Wild Bill's Last Trail

by Ned Buntline

Ned Buntline (c. 1821-1886), was a pseudonym of Edward Zane Carroll Judson (E. Z. C. Judson), an American publisher, journalist, writer and publicist best known for his dime novels and the Colt Buntline Special he commissioned from Colt's Manufacturing Company. As a seaman, he fought in the Seminole Wars, though he saw little combat. After four years he resigned, having reached the rank of midshipman. An early success that helped launch his fame was a gritty serial story of the Bowery and slums of New York City titled The Mysteries and Miseries of New York (1851). An opinionated man, he strongly advocated nativism and temperance. Through his writing and his association with New York City's notorious gangs of the early 1800s, he was one of the instigators of the Astor Place Riot which left 23 people dead. He travelled around the country giving lectures about temperance. It was on one of these lecture tours that he encountered Buffalo Bill. His works include: The Beautiful Nun (1866) and The Scouts of the Plains (1873).

Genres: Westerns, Classics

98 pages, Paperback

Published June 5, 2009

About the author

Edward Zane Carroll Judson Sr. (March 20, 1821 – July 16, 1886), known by his pseudonym Ned Buntline, was an American publisher, journalist, writer, and publicist.

(wikipedia)

Reviews

[Tony Berke · Rating 1 out of 5]

Perhaps Buntline could make firearms, but he couldn't write

This is an imaginary tale and not very inspired. None of this tale was very interesting or even close to historical facts. To is

[Zvonimir · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a fan of the phrase toxic masculinity, it gets thrown around senselessly in a sort of smear and win argument kind of way. But the protagonist is such an embodiment of it. Jesus!

[Robert Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a general rule, Dime Novels are repetitive, predictable stories with wooden prose. It's not surprising, as they tended to be written fast and cheaply. Although this one is fairly antiquated, it has great atmosphere, clever situations, and a fun plot twist or two. Buntline tends to write one-dimensional characters but he has enough variety of characters (an marauding outlaw, the woman who loves him, a mysterious traveler with a secret, a vengeance-bound ranger, and Wild Bill himself) that more than compensate for their faults. Overall, it was a surprisingly charming story. And at 16 pages, it is snappily told!

[Perry Whitford · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dime novel by the original mythologiser of the Wild West, with an aging Wild Bill Hickok required to draw his six-shooter ("Truth-Teller I call it. It never speaks without saying something") one last time.

Buntline never liked Hickok after the lawman threatened him when they met, and it sure shows in this fictionalised version of his death in Deadwood. His version of Wild Bill is a drunken reprobate who burns down a woman's house and keeps fainting at the sight of a supposed ghost.

Two characters in disguise follow his steps on the trail, one friendly, one determined to kill him in revenge for the murder of a brother (though it's not John McCall, the man who did actually slay Wild Bill for the same reason).

When their true identities are revealed at the end you can't help but scratch your head.

A poor, no doubt rushed effort. Just as well it only cost a dime.

[Kaj Samuelsson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have always wanted to read a Ned Buntline story since I first heard of them. Now I have read one, and it was not totally up to my expectations. The story as such is not bad, but it does not fit the picture I have of Wild Bill. And about the only correct statement in the book is who killed Wild Bill.

[Ron]

Just read a bit. Something that I will read from time to time.