The West of Billy the Kid

by Frederick Nolan

Photographs and text provide a chronicle of the life and times of Billy the Kid

Genres: History, Biography, Westerns, True Crime, Nonfiction

350 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1998

About the author

Frederick William Nolan is an English editor and writer, mostly known as Frederick Nolan, but also using the pen names Donald Severn, Daniel Rockfern, Christine McGuire and Frederick H. Christian.

He was educated in Liverpool and Aberaeron, Wales. At the age of twenty one, he began the researches that established him as one of England's leading authorities on the American West. In 1954 he was co-founder of The English Westerners' Society.

Reviews

[John Humber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Watched a TV documentary about Billy The Kid a year or two ago. Nolan was one of the contributors. I noted the book as something I would like to read and tried to persuade my local library to buy it. I only recently surrendered and bought my own copy.

Comprehensive it most certainly is; sometimes it felt almost too much so. I didn't feel that I really wanted or needed to know the names and personal histories of every character that Billy ever spoke to; ok, I exaggerate slightly there, but only slightly. The book is, if not exactly un-put-down-able, a fascinating read nevertheless.

If you have seen Young Guns or one of the other Billy The Kid films it's almost impossible not to relate them to this book and in terms of historical accuracy, they fail on almost every count. But just occasionally there's something that fits and it seems to make it more real somehow. As Nolan built the portrait of Billy I began to feel that Emilio Estevez was probably not a million miles off in his portrayal.

If you're interested in that period of history this is a good book, if you're just wanting an entertaining read, probably not.

[Al Gritten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nolan has probably put together the most comprhensive overview of Bonney's life that I have read. He writes in a narrative style that is easy to read and includes many pictures from that period along with written documentation and maps and drawings. He is factual without being stuffy and in places where one can only draw questionable conclusions or surmise what might have been, he is honest in suggesting that other interpretations and perspectives are possible. He explores the Kid's connections with the Clanton gang of Tombstone as well as his time in Las Vegas where he appears to have met Jesse James. He offers insight into the legends and how they developed as well as documentation from the Angel report done by federal investigator Frank Warren Angel. It is a good history for those who wnat to know more that the legend of Billy. Easy to read, well researched, very well done.

[Cliff Poche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Step into the wild west in the days of Henry McCarty aka William H. Bonney aka... Billy The Kid!
Great history book which details what general life was like back in Billy's day. Author does a great job seperating fact from fiction and depicts Billy as a true flesh and blood person, not the mythical outlaw he's often portrayed as. Especially in the movies. Also contains a whole lot historical photos of the placeses and people associated with him as well the only known offical photograph of Billy.
Over all one of the best books around about the Kid.
If you want to know the real Billy the Kid, then this book is for you!

[Mark Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

So impressive to see a man from England unearth so much material on the Southwest. No student of the West can take that journey through Billy the Kid country without following Nolan's footsteps. Thank you Frederick!