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Texas Legends #1
Last Gun
John Selman--Confederate Army deserter, cattle rancher, vigilance captain, husband, and father--plays a key role in one of the most notorious gunfights the Old West has ever known
- GenresWesterns
178 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 8, 2023
Fictionalized account of the life of Texas gunman John Selman, assassin of John Wesley Hardin.
How accurate is this novel? If it matters to you, keep in mind that it is fiction and then read the author's introduction.
Mr. Shelton has written a fairly entertaining novel in which he tries hard to make Selman a character with whom the reader is sympathetic. A very difficult task with a main character who was an outlaw - killer, rustler, robber, thief, gambler, heavy drinker, adulterer, vigilante who was occasionally employed as a lawman. A lawman whose oath of office seems not to have hindered him at all.
Selman's main claim to fame is his killing of John Wesley Hardin. There was and is much debate, argument and controversy about this.... gunfight? or maybe assassination? Was Hardin shot from the front or from the back? Gene Shelton offers a reasonable scenario. He does not mention the story that one of those impaneled to inquire into Hardin's death supposedly quipped words to the effect that if Selman shot him from the front it was excellent shooting. If he shot him from the back it was excellent judgement. Hardin was not wanted by the law, such as it was in El Paso at the time.
Mr. Shelton is a Texas native who lived and worked on a ranch and knows the life. He also does considerable research for his books. His writing has the ring of authenticity.
How accurate is this novel? If it matters to you, keep in mind that it is fiction and then read the author's introduction.
Mr. Shelton has written a fairly entertaining novel in which he tries hard to make Selman a character with whom the reader is sympathetic. A very difficult task with a main character who was an outlaw - killer, rustler, robber, thief, gambler, heavy drinker, adulterer, vigilante who was occasionally employed as a lawman. A lawman whose oath of office seems not to have hindered him at all.
Selman's main claim to fame is his killing of John Wesley Hardin. There was and is much debate, argument and controversy about this.... gunfight? or maybe assassination? Was Hardin shot from the front or from the back? Gene Shelton offers a reasonable scenario. He does not mention the story that one of those impaneled to inquire into Hardin's death supposedly quipped words to the effect that if Selman shot him from the front it was excellent shooting. If he shot him from the back it was excellent judgement. Hardin was not wanted by the law, such as it was in El Paso at the time.
Mr. Shelton is a Texas native who lived and worked on a ranch and knows the life. He also does considerable research for his books. His writing has the ring of authenticity.
April 23, 2018
Excellent book John selman was a man killer. Killed 2 famous outlaws.
June 19, 2022
This is a very quick read. Old-fashion western tales, about an historical figure. Mostly fiction I suspect, but well told. Not great literature, but readable.
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December 6, 2007Shelton, Gene
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November 13, 2008W She
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews