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Outlaws of the Wild West
Contains stories of just a few of the outlaws that terrorized the West in its formative years.
The ‘Wild West,' or American Frontier as it is also known, developed in the years following the American Civil War. However, this period of myth-making cowboys, infamous gunslingers, not always law-abiding lawmen, and saloon madams, is as much the product of fiction writers and film makers as reality. The outlaw came into his, or indeed her, own in the mid to late 19th century. Some of these individuals, men such as Billy the Kid, William Clarke Quantrill, Butch Cassidy or Harry Longabaugh, better known as the Sundance Kid, became household names. Many of those who roamed America’s West in the period between 1850 and 1900 often appear as colorful, romanticized, legendary characters. This includes the likes of Frank and Jesse James, who had stepped outside the law due to the harshness of life after the Civil War or under circumstances beyond their control. The majority of outlaws, though, were anonymous common criminals. In 1877, for example, the State Adjutant General of Texas, published ‘wanted posters’ for some 5,000 outlaws and bandits in the Rio Grande district alone, almost all of whom have since vanished into the mists of time. When it comes to the Wild West, it is important to separate fact from fiction. Of the known recorded killings by the various outlaws and gunfighters, Billy the Kid killed four men, not the twenty that some writers attributed to him. A notorious gunslinger, John Wesley Hardin was said to have killed twenty-seven men, but was only charged with one murder. Wild Bill Hickok killed three men, two of them in Abilene while he was City Marshal, and one in Springfield, Missouri, for which he was tried and acquitted. Clay Allison, however, was thought to have killed at least fifteen men in his time as a gunfighter, while some of the outlaw gangs, such as the Rufus Buck Gang and the Evans Gang, were particularly violent and ruthless. The days of the outlaws of the Wild West gradually came to an end at the turn of the nineteenth into the twentieth century. The legends, however, live on.
The ‘Wild West,' or American Frontier as it is also known, developed in the years following the American Civil War. However, this period of myth-making cowboys, infamous gunslingers, not always law-abiding lawmen, and saloon madams, is as much the product of fiction writers and film makers as reality. The outlaw came into his, or indeed her, own in the mid to late 19th century. Some of these individuals, men such as Billy the Kid, William Clarke Quantrill, Butch Cassidy or Harry Longabaugh, better known as the Sundance Kid, became household names. Many of those who roamed America’s West in the period between 1850 and 1900 often appear as colorful, romanticized, legendary characters. This includes the likes of Frank and Jesse James, who had stepped outside the law due to the harshness of life after the Civil War or under circumstances beyond their control. The majority of outlaws, though, were anonymous common criminals. In 1877, for example, the State Adjutant General of Texas, published ‘wanted posters’ for some 5,000 outlaws and bandits in the Rio Grande district alone, almost all of whom have since vanished into the mists of time. When it comes to the Wild West, it is important to separate fact from fiction. Of the known recorded killings by the various outlaws and gunfighters, Billy the Kid killed four men, not the twenty that some writers attributed to him. A notorious gunslinger, John Wesley Hardin was said to have killed twenty-seven men, but was only charged with one murder. Wild Bill Hickok killed three men, two of them in Abilene while he was City Marshal, and one in Springfield, Missouri, for which he was tried and acquitted. Clay Allison, however, was thought to have killed at least fifteen men in his time as a gunfighter, while some of the outlaw gangs, such as the Rufus Buck Gang and the Evans Gang, were particularly violent and ruthless. The days of the outlaws of the Wild West gradually came to an end at the turn of the nineteenth into the twentieth century. The legends, however, live on.
1 pages, Audio CD
Published July 20, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 20, 2021
The saloon doors swish open, the piano stops playing, and everyone goes silent and looks to see who has entered. It is the gunfighter, a notorious outlaw as seen on the Wanted Dead or Alive poster pinned outside the sheriff’s office. He is here for trouble, and you better keep out of his way. At least that is how the legend goes as captured in the dime novels, movies, and TV shows about the American Wild West. Terry Treadwell’s compilation of real outlaws in the late 19th Century frontier country paints a different picture, one where romance is often replaced by savage reality.
Treadwell’s thirty-eight criminal histories cover the usual suspects - Butch and Sundance, the James brothers, Billy the Kid – and strips them of their mythologies. Most of his readers will have heard of those and probably won’t be that surprised that the glitter of Hollywood is mostly fairy dust. Some readers will also recognise the ‘Cowboys’, the Dalton brothers, the Wild Bunch, and the surprisingly disappointing Calamity Jane. Treadwell’s exploration into the lesser known outlaws, however, reveals a wide diaspora of criminals from different racial and ethnic groups and class backgrounds. No one, it seems, was immune from the criminality ‘gene’, and the degree of lawlessness did not appear to depend on any background trait either, except perhaps bad luck or poor decision-making. Indeed, Treadwell highlights some truly psychopathic individuals like Cullen Baker and William Longley, among others.
On the face of it, Treadwell’s compilation of stories is a well-written, entertaining collection, but reading them all in one go will wear down your good humour. His stories are also illustrated with photographs – many outlaws enjoyed having their portrait taken, though Treadwell includes many of their sharply contrasting posed death photographs that frontier law enforcement enjoyed equally. Dig deeper into these stories, however, and you discover a Wild West scarred by racism and bigotry, a failure of capitalism on the fringes, and, of course, violence and vigilantism. In that regard, Outlaws of the Wild West is more than a collection of stories but a thought-provoking exposure of a fissure in American history.
Treadwell’s thirty-eight criminal histories cover the usual suspects - Butch and Sundance, the James brothers, Billy the Kid – and strips them of their mythologies. Most of his readers will have heard of those and probably won’t be that surprised that the glitter of Hollywood is mostly fairy dust. Some readers will also recognise the ‘Cowboys’, the Dalton brothers, the Wild Bunch, and the surprisingly disappointing Calamity Jane. Treadwell’s exploration into the lesser known outlaws, however, reveals a wide diaspora of criminals from different racial and ethnic groups and class backgrounds. No one, it seems, was immune from the criminality ‘gene’, and the degree of lawlessness did not appear to depend on any background trait either, except perhaps bad luck or poor decision-making. Indeed, Treadwell highlights some truly psychopathic individuals like Cullen Baker and William Longley, among others.
On the face of it, Treadwell’s compilation of stories is a well-written, entertaining collection, but reading them all in one go will wear down your good humour. His stories are also illustrated with photographs – many outlaws enjoyed having their portrait taken, though Treadwell includes many of their sharply contrasting posed death photographs that frontier law enforcement enjoyed equally. Dig deeper into these stories, however, and you discover a Wild West scarred by racism and bigotry, a failure of capitalism on the fringes, and, of course, violence and vigilantism. In that regard, Outlaws of the Wild West is more than a collection of stories but a thought-provoking exposure of a fissure in American history.
August 4, 2021
In my continuing quest to read books outside the time period of the American Revolution, "Outlaws of the Wild West" was a fun one especially after recently reading "Lonesome Dove" and "Streets of Laredo." I never knew Blue Duck was a real historical figure! (That added a whole new level of terror to an already terrifying character.)
Structure and Formatting 3.5/5
The book is set up where each chapter focuses on a different outlaw. It makes for a fun overview of the various "characters" in history, but it makes for a less cohesive story. Each chapter can stand essentially stand alone, and it would make a great reference book for the outlaws.
Thoroughness of Research 1.5/5
There are only five books referenced in the bibliography. There are no individual source citations within the text, and there doesn't seem to be any independent research that was done in the process of writing the book. It's still a fun and informative book though.
Storytelling/Writing 4/5
This is such an easy book to read. The writing reads like fiction. My favorite part of this book was the characterization of the different people portrayed in the book. The photos included add another level to their incredible stories. The variety of the photos and the stories provided for each in the captions help to bring the moments and the characters to life.
Level of Enjoyment 3.5/5
The only thing preventing me from enjoying this book more was the structure of the chapters. Just when I would get interested in one person or their story, it was time to switch to another one. It will definitely pique your interest to research more on your favorites.
Prior Knowledge Needed 4/5
As with most history books, I felt this could have benefited from a map. Especially with the jumping from person to person, knowing when we were in Missouri versus Alaska and/or the paths they took on their raids would have made it more engaging. Otherwise, this is a great beginner book for people like me wanting to learn more about a new time in history.
Structure and Formatting 3.5/5
The book is set up where each chapter focuses on a different outlaw. It makes for a fun overview of the various "characters" in history, but it makes for a less cohesive story. Each chapter can stand essentially stand alone, and it would make a great reference book for the outlaws.
Thoroughness of Research 1.5/5
There are only five books referenced in the bibliography. There are no individual source citations within the text, and there doesn't seem to be any independent research that was done in the process of writing the book. It's still a fun and informative book though.
Storytelling/Writing 4/5
This is such an easy book to read. The writing reads like fiction. My favorite part of this book was the characterization of the different people portrayed in the book. The photos included add another level to their incredible stories. The variety of the photos and the stories provided for each in the captions help to bring the moments and the characters to life.
Level of Enjoyment 3.5/5
The only thing preventing me from enjoying this book more was the structure of the chapters. Just when I would get interested in one person or their story, it was time to switch to another one. It will definitely pique your interest to research more on your favorites.
Prior Knowledge Needed 4/5
As with most history books, I felt this could have benefited from a map. Especially with the jumping from person to person, knowing when we were in Missouri versus Alaska and/or the paths they took on their raids would have made it more engaging. Otherwise, this is a great beginner book for people like me wanting to learn more about a new time in history.
July 14, 2021
I’ve had this book on my Netgalley shelf for a while, so I figured that there was no better time than now to read it. I’m currently on a local history tour, and have visited a few of the very places that are mentioned in this book, so this has definitely come in handy. I have a passing interest in outlaws and Old West gunslingers simply due to being a history buff, and especially the fact that I specialize in Missouri history. However, what keeps me away from deep-diving into a lot of these figures, is that I find a lot of the mythicism centered around a lot of them to be ridiculous at times. I live in the town that Frank James is buried in, and am within a stone’s throw from most of the sites of formative years of the James Gang in general. I wouldn’t even start to count all of the people that are supposedly related to Jesse James that I know, and I’ve heard my share of conspiracy theories about how he faked his death, was actually a spy, lived in Mexico for 40 years etc. I’m amazed that he isn’t still alive and hanging out with Elvis on a UFO.
Thankfully, for better or worse, Outlaws of the Wild West by Terry C Treadwell drops all of that nonsense for a “just the facts” reporting style. While this lacks the nuance I’m used to when reading books about figures such as William Quantrill written in Western Missouri or by specialized Civil War historians, not having the legends creep in is welcome. Being a writer based out of the UK, I was worried that Treadwell would base all of his information from things like films, but thankfully this book is well researched and gives solid information as a starter point for anyone wanting to do a deeper dive. Yeah, he sort of goes through a list of a number of the more famous outlaws, which coincidentally have movies based on them, but that was never his intention for this to be a “movie vs real life” sort of book.
Each chapter highlights a specific outlaw, with a general history of how they started out, notorious crimes they committed, and information about them usually being captured or killed. Noteworthy members of their respective gangs are highlighted, and in some cases equally notorious lawmen that were after them are discussed. The book is full of photographs, and In some cases they can be pretty morbid. The only surviving photograph of some of these guys are their “death photos” taken after they were hauled in and tossed on a slab after losing a gunfight or being double-crossed. This makes the book have a bit of a procedural true-crime sort of tone that was interesting.
My only quibbles are the aforementioned lack of nuance that isn’t expected in a book like this that lists names. Also, some of the chapters repeat a bit, an example being a chapter on William Quantrill, followed immediately by a separate chapter about his wife Sarah that used some of the same information. this is by no means a deal breaker or anything, but it makes the book feel like a series of essays.
The highlight of the book for me were all of the names I was unfamiliar with. I mentioned earlier that I don’t read about outlaws much, so a lot of the more westerly ones were very interesting. This book gives me a number of ideas of who I need to look up to read more about in the future. One that was really interesting for me was Henry Starr, a man that kept getting hassled for crimes he didn’t commit, making him eventually say “well I guess I better do crimes now”. Then, no matter how many times he said he was going to repent and turn his life around, he would be robbing another bank months later. The man eventually starred in movies about himself until he realized outstanding warrants may make that impossible, so he went back to his passion – robbing banks. I may try to read a book about him alone in the future.
Solid book that I would definitely recommend. Despite my issues, it was worth a read, and it gives me ideas of future things to both visit and read about. I’m not sure I’ll dive headfirst into outlaw books or anything, as I’m still weary of all of the “he was the kindest man around, no matter that he was a mass murderer” sort of thing, but perhaps in this context I may enjoy the topic more.
Thankfully, for better or worse, Outlaws of the Wild West by Terry C Treadwell drops all of that nonsense for a “just the facts” reporting style. While this lacks the nuance I’m used to when reading books about figures such as William Quantrill written in Western Missouri or by specialized Civil War historians, not having the legends creep in is welcome. Being a writer based out of the UK, I was worried that Treadwell would base all of his information from things like films, but thankfully this book is well researched and gives solid information as a starter point for anyone wanting to do a deeper dive. Yeah, he sort of goes through a list of a number of the more famous outlaws, which coincidentally have movies based on them, but that was never his intention for this to be a “movie vs real life” sort of book.
Each chapter highlights a specific outlaw, with a general history of how they started out, notorious crimes they committed, and information about them usually being captured or killed. Noteworthy members of their respective gangs are highlighted, and in some cases equally notorious lawmen that were after them are discussed. The book is full of photographs, and In some cases they can be pretty morbid. The only surviving photograph of some of these guys are their “death photos” taken after they were hauled in and tossed on a slab after losing a gunfight or being double-crossed. This makes the book have a bit of a procedural true-crime sort of tone that was interesting.
My only quibbles are the aforementioned lack of nuance that isn’t expected in a book like this that lists names. Also, some of the chapters repeat a bit, an example being a chapter on William Quantrill, followed immediately by a separate chapter about his wife Sarah that used some of the same information. this is by no means a deal breaker or anything, but it makes the book feel like a series of essays.
The highlight of the book for me were all of the names I was unfamiliar with. I mentioned earlier that I don’t read about outlaws much, so a lot of the more westerly ones were very interesting. This book gives me a number of ideas of who I need to look up to read more about in the future. One that was really interesting for me was Henry Starr, a man that kept getting hassled for crimes he didn’t commit, making him eventually say “well I guess I better do crimes now”. Then, no matter how many times he said he was going to repent and turn his life around, he would be robbing another bank months later. The man eventually starred in movies about himself until he realized outstanding warrants may make that impossible, so he went back to his passion – robbing banks. I may try to read a book about him alone in the future.
Solid book that I would definitely recommend. Despite my issues, it was worth a read, and it gives me ideas of future things to both visit and read about. I’m not sure I’ll dive headfirst into outlaw books or anything, as I’m still weary of all of the “he was the kindest man around, no matter that he was a mass murderer” sort of thing, but perhaps in this context I may enjoy the topic more.
July 24, 2025
Terry Treadwell sets out to separate fact from fiction, myth from reality, in Outlaws of the Wild West, and in some respects, he succeeds. The book takes a short-story approach, with each chapter focusing on a different outlaw or gang. Treadwell keeps things straight to the point, relying on well-known and proven facts, briefly sketching each life as the record allows. For those who want quick, no-nonsense overviews stripped of tall tales, this style does exactly what it promises.
The problem is, that approach also makes the book feel flat. Each chapter reads more like a checklist of facts than a story, which makes for a dry and often unengaging read. While it does its job in separating truth from legend, it doesn’t capture the complexity or intrigue of the people it covers. These men and women, while mostly common criminals, shaped the culture and chaos of the lawless American frontier. Yet their lives are boiled down to such brief summaries that there’s no room to explore the forces, choices, and contradictions that made them significant.
By the time you start to form any interest in a particular figure, the book moves on, leaving the reader without a sense of connection or a deeper understanding. History isn’t just facts—it’s context, motivations, and the broader impact of the individuals who lived it. Without that, this book feels less like a journey through the Wild West and more like a catalog of names and dates.
In the end, Outlaws of the Wild West accomplishes its goal of cutting through myths, but it sacrifices narrative and depth along the way. It’s a quick read for those who just want the basics, but if you’re looking for something with substance or storytelling, this one falls short.
The problem is, that approach also makes the book feel flat. Each chapter reads more like a checklist of facts than a story, which makes for a dry and often unengaging read. While it does its job in separating truth from legend, it doesn’t capture the complexity or intrigue of the people it covers. These men and women, while mostly common criminals, shaped the culture and chaos of the lawless American frontier. Yet their lives are boiled down to such brief summaries that there’s no room to explore the forces, choices, and contradictions that made them significant.
By the time you start to form any interest in a particular figure, the book moves on, leaving the reader without a sense of connection or a deeper understanding. History isn’t just facts—it’s context, motivations, and the broader impact of the individuals who lived it. Without that, this book feels less like a journey through the Wild West and more like a catalog of names and dates.
In the end, Outlaws of the Wild West accomplishes its goal of cutting through myths, but it sacrifices narrative and depth along the way. It’s a quick read for those who just want the basics, but if you’re looking for something with substance or storytelling, this one falls short.
March 7, 2021
52 Book Challenge 2021
#28. Includes an historical event you know little about.
I've never really read much about the old west, apart from the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and those are very different stories to the blood and guts life of the outlaws of the wild west.
This book includes those famous outlaws, lawman, and gunslinger whose names many people will recognise - Billy the Kid, Pat Garret, Wyatt Earp, Calamity Jane, Butch Cassidy, and the Sundance Kid - but also many obscure names most people will never have heard about before. There are many interesting tidbits about the dangerous lives these outlaws led, living on the edge and cutting a bloody trail throughout the west, but on the whole, it's a little dry and gets a bit repetitive after a while. In many cases, the sections are short, with the scant information available on some of the more obscure characters being stretched out and spread a little thin in places.
That's not to say there's nothing of merit here. I came away from this book feeling I'd seen a little more of the old west, and met a few more of it's most unsavoury outlaws than I had known when I came to it, and it was interesting to see where there were parallels in some of the stories.
Overall, it was interesting enough the keep me reading, but it felt more like the reading equivalent of snacking, rather than a hearty meal.
#28. Includes an historical event you know little about.
I've never really read much about the old west, apart from the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and those are very different stories to the blood and guts life of the outlaws of the wild west.
This book includes those famous outlaws, lawman, and gunslinger whose names many people will recognise - Billy the Kid, Pat Garret, Wyatt Earp, Calamity Jane, Butch Cassidy, and the Sundance Kid - but also many obscure names most people will never have heard about before. There are many interesting tidbits about the dangerous lives these outlaws led, living on the edge and cutting a bloody trail throughout the west, but on the whole, it's a little dry and gets a bit repetitive after a while. In many cases, the sections are short, with the scant information available on some of the more obscure characters being stretched out and spread a little thin in places.
That's not to say there's nothing of merit here. I came away from this book feeling I'd seen a little more of the old west, and met a few more of it's most unsavoury outlaws than I had known when I came to it, and it was interesting to see where there were parallels in some of the stories.
Overall, it was interesting enough the keep me reading, but it felt more like the reading equivalent of snacking, rather than a hearty meal.
April 19, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and Frontline Books for the opportunity to read a digital ARC of Outlaws of the Wild West by Terry C. Treadwell in exchange for an unbiased review. The book is a series of short bios of some of the more famous or infamous characters of the old west, as well as quite a few that most have never heard of before. I have read a lot about the history of the old west and although many of the characters I was familiar with, I still found myself learning something new about them. There were also some very colorful outlaws, both male and female, that I had never heard of and I really enjoyed learning about them. The inclusion of these lesser-known outlaws sets this volume apart from most of the similar books out there. But the most impressive thing about these sketches was the number of photos, many I had never seen before. That makes me likely to buy a hard copy of this book.
March 10, 2021
This nonfiction book about the history of the American frontier aims to separate fact from fiction in regards to the outlaws that long been a part of popular fiction. I have to admit going in that my prior knowledge of this subject mainly comes from fiction, and even then it's particularly sparce, so there were plenty of new interesting facts for me to learn.
The book features a comprehensive history of a number of different individuals. It shouldn't have been surprising to me, but wow, there were some horrifically violent people around in the wild west! Some of the stories are absolutely wild. I think the thing that surprised me the most was just how young so many of them were when they died. I did find some stories more interesting than others. I think one of the most interesting was about Black Bart, who left poems behind after committing robberies. I was particularly interested in reading about the women outlaws, especially Calamity Jane, because that used to be my favourite movie. I read the book pretty much in one sitting but I can see it being the kind of book you dip in and out of, perhaps only reading about the people who interest you.
The photos in the book really brought the people to life. There's something about seeing the photos of the real people alongside their wild stories that just hammers home the point that these aren't just stories, they are real lives. As a warning, there are also a lot of photos of dead bodies, as photographing the body of an outlaw after killing him seems to have been a common practice. These pictures are more disturbing, although they do also do a good job of reminding you that these are real people.
I understand that the author wanted to show the reality of the frontier, but the constant reiteration of 'they were bad people' at times feels a little patronising. I also found some of the language used a little outdated, which when directly quoting people is fine but in the general text felt a bit off. One that stood out to me was the statement that a person would have been diagnosed as a 'schizophrenic sociopath' if he had been alive today, when nothing in the text implied that he had any symptoms of schizophrenia. This might sound a little nitpicky, but in a nonfiction book it bothered me.
I enjoyed reading this book, and I learned lots of new information about a time period I hadn't really considered before, I would have appreciated more words from people at the time, rather than just dates and names. This may be due to a lack of primary sources, though.
The book features a comprehensive history of a number of different individuals. It shouldn't have been surprising to me, but wow, there were some horrifically violent people around in the wild west! Some of the stories are absolutely wild. I think the thing that surprised me the most was just how young so many of them were when they died. I did find some stories more interesting than others. I think one of the most interesting was about Black Bart, who left poems behind after committing robberies. I was particularly interested in reading about the women outlaws, especially Calamity Jane, because that used to be my favourite movie. I read the book pretty much in one sitting but I can see it being the kind of book you dip in and out of, perhaps only reading about the people who interest you.
The photos in the book really brought the people to life. There's something about seeing the photos of the real people alongside their wild stories that just hammers home the point that these aren't just stories, they are real lives. As a warning, there are also a lot of photos of dead bodies, as photographing the body of an outlaw after killing him seems to have been a common practice. These pictures are more disturbing, although they do also do a good job of reminding you that these are real people.
I understand that the author wanted to show the reality of the frontier, but the constant reiteration of 'they were bad people' at times feels a little patronising. I also found some of the language used a little outdated, which when directly quoting people is fine but in the general text felt a bit off. One that stood out to me was the statement that a person would have been diagnosed as a 'schizophrenic sociopath' if he had been alive today, when nothing in the text implied that he had any symptoms of schizophrenia. This might sound a little nitpicky, but in a nonfiction book it bothered me.
I enjoyed reading this book, and I learned lots of new information about a time period I hadn't really considered before, I would have appreciated more words from people at the time, rather than just dates and names. This may be due to a lack of primary sources, though.
March 11, 2021
A companion book to Lawmen of the Wild West, Terry C Treadwell gives us a look at outlaws during the same time period. Yes, several lawmen were outlaws and several outlaws became lawmen but that only serves to prove the title "Wild West". After the Civil War, many men became outlaws when their way of life was destroyed. This book tells the stories of many of these men, some well known to history, some not, but all making their own contributions to the way of life that fascinates us still. Another 5 star read for Treadwell. What era will be next?
March 25, 2021
Who knew the Wild West was quite that wild?! I found this book absolutely fascinating and was surprised by how little I actually knew (both the information about well-known outlaws and ones completely new to me). "Outlaws of the Wild West" is very well-written, and the photos (while some are a little disturbing) bring an extra touch of reality to the text. Wow!
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
March 10, 2022
Outlaws have existed in the US since the Mayflower passengers disembarked, so this was an interesting look at some of the most notorious figures in Western history, as well as some names that aren't as well known but should be. Each chapter features a different person or group, so it can be read a little at a time if you like. The illustrations are very helpful.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
September 12, 2024
On the first page the book said that William Clarke Quantrill was born in Ohio. On the second page it said he was born in Utah. In the second chapter it said he first met Sarah King in the winter of 1861, then goes on to say a few paragraphs later that they got married in the spring of 1851. I know a lot of history from back then is vague but I’m pretty sure someone can’t have been born in two different places and they certainly didn’t get married 10 years before they first met.
February 17, 2021
My father told me stories of the "Wild West" during my childhood, which was the main reason I was drawn to this book. Once I started reading it, I was enthralled and didn't want to put it down. A very good account, with some extras my father wouldn't tell me as a child (for example the execution of Thomas "Black Jack" Ketchum). Great book.
March 15, 2021
Oh, I think this book is going to be on my short list of "things I can use with students in the future" shelves. I absolutely loved reading through this book! It was full of great history, backgrounds on the outlaws, their gangs, and so much more! Photos rounded out the book so that you could put a face with the name, and it really helped to shape the small snippets of information that many know.
July 15, 2023
I have always been interested in stories about the Wild West so this book was a perfect read for me. Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, Billy the Kid are all included in this novel with a lot of other lesser known names. Some were notorious for crimes and killings they did not commit. A very interesting read! Really enjoyed it!
February 28, 2021
A great collection is stories about the famous and infamous outlaws of the American West. This book is a great follow-on read to another book by the author entitled “Lawmen of the Wild West.”
If you enjoy stories about the Wild West then this is a must read book!
If you enjoy stories about the Wild West then this is a must read book!
July 28, 2026
Not fact checked
In the first two stories the dates didn't make any sense. At least try to get your facts straight if you want to be taken seriously.
In the first two stories the dates didn't make any sense. At least try to get your facts straight if you want to be taken seriously.
September 22, 2026
Very good read
Very interesting read and I would recommend it to any one who likes western stories.
I had a hard time putting it down. I will be looking for more of his books.
Very interesting read and I would recommend it to any one who likes western stories.
I had a hard time putting it down. I will be looking for more of his books.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews