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Jesse James: Legendary Outlaw
Traces the life of the renowned bandit, from his childhood in Missouri, through his years as guerrilla fighter and outlaw, exploring the development of his legend and the romanticization of his illegal deeds.
128 pages, Library Binding
First published July 1, 1998
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12 people want to read
About the author
Roger A. Bruns
38 books2 followersRoger Bruns (b. 1941) is an author and the former deputy director for the National Archives and Records Administration of the United States.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 23, 2022
I read this for my personal A to Z bio challenge. The main reason I picked this is that it's short, as I realize that it is going to be a challenge to get all 26 read by the end of the year at the pace I am going. I should read three more by the end of June to be halfway through the alphabet, so I may be choosing short ones for the next few.
Anyway, this was an interesting read as I knew next to nothing about Jesse James before reading it.
I recommend this for anyone who likes stories of what life was like in the 19th century, especially in "the wild west", even though technically most of it takes place in the midwest.
Anyway, this was an interesting read as I knew next to nothing about Jesse James before reading it.
I recommend this for anyone who likes stories of what life was like in the 19th century, especially in "the wild west", even though technically most of it takes place in the midwest.
November 14, 2014
Jesse James is nonfictional book. In this book the all mighty Jesse James goes and robs a bank and many other awsome stuff. Jesse James was also considered the first succesful person to rob a bank in United states. No one ever dared to commit to rob a bank is the 18s. Jesse James robed the bank in 1866 and there are rumors that he was alone. Others say that people were armed with him. This was also during the civil war.
The reason I chosed this book is because this book talks about a bank robbery. But I didn't choose it only for that I chose it also because it was about Jesse James. Jesse James had murdered people in the past but when he robed a bank no one thought that he would be cabable. Also Jesse James became a worldwide symbol for danger. I'm patient to read more.
october 24 2014
In the pages I have read a lot of exiting things happend. Jesse James after the bank robbery wanted to rob a train. He asked his friends if they could come with him but his friends said that he was insane. So Jesse James said that if they wouldn't help him he'll tell the cops. So his friends decided to help. The all mighty Jesse James went on horses. When they were near the r=train he stuck up his gun, the people in the train were so scared that they gave the money and the train Jesse James. Jesse James also shot 3 people. Rumors say that he shot 2 kids and a man.
This book is a great book because it has suspense. This book also has made me ask questions. Like at what exact time did he rob the bank? How many people were there? Or who were those three people who got shot? My favorite part of the book for the moment is when they rob the train and the train goes quiker all of the sudden. I'm inpatient to know when did Jesse James or what exiting things he had done.
October 31 2014
This book finshes in saying how Jesse James dies. Unfourtunatly every one has to die at one period of time, but Jesse James death was just to shoking for some people. Because he did not get shot or die from a diseas. Jesse James died because of a heart attack. We are not really sure how he died, but what sure of is that he died of a heart attack. When it was Jesse James funiral people went all over him. Some even tryed waking up. They said that a strong man like him could never die. So that is why Jesse James is known as a legend.
Three things that was pretty nice and shocking was, the nice thing was that they added when Jesse James died and why he died. The book shocked me in one and that was a quote, " WE all die one day" [Bruns86). The last thing that also shocked me was how Jesse James died. Overall this book was great I suggest you to check it out.
November 7
In this review I will speak about a certain page in the book called fun facts. I will tell you my 2 favorite fun fact and why I chose it. My first fact was that when he was small Jesse James was said that he would not be capable to steal or rob a bank. So thats what motivated him. I chose this because if his enemy didn't say that he might not been able to rob the bank.
My second fun fact was said by Jesse James mom. When James was small his mom said that life is just like fliping a note-book. Once it's don it's done. This quot made Jesse James give all what he had when robed the bank. I liked this quote because if Jesse James wasn't motivated he might have not robed the train.
November 14
THis is the same review like other one. In this review I will be talking about my 2 other fun facts and why I liked them. THe first fun fact is when Jesse James was sick he never gave up. Jesse James actually went to train robbery even though he had a headache. I liked this fact because it showed that Jesse James was courajous.
My second fun fact is one that I liked because it made think deep.Jesse James came up with a plan to rob a bank when he was 17,18,19. Jesse James had a lot of work to do but that did not keep him from getting his plan to the perfection. He also was a great person is studies that is why he achieved the banck robbery. I liked this book a lot because it talks about mystery.
The reason I chosed this book is because this book talks about a bank robbery. But I didn't choose it only for that I chose it also because it was about Jesse James. Jesse James had murdered people in the past but when he robed a bank no one thought that he would be cabable. Also Jesse James became a worldwide symbol for danger. I'm patient to read more.
october 24 2014
In the pages I have read a lot of exiting things happend. Jesse James after the bank robbery wanted to rob a train. He asked his friends if they could come with him but his friends said that he was insane. So Jesse James said that if they wouldn't help him he'll tell the cops. So his friends decided to help. The all mighty Jesse James went on horses. When they were near the r=train he stuck up his gun, the people in the train were so scared that they gave the money and the train Jesse James. Jesse James also shot 3 people. Rumors say that he shot 2 kids and a man.
This book is a great book because it has suspense. This book also has made me ask questions. Like at what exact time did he rob the bank? How many people were there? Or who were those three people who got shot? My favorite part of the book for the moment is when they rob the train and the train goes quiker all of the sudden. I'm inpatient to know when did Jesse James or what exiting things he had done.
October 31 2014
This book finshes in saying how Jesse James dies. Unfourtunatly every one has to die at one period of time, but Jesse James death was just to shoking for some people. Because he did not get shot or die from a diseas. Jesse James died because of a heart attack. We are not really sure how he died, but what sure of is that he died of a heart attack. When it was Jesse James funiral people went all over him. Some even tryed waking up. They said that a strong man like him could never die. So that is why Jesse James is known as a legend.
Three things that was pretty nice and shocking was, the nice thing was that they added when Jesse James died and why he died. The book shocked me in one and that was a quote, " WE all die one day" [Bruns86). The last thing that also shocked me was how Jesse James died. Overall this book was great I suggest you to check it out.
November 7
In this review I will speak about a certain page in the book called fun facts. I will tell you my 2 favorite fun fact and why I chose it. My first fact was that when he was small Jesse James was said that he would not be capable to steal or rob a bank. So thats what motivated him. I chose this because if his enemy didn't say that he might not been able to rob the bank.
My second fun fact was said by Jesse James mom. When James was small his mom said that life is just like fliping a note-book. Once it's don it's done. This quot made Jesse James give all what he had when robed the bank. I liked this quote because if Jesse James wasn't motivated he might have not robed the train.
November 14
THis is the same review like other one. In this review I will be talking about my 2 other fun facts and why I liked them. THe first fun fact is when Jesse James was sick he never gave up. Jesse James actually went to train robbery even though he had a headache. I liked this fact because it showed that Jesse James was courajous.
My second fun fact is one that I liked because it made think deep.Jesse James came up with a plan to rob a bank when he was 17,18,19. Jesse James had a lot of work to do but that did not keep him from getting his plan to the perfection. He also was a great person is studies that is why he achieved the banck robbery. I liked this book a lot because it talks about mystery.
March 6, 2015
February 18, 2015
Jesse James, a legendary outlaw had tough childhood. First, he grew up during the time when there was the Civil War. The James family owned slaves and therefore were confederates. Another reason Jesse James had a hard childhood is that he saw things he shouldn't have seen in his age. "Thus, a whole generation of children on the Kansas-Missouri border grew up seeing brutality and death"(Bruns 16). Overall, Jesse James has a tough time growing up.
Jesse James and the guerrillas had killed many people in their history. First, the guerrillas killed many people in the Lawrence Massacre. "At least 150 men died in that morning devastating guerrilla raid of the Civil War"(Bruns 26). Other times Jesse kills people when he robs banks. It wouldn't be necessary for him to kill them but its safer for him. In all, Jesse James and the guerrillas killed many people.
For Jesse James the war between the south and the north wasn't over yet. Jesse still hated the Union. "They would tell stories about the battles and keep their hatred of the Union hot"(Bruns 34). Jesse's close friends also were desperate to get revenge on the Union. They were desperate because the Union killed their father and kidnapped their mother and sister. Overall, Jesse was still determined to get revenge on the Union.
March 6, 2015
People view Jesse James in many different perspectives. One perspective it that he is known ass a robber and as a murderer. These people fear from him and respect him in a bad way. Others look up to him since he comes form the South. "Many midwestern ex-Confederates looked at James and his gang as local boys who had stood up agains the rich businessmen of the North and won"(Bruns 49). Overall, people are scared of Jesse and his gang but others look up to him.
Allan Pinkerton's agency had tried to get Jesse and his gang. First, the Pinkerton agency is very good and had many successes. "...Allan Pinkerton's agency brought in a multitude of criminals"(Bruns 58). They also had fail attempts to get the gang. Once two agents got killed and they generally had a hard time tracking the gang. In all, Pinkerton's agency had no success tracking Jesse's gang.
The Pinkerton agency had another fail attempt in searching for Jesse James. First, the result was one injured person and killed another. "Blood had spattered the walls"(Bruns 61). The agency had also interpreted wring where Jesse was. They thought he was in the wood cabin where they had swapped the people and they even stand up to it. The Pinkerton has not done a good job trying to kill Jesse James.
Jesse James, a legendary outlaw had tough childhood. First, he grew up during the time when there was the Civil War. The James family owned slaves and therefore were confederates. Another reason Jesse James had a hard childhood is that he saw things he shouldn't have seen in his age. "Thus, a whole generation of children on the Kansas-Missouri border grew up seeing brutality and death"(Bruns 16). Overall, Jesse James has a tough time growing up.
Jesse James and the guerrillas had killed many people in their history. First, the guerrillas killed many people in the Lawrence Massacre. "At least 150 men died in that morning devastating guerrilla raid of the Civil War"(Bruns 26). Other times Jesse kills people when he robs banks. It wouldn't be necessary for him to kill them but its safer for him. In all, Jesse James and the guerrillas killed many people.
For Jesse James the war between the south and the north wasn't over yet. Jesse still hated the Union. "They would tell stories about the battles and keep their hatred of the Union hot"(Bruns 34). Jesse's close friends also were desperate to get revenge on the Union. They were desperate because the Union killed their father and kidnapped their mother and sister. Overall, Jesse was still determined to get revenge on the Union.
March 6, 2015
People view Jesse James in many different perspectives. One perspective it that he is known ass a robber and as a murderer. These people fear from him and respect him in a bad way. Others look up to him since he comes form the South. "Many midwestern ex-Confederates looked at James and his gang as local boys who had stood up agains the rich businessmen of the North and won"(Bruns 49). Overall, people are scared of Jesse and his gang but others look up to him.
Allan Pinkerton's agency had tried to get Jesse and his gang. First, the Pinkerton agency is very good and had many successes. "...Allan Pinkerton's agency brought in a multitude of criminals"(Bruns 58). They also had fail attempts to get the gang. Once two agents got killed and they generally had a hard time tracking the gang. In all, Pinkerton's agency had no success tracking Jesse's gang.
The Pinkerton agency had another fail attempt in searching for Jesse James. First, the result was one injured person and killed another. "Blood had spattered the walls"(Bruns 61). The agency had also interpreted wring where Jesse was. They thought he was in the wood cabin where they had swapped the people and they even stand up to it. The Pinkerton has not done a good job trying to kill Jesse James.
September 2, 2012
I read this book, even though a children's book, because I was looking for information on the Dalton Gang. I am a brand-new docent at the Autry National Center's Museum of the American West, and as part of class I was doing a gallery tour that included a photo of the Dalton Gang.
I found it interesting and not too much detail, but not really glossing over anything either. I have now read 2 books in this series (Historical American Biographies), and would read more given the opportunity
I found it interesting and not too much detail, but not really glossing over anything either. I have now read 2 books in this series (Historical American Biographies), and would read more given the opportunity
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January 16, 2013it was really fun to read about jesse james. its cool that he rubbed a bank so close to cannon falls. he rubbed the bank of northfield. i knew somewhat about him but not a lot. he had a few brothers. that i didnt know about. and a lot of other stuff but i cant really rememberer because i read it over Christmas.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews