Billy the Kid: His Life and Legend [Hardcover]

Jon Tuska (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 30, 1994 | ISBN-10: 0313285896 | ISBN-13: 978-0313285899 | Edition: Rev Exp Su

Was Billy the Kid the most romantic of Western desperadoes or a vicious killer? Ever since the Kid was shot by Pat Garrett in 1881, historians, storytellers, and filmmakers have been recounting and reinventing his life. In 1983 Jon Tuska published his first edition of Billy the Kid, and it was immediately recognized as the most accurate account yet produced. Choice called it A magnificent tour de force and a model for others who would study legendary heroes of the American West.

In this new edition, Tuska reexamines the Kid's life and legend, and he analyzes the numerous histories, novels, films, and other interpretations of the Kid. He points out the errors of earlier materials as well as those perpetuated in the last 12 years. As with the earlier volume, this is the last word on the Western figure who still captures the public imagination beyond all others. For public libraries and all students and scholars of the American West and American Popular Culture.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Billy The Kid: His Life And Legend is a tour de force of western scholarship, a carefully documented biography complete with bibliographical essays on historical scholarship, fiction, films, culture criticism, and a complete chronology of William Bonnie's life and death. Jon Tuska's careful scholarship and analysis of sources refutes the mythical embellishments that have surrounded Billy the Kid. He concludes that in order for such a legend to arise, it is necessary for a historical character to have qualities that permit ambiguous interpretations of his behavior. Billy The Kid is the definitive work on a legend of the American West by a gifted, painstaking scholar of western culture. -- Midwest Book Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Book Description

The last word on the West's best-known legend.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood; Rev Exp Su edition (May 30, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313285896
• ISBN-13: 978-0313285899
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,008,590 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heavily researched. A MUST for Billy the Kid enthusiasts!, April 30, 2000

By 

Andrea Egger, author of Grave Accusations (Gallup, NM USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Billy the Kid: His Life and Legend (Paperback)

Ever since I moved within an hour and a half of Lincoln County, New Mexico, where that famous jail that imprisoned Billy the Kid before his escape is now a tourist attraction, I've been enveloped by stories of this legendary killer and romantic guy. Jon Tuska adds more research and investigation in this new book. For Billy the Kid enthusiasts who really want to know more about the legend, the book is probably the most important one I've read. Tuska explores the man's life and death, historical views and fiction based on his life. One of my favorite parts is his description of how he escaped detection by the law once when he went to a friend's house and woke them from their bed. He got in bed with them, and they covered him up with covers, then got back in bed as if they were alone. When the law questioned them, it appeared they were alone! Talk about a threesome!

But the best aspect of the book for historians and perhaps for Tuska's future books on Billy the Kid is his determination that to get the true story of what happened during the Lincoln County War, researchers need to focus more on the actions of Alexander A. McSween and Susan Hammer McSween and answering questions like, what happened to the Fritz inheritance money? What happened to John H. Turnstall's numerous high investments? Tuska's work suggests Susan McSween's financial success might have come from extortion from the Fritz and Turnstall estate.

Tuska's theories ring true, and make the reader want more. From his suggestions, the reader almost anticipates another book from Tuska exploring these issues. Readers should follow Tuska's career and future writings about Billy the Kidd.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Billy the Kid: Historical Fact Separated from Romantic Ficti, November 6, 2000

By 

Jim Peavler (Overland Park, KS United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Billy the Kid: His Life and Legend (Hardcover)

Billy the Kid was neither the most romantic of western desperadoes nor a vicious killer. He was, for his time, a reasonably well-educated young cowboy who went to work for legitimate rancher/businessmen who were in conflict with agents and friends of a local and state government that were so incredibly corrupt that even Governor Lew Wallace couldn't save him. He wound up being 'outlawized' by an equally corrupt and sensationalistic press. Ironically, he was the only participant in the Lincoln County War who was sentenced (railroaded) to hang. Ever since the Kid was ambushed by Pat Garrett in 1881, historians, storytellers, and filmmakers have depended primarily on Pat Garrett's self-serving 'Authentic Life of Billy the Kid'. Jon Tuska, basing his work on documentary evidence, separates what is known of the facts from the fiction about Billy to produce the most accurate account of Billy and the Lincoln County War. He then turns to the standard legendary elements and shows wherein they differ from known facts. Tuska goes on to critique the standard histories, novels, and films that feature Billy. I consider this book to be the standard against which all other Billy the Kid materials are to be measured.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good info....but reeks of bitterness and jelousy, March 16, 2004

By 

James B. Mills "Mosquito" (N.S.W. Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Billy the Kid: His Life and Legend (Paperback)

Tuska did a damn fine job researching and writing about the Kid and his 'legend'. Its just a shame that he used much of the book to tear strips off other historians however.
His 'Billy and the historians' section reeked of bitterness and jelousy. Tearing into the likes of Robert M. Utley, one of the most admired and respected historians in the field, was disrespectful and unwarrented.

Good read though.