Customer Reviews

The Illustrated Life and Times of Billy the Kid

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Bob Boze Bell lays out almost all the known facts about the Kid in a direct manner without any superfluous literary flourishes. Of course, this at time renders the book a little difficult to read (bullet points on the facts can sometimes get dull) and an index would have greatly helped in keeping track of all of the players in the Lincoln County War, but those complaints can be overlooked. Bell's art is a little spotty. Sometimes breathtaking, sometimes amateurish. His grasp of human anatomy needs some work, and his style isn't close to being solid, but when he gets it right he really gets it right. I'd have appreciated his thoughts on some of the more well-known films on the Kid, outside of the 'Young Guns' films (which any Western buff would discard outright anyway) such as his opinion on the best portrayals of the Kid and Garrett, but that's really probably only me.

All in all, one of the most accessible and entertaining pieces of history on the Kid.

There are many history books, movies, and novels about Billy the Kid. As far as histories go, Bob Boze Bell's ILLUSTRATED LIFE AND TIMES OF BILLY THE KID is the most fun to read.

Mr. Bell is a master artist and illustrator. His book is packed with his own brilliant paintings, woodcuts, and drawings. Mr Bell also includes many photographs of the era as well as some faux, or staged, photos depicting dramatic or humorous aspects of the Kid's story.

Mr. Bell presents his history through a chronological presentation of events relating to the Kid's life and times. For example, he places the history in context by telling us about the development of vaccines, and the organization of football and baseball leagues which were happening in the East, even as the Wild West continued to roar on in New Mexico in the late 1870s and early 1880s.

Also included are many "sidebars" which provide interesting forays into facts and issues. Among my favorites are the photos and discussion about the types of weapons in use, the enlightening analysis of the one photograph that we have of Billy the Kid, and the discussion on the issue whether the Kid had a gun on the night he was shot down. All these essays are marked by Mr. Bell's special brand of humor. Bob Boze Bell is an very talented writer.

The book concludes with an extremely entertaining discussion of the Kid in American folklore and popular culture. Read it and enjoy. FIVE STARS

p.s. Mr Bell followed this book with equally entertaining books in the same format about Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. He is also publishing a series about Classic Western Gunfights. These books are must reads for all of us who are fascinated by the history of the old West.