Customer Reviews

The Real Billy the Kid (Recovering the U.S. Hispanic Literary Heritage)

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Many books have been written about Billy the Kid and his exploits in New Mexico's Lincoln County War. Virtually all of these books, however, have relied on the same basic source of information, that being Pat Garrett's "The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid." Garrett, of course, was the man who killed Billy, and his book was written in part to justify the manner in which he had dispatched the Kid. Sadly, although based partly on the facts as Garrett understood them, his book reads more like a "penny dreadful," than a true biography, casting serious doubts on his book and those which followed.

Fortunately for today's readers, Miguel Otero's book, "The Real Billy the Kid," doesn't trace its roots back to the Garrett book. Even better, it addresses Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War from an entirely new and unique perspective. Consider the following: 1) Otero actually knew Billy the Kid, although only slightly; 2) Unlike Pat Garrett, Miguel Otero had no axe to grind in writing his biography and, therefore, didn't need to embellish the story; 3) Since most of the people living in New Mexico at the time of the Lincoln County War were Mexicans, as is Otero, this book looks at the events of that war from an entirely unbiased point of view and a particularly unique perspective; and 4) In writing this book, the author interviewed those people, still living, who actually knew or were friends with Billy the Kid and who were living in and around Lincoln County at the time of the "war."

This all led to what would appear to be a factual account with a minimum of fluff; Otero simply tells it like it happened. And here are a few other things which struck me about this book and the way it is written: 1) It puts the characters involved in the "war" in proper perspective and in the setting of their times; 2) It provides personal information about some of the participants in the war which I have never seen before; 3) It went on to explain what became of some of those who survived the war. The only disappointment to me about the book was in the way it ended. The author was discussing his interviews with those who knew the Kid, the questions he asked them and their answers. I kept thinking: "Ask this. Ask that." What valuable sources. I would have liked to have known even more. Bottom line - It's a good book and makes interesting reading.

The Real Billy the Kid, by Miguel Antonio Otero

There have been over 800 literary and cinematic representations of "Billy the Kid" that present varying view from murdering desperado to Robin Hood of the Southwest (Walter Noble Burns). Otero's book is the first from an Hispanic viewpoint (he was Territorial Governor 1892-1906). Otero personally met William Henry Bonney Jr. Most of the fictional representations used Billy as a means to their ends of telling a story. [Most Westerns were written by Easterners to provide entertainment that is more modern than the Song of Roland.] Otero's book contrasts from the Pat Garrett narrative, and is little known. The 'Introduction' displays Rivera's erudition, but "romance" or "tragedy" is best left to the reader.

The Lincoln County War was caused by the commercial rivalry between the Dolan-Murphy faction (allied to the Sante Fe Ring) and the McSween-Tunstall faction. Otero had his reasons for this book, originally published in 1936 (p.xxxv). So to did Garrett and Upson (p.xxxvii). The 'Foreword' uses an unnamed source to claim that "Billy the Kid had no gun". That is unbelievable! Billy was an escaped convict condemned to hang; he would never be without a gun handy, night or day, since his life depended on a gun. Pat Garrett presented Otero with an autographed copy of his book (p.5).

Chapter I tells of Billy's early years. He was often a nice boy, but had a terrible temper and was dangerous when angry. The stories of Billy's early life show his willingness to kill. Billy was also a "first-class gambler" (p.13). Billy gained from other's winnings (p.14). Chapter II tells of his fights with the Apaches. It was the Lincoln County War of 1878 that made Billy's reputation (Chapter III). The Murphy-Dolan company sold cattle to the government, some of it alleged to have come from John Chisum's big ranch (pp.28-29). Otero was a business ally of the Tunstall-McSween Company. One fraudulent scheme involved cattle (pp.31-32). Success went to the faction that was close to the politicians (p.45). Chapters V and VI tell of Billy's criminal activities.

Chapter VII tells of Pat Garrett's ambush of Billy and his gang at Fort Sumner in December 1880. Billy escaped with most of his gang. Chapter VIII has the statements from those who knew Billy and like him. Mrs. Susan Barber, the widow of Alexander McSween, told what happened to her attorney (p.93). Chapter IX has stories from Lincoln, like Hijinio Salazar who survived the attack on the McSween home. Garrett shot people when they were disadvantaged (p.98). George Coe told of his memories, and Frank Coe too (Chapter X). Testimony about Billy's death is in Chapter XI. Martin Chavez tells his memories of Billy and the Lincoln County War (Chapter XII). Billy was one of the kindest ... he was not blood-thirsty (p.126). Billy "never killed a native citizen of New Mexico" (p.129). Otero tells when he met The Kid (Chapter XIII). Garrett and his deputies captured The Kid and his gang, and brought them to the railroad station at Las Vegas. Otero was on the train to Santa Fe and found Billy likable (p.133). Chapter XIV concludes this history by quoting Pat Garrett's story. Chapter XV provides a postscript about the principals of the Lincoln County War. As Governor Otero banned John A. Riley form Santa Fe. [This book provides another view into a minor event that was greatly magnified by writers to provide entertainment and a distraction to the reading public.]