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp. You see, Earp was a dear friend of Masterson's, but Masterson couldn't stand Holliday. You definitely get the sense that he tolerated Holliday only for Earp's sake.
Masterson describes the now-famous Tombstone gunfight at the O.K. Corral in glowing terms, even giving Doc Holliday his due when it comes to standing up against the Clantons and McLowrys. He says, "The fight was hardly started before it was over, and the result showed that nearly every shot fired by the Earp party went straight home to the mark" (p. 61). Now, Masterson wasn't present in Tombstone at that time, so we can only assume he's mostly basing this account off what his friend Earp told him, but he does seem to try to present a fair view of the issue between the Earps and their enemies. The whole description of that affair alone is worth getting a copy of this book to read.
Masterson's writing only fills up 65 pages of this slim volume, and the rest of the space contains photographs of people and places he talks about. These aren't interspersed among the articles, as you might expect, but just clumped together at the end.
I greatly enjoyed Masterson's writing style -- he's dramatic, but not florid, and me made me chuckle more than once. He has a dry wit that uses understatement to great advantage, which is a style of humor I enjoy. He's a shrewd student of human nature, too, and I found some of his passages about the nature of courage and other deep matters to be revelatory.
May 30, 2021
A case where Goodreads should really have a half star option. Closer to 3 1/2 than 4 so it gets 3 because I'm not a good enough person to bump it up to 4 out of the kindness of my heart
July 15, 2020
After hanging up his pistols, Bat Masterson became a journalist, sportswriter and referee. In 1907, he wrote a series of profiles for "Human Life" magazine, detailing the lives and Masterson's own perceptions of several Wild West gunmen with whom he was acquainted. He had promised several profiles, but only wrote five, being these the stories of Luke Short, Ben Thompson, Doc Holliday, Bill Tilghman and Wyatt Earp. These five profiles make up the first half of this tome, with the other half consisting of photographs of his subjects and other Western places and personages not mentioned by Masterson, but who were contemporaries of his subjects.
Masterson writes straightforward prose with some dry wit and with a flair for describing moments of tension, gunfights and verbal repartee. He is also very good about setting up the historical and regional context of his characters. However, the profile themselves seem to be missing a lot of details and depth. While Masterson has some acute observations to make when speaking on the general character of the Western gunman, there is a lack of depth about the subjects themselves.
While the profiles on Short, Thompson and Tilghman were interesting, he spends very little time on what seems to made these men tick. Short and Thompson, in particular, strike me as particularly unpleasant people, but Masterson doesn't cast any aspersions on their character. Not so with Holliday, for Masterson displays contempt for the man that is quite surprising, considering their strong mutual friendship with Earp. Masterson seemed to have tolerated Holliday solely for the sake of Earp, but he unloads on Holliday twenty years after the latter's death. He actually starts Holliday's profile detailing a hate crime that he says that Holliday claimed to have done back in Georgia, which caused him to leave for the West, but further historical scholarship has not turned in any evidence of such an event taking place as Masterson describes.
Earp's profile is the best of the five, and Masterson's respect and affection for his subject shines through. His chronicling of the Tombstone Saga is succinct and very interesting, although it is obviously built on information provided by Earp, as Masterson was not present in Tombstone at the time, nor was he a historian. Additionally, Masterson speaks frankly about bending the law when needed. His contempt for Indians and Mexicans also shines through, particularly when describing the extra-judicial execution of Cowboy gang member Florentino Cruz (whom he names "Florentine" and heaps a racist slur on top of that)
Ultimately, this book has great historical value, due to being a first-hand account (and one of the earliest ones) of that most famous of Western archetypes, the shootist or gunman, written by one of the most notorious of them. Masterson writes with precision and wit, although details are missing and there is a strange sluggishness in some portions of the book. Some half-truths and full blown myths make appearances here, so I would recommend that people interested in the history of the Wild West read this along with some additional sources for a more accurate picture of the world and people that Masterson describes.
Masterson writes straightforward prose with some dry wit and with a flair for describing moments of tension, gunfights and verbal repartee. He is also very good about setting up the historical and regional context of his characters. However, the profile themselves seem to be missing a lot of details and depth. While Masterson has some acute observations to make when speaking on the general character of the Western gunman, there is a lack of depth about the subjects themselves.
While the profiles on Short, Thompson and Tilghman were interesting, he spends very little time on what seems to made these men tick. Short and Thompson, in particular, strike me as particularly unpleasant people, but Masterson doesn't cast any aspersions on their character. Not so with Holliday, for Masterson displays contempt for the man that is quite surprising, considering their strong mutual friendship with Earp. Masterson seemed to have tolerated Holliday solely for the sake of Earp, but he unloads on Holliday twenty years after the latter's death. He actually starts Holliday's profile detailing a hate crime that he says that Holliday claimed to have done back in Georgia, which caused him to leave for the West, but further historical scholarship has not turned in any evidence of such an event taking place as Masterson describes.
Earp's profile is the best of the five, and Masterson's respect and affection for his subject shines through. His chronicling of the Tombstone Saga is succinct and very interesting, although it is obviously built on information provided by Earp, as Masterson was not present in Tombstone at the time, nor was he a historian. Additionally, Masterson speaks frankly about bending the law when needed. His contempt for Indians and Mexicans also shines through, particularly when describing the extra-judicial execution of Cowboy gang member Florentino Cruz (whom he names "Florentine" and heaps a racist slur on top of that)
Ultimately, this book has great historical value, due to being a first-hand account (and one of the earliest ones) of that most famous of Western archetypes, the shootist or gunman, written by one of the most notorious of them. Masterson writes with precision and wit, although details are missing and there is a strange sluggishness in some portions of the book. Some half-truths and full blown myths make appearances here, so I would recommend that people interested in the history of the Wild West read this along with some additional sources for a more accurate picture of the world and people that Masterson describes.
August 15, 2018
Bat Masterson was one of the legends of the Old West, most notably as a friend of Wyatt Earp. After his years on the frontier, he became a writer and newspaper man. This book is a collection of stories he wrote about some of the people he knew and interacted with during his younger years.
It is clear by the writing style that these were meant to be short vignettes about the people he knew. Short, not very detailed stories paint a picture of the time of the Old West and the people who have become legends of American history.
The most interesting of these short stories was that of Wyatt Earp. He continues to be one of my favorite figures from that time. Masterson gives a brief description of Earp’s life, with special attention on the famous gunfight in Tombstone. In a separate article, he gives a history of Doc Holliday, who seems to be the stereotypical gunslinger. Moody, quick to a fight, someone with a death wish, but loyal to his friends, especially Earp.
There are numerous books out there with more detail (and better written) than this one, but it was interesting to hear the perspective of someone who had a front row seat to some of the most famous incidents of Western History.
It is clear by the writing style that these were meant to be short vignettes about the people he knew. Short, not very detailed stories paint a picture of the time of the Old West and the people who have become legends of American history.
The most interesting of these short stories was that of Wyatt Earp. He continues to be one of my favorite figures from that time. Masterson gives a brief description of Earp’s life, with special attention on the famous gunfight in Tombstone. In a separate article, he gives a history of Doc Holliday, who seems to be the stereotypical gunslinger. Moody, quick to a fight, someone with a death wish, but loyal to his friends, especially Earp.
There are numerous books out there with more detail (and better written) than this one, but it was interesting to hear the perspective of someone who had a front row seat to some of the most famous incidents of Western History.
July 17, 2021
It's always good to hear directly from those involved in the history you're studying, of course, even when you can clearly see through their faulty memories and exaggerations.
Some things, though, the reader will choose to lean right into. When discussing Doc Holliday, for example, Masterson says, "His whole heart and soul were wrapped up in Wyatt Earp and he was always ready to stake his life in defense of any cause in which Wyatt was interested. ... Damon did no more for Pythias that [than] Holliday did for Wyatt Earp." Masterson concludes, "While I assisted him substantially on several occasions, it was not because I liked him any too well, but on account of my friendship for Wyatt Earp, who did."
Some things, you just want to be true.
Some things, though, the reader will choose to lean right into. When discussing Doc Holliday, for example, Masterson says, "His whole heart and soul were wrapped up in Wyatt Earp and he was always ready to stake his life in defense of any cause in which Wyatt was interested. ... Damon did no more for Pythias that [than] Holliday did for Wyatt Earp." Masterson concludes, "While I assisted him substantially on several occasions, it was not because I liked him any too well, but on account of my friendship for Wyatt Earp, who did."
Some things, you just want to be true.
September 3, 2021
One of the best biographies on the old west I've read. Bat Masterson wrote a series of magazine articles in 1907. Five of those articles were compiled in this book with each chapter being one of the stories. In the back are pictures. Each chapter is an individual. What a picture of old west gunfighters he has painted. Really good book.
February 27, 2021
A short book but the subject matter appealed to me, it was good to hear a firsthand account of these famous gunfighters, some of which I had only heard of their name.
January 17, 2024
Cool first hand accounts of some wild west legends, even some I hadn't known before.
March 10, 2025
Fun read, Doc Holliday was portrayed as way too much of a hero in Tombstone though if Masterson’s recollection of his character is accurate 😬
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2025
Thought this was a book ABOUT Bat Masterson, but it was written BY him. Still fascinating, though.
November 15, 2025
Firsthand account of many of the West most famous gunfighters.
December 31, 2025
A collection of articles written by "BAT" Masterson about gunfighters that he knew out west.
January 20, 2025
Famous Gunfighters of the Western Frontier
By W.B. (Bat) Masterson
As many know, Bat Masterson followed his career as law enforcement in the west by becoming a New York sports writer. In this brief account he described incidents involving Wyatt Earp and his brothers, his own brother, Doc Holliday and several others you will recognize. Reading personal accounts written in the early 20th century was interesting.
By W.B. (Bat) Masterson
As many know, Bat Masterson followed his career as law enforcement in the west by becoming a New York sports writer. In this brief account he described incidents involving Wyatt Earp and his brothers, his own brother, Doc Holliday and several others you will recognize. Reading personal accounts written in the early 20th century was interesting.
August 18, 2012
Bat Masterson led the life that movies are made of. He was a buffalo hunter, a gunfighter, and a lawman in the Wild West. Unusually, he ended his days as a writer in New York. One of his most enduring works is a series of articles about his fellow gunslingers, assembled into this volume by Dover Books.
It's a cracking read with lots of insights into life in those wild years on the frontier. Masterson describes gunfights, Indian fights, cattle drives, and Wild West towns with a flair and detail that doesn't come off as too dated even a hundred years later.
The problem is that it's not terribly accurate. More sober studies of some of the characters, such as later biographies of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, show that Masterson highly exaggerated the level of violence these people engaged in. Holliday comes off especially bad, being ascribed several murders for which there is no evidence. Masterson was obviously writing to an audience brought up on dime novels and hungry for rip-roaring tales of the frontier.
In that, Masterson certainly delivers. He and other figures of the Old West played a great part in creating its mystique. If you want to read a partially true Western, pick this up. If you want accurate history, look elsewhere.
It's a cracking read with lots of insights into life in those wild years on the frontier. Masterson describes gunfights, Indian fights, cattle drives, and Wild West towns with a flair and detail that doesn't come off as too dated even a hundred years later.
The problem is that it's not terribly accurate. More sober studies of some of the characters, such as later biographies of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, show that Masterson highly exaggerated the level of violence these people engaged in. Holliday comes off especially bad, being ascribed several murders for which there is no evidence. Masterson was obviously writing to an audience brought up on dime novels and hungry for rip-roaring tales of the frontier.
In that, Masterson certainly delivers. He and other figures of the Old West played a great part in creating its mystique. If you want to read a partially true Western, pick this up. If you want accurate history, look elsewhere.
November 14, 2013
Normally I wouldn't read a 60 page book but looking at this and realizing that this was a book about Gunfighters written by a famous gunfighter a/k/a Bat Masterson made it a read. This is a series of articles written by Masterson after he became a journalist in NY at the end of his life. In them he tells his personal interactions and the stories of some of the famous gunfighters he knew. Lots of great photo’s at the end of the book.
July 16, 2013
I thought this book was really good. If I understood the forward correctly the stories were originally published in a newspaper around the turn of the century (1800's-1900's). There were separate stories about multiple gunslingers including Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp. And the author is a person who met and knew each of the people he is writing about which makes it even more interesting.
May 19, 2014
A great book for any western fan, and especially for those who want to know more about the real guys from someone who was there. In 1907, Bat Masterson wrote this series of articles about some of the best gunfighters in the old west. The 48 nineteenth century photos added at the back of the book was also very interesting.
July 8, 2016
This book was very short but entertaining as it is a series of articles about a few famous gunfighters written by a gunfighter (originally published in 1907, then bound into a book in 1957). The short insights about these men that Masterson gives are interesting, though the entire book is riddled with the sorts of racism one would expect from the period.
September 11, 2011
Even if you know about the gun fighters, it's interesting to see the author's writing style. Knowing who he knew makes me want to know more of his own story.
August 23, 2014
Packed with some odd grammar, but still a good quick read.
August 31, 2014
Bat Masterson wrote this, and first hand accounts are always fascinating as is this book. Bat knew these famous characters first hand, and was, indeed, one of them.
June 6, 2015
Bat Masterson reflections
A personalized view of the old west by one of it's legends. This is a remembrance is some one who was there.
A personalized view of the old west by one of it's legends. This is a remembrance is some one who was there.
December 19, 2016
Good reading
Good reading if you're interested in stories of Old West gunslingers. In addition, there are some old photos at the end.
Good reading if you're interested in stories of Old West gunslingers. In addition, there are some old photos at the end.
May 20, 2017
Interesting read, different from what I am used to.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews