Customer Reviews

Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, The: A Novel (P.S.)

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Look, I don't know how much of the "novel" THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD is true; I don't know how much of the dialogue and interaction and actions of the characters actually took place, or were embellished by a very gifted Ron Hansen.

But does it matter? The account of the final days of infamous outlaw Jesse James (and the subsequent final days of his killer) is "historical fiction", in any case (the definitive oxymoron, if you ask me). What does matter is this tightly written tale is as fun a read as I've come across in years. Hansen has vividly captured the flavor and pysche--and grit--of post-Civil War Americana. His prose recreates the flare and panache of the 19th Century dime novel; his book is heavily (and delightfully) populated by descriptive passages such as this:

'Zerelda gazed at Bob and mushed vegetables with zig-zag motions of her gums, her lips protruding like the clasp of a purse. She looked to Jesse and said, "I don't know what it is about him, but that boy can aggravate me more by just sitting still than most boys can by pitching rocks." '

Depicting the final train robbery of the notorious James Gang, followed by the band's break-up (and some of its members exited stage left involuntarily), THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD is a fascinating look inside the head of Jesse Woodson James--a calculating, diabolical killer, yet devoted and cherished family man. As a bonus, we get to climb around inside the head of Robert Newton Ford, an undistinguished nobody who yearned for attention. Surrounded by a cast of very colorful characters--most of whom die prematurely--this is a fabulous novel, an absorbing, entertaining read. Any truth, as they say, is somewhere in between.
--D. Mikels, Author, The Reckoning

I tend to be wordy. I will try not to be. This is a wonderful book. And I loved the movie and own both. The book was written some years ago and is an indepth study of the latter years of JJ. It could be titled The Story of Bob Ford. But then it probably wouldn't have sold. It is done in a style that reflects that era meaning the use of English as well as details in the environment. Some may find the English of that era shot through with references and words we are not familiar with. To some that frustrates. I tend to contextually get their meaning and enjoy that the wording is there and just let it pass. This is not the life history of JJ, but at the point past his life of crime and to the time when Bob Ford comes on the scene. It follows past the death of JJ, following Bob into areas I found interesting. [One fascianating thing for this reader, I am 63. At age 10 or younger there was a record around the house with this song about the coward who killed JJ. Just listened in ignorance and never heard that song again... until the movie. Bob hears it being sung in a bar years after the murder.]
For those who saw the movie, yes, it seems the greater part if not all of the movie script does come directly from the book. I am glad of that. If you're just passin' through, this might bother you. If you are 'interested' then you enjoy the exposure to an earlier time. I watch movies like this several times. (Just understand the book has more words than the movie--lol).

This is an interesting book about Jesse James. I bought it after I saw the movie that it was based on. Much of the information about his robberies, assassination and what happened to Robert Ford later seems accurate. I'm very satisfied with this selection and it has perked my interest in this period of United States history.

Ron Hansen does an excellent job of portraying the events surrounding the last few years of the outlaw Jesse James and the man-boy who killed him. Robert Ford comes off as a sniveling creepy little coward reminiscent of Dickens' Uriah Heep, but with a driving desire for fame. Jesse James is portrayed as mesmerizing, eccentric, and cruel.

The writing style was a bit uneven. in some places the book read like a straight up biography and in other places like historical fiction in the style of the Jeff and Michael Shaara (real events with dialogue and inner thoughts supplied by the author's imagination). Overall, a fascinating look at the lives of some very bad men that would have been better if the author had picked one style and stuck with it.

Hansen's moody historical novel chronicles the events leading up to the murder of Jesse James at the hands of his friend, Robert Ford, and then continues to follow the events of Ford's life until his own murder years later.

That said, the book is not primarily a story. First and foremost, it is a dual character sketch of James and Ford. Hansen works hard to get into each of the title characters' heads, and the results are powerful and stunning. James and Ford are starkly different-it is significant that in a scene where Ford names off all of the ways that he and James are alike, nearly every fact he mentions is superficial and ultimately laughably meaningless.

The book's sole necessary evil is in the second chapter, where the narrative breaks and goes into a historical account of the life of Jesse James up to the book's present. It's not that bad-for straight history it stays quick and pithy-but it is a bit of a jarring break from the semipoetic narrative of the preceding and subsequent chapters. The high point, however, of the history, is the focus on James's relationship with his wife, Zee. It is sweet, dysfunctional, romantic and heartbreaking. Jesse James was clearly madly in love with his wife, but he was also madly in love with himself, and as a result Zee spends her life in his shadow, and so after his death, is left with almost nothing.

The most striking thing about the book is how Hansen zooms in to sensory details-he draws attention to a gouge left by Robert Ford's pistol on a chair, for example, so vividly that it is almost as if like Hansen is draping and weaving the narrative around these particular pointed, concrete details.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is not encessarily a quick read, but the book is not overly long either, and it has a way of drawing you in and keeping you there. It's a poetic, psychological historical character sketch about two fascinating outlaws, and I recommend it.

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WOW! I just finished this amazing book and am disappointed that it had to end! I've read countless novels, but seldom has an author captured my attention from beginning to end like Ron Hansen has in this masterpiece!
The book delves into the dark story of Jesse James and his assassin Robert Ford. The reader is instantly transported, through the masterful writing of Ron Hansen, into the late 19th century. It is a dark, moody book that seems to cast a spell upon the reader much as Jesse James himself has upon history. One is taken in the grip of this book in the first page, and is held long after the last page has been read.
If you loved the movie this book was based upon, then you owe it to yourself to read this book. The movie was fantastic, but because of time restraints, could not possibly cover all the details the book goes into.
Simply put, this is quite possibly the best novel I've ever read!

I purchased this book as new for less than a buck, and it arrived within a 10 day period, and was brand new, excellent shape, I am very happy! Thank you.

I heard of the book through the film adaptation, and was amazed of the story that Hansen brought to readers. He does a fantastic job bring the old days of the American Wild West . Hansen shows the live of Jesse and his nature and the jealousy of Robert Ford. Hansen makes Ford appear timid at first but has him evolve into a dangerous mastermind.

This book is great for western readers and those who enloy novels that have been turned into feature films.

PARTY ON, DUDES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This was a well researched book. So I take it for pretty close to the truth. It gave a full and detailed impression of Jesse..Makes you really like him and find him quite interesting and intelligent. Gave an impression of how things were after the Civil War for most folks and the vast "kin" these people had. I thought it was also insturctive to find out what ever happened to Robert Ford. Yet, I felt that part of the book was a bit to long, even though new to me. In fact never even wondered what became of R. Ford. You will fully enjoy the funeral parts for Jesse.