Customer Reviews

Inventing Wyatt Earp: His Life and Many Legends

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Allen Barra's book is a welcome extension to Casey Tefertiller's biography of Wyatt Earp. To fully understand why Earp has gripped both American movie makers and the public for the past 70 years, both books must be read.

The major strength of the book is the new perspective on the growth of Earp's legend; why writers, directors and producers chose to alter the truth of Earp's life for the various limp story lines developed during the 1940s and 50s, which most people began to accept as fact for the next thirty years.

Readers with a passing interest in Earp will enjoy Barra's detailed chapters about the impact of the Earp legend on American culture and the background information about the two new movies about Earp; "Tombstone" and "Wyatt Earp", which still show up regularly on television and video stores.

Another important part of the book is the investigation of Glenn Boyer and Frank Waters; two writers, who have written many books condemning Earp as the villan in the clash between the Earps and the Cowboys in Tombstone.

Several simple facts support the contention that the Earp Brothers were on the right side. When the Earps met the Clantons in the famous gunbattle; they confronted the Cowboys face to face in the light of day.

They did not plan a night ambush as the Cowboys did when they wounded Virgil Earp and killed Morgan Earp or when Stillwell met the train to California at night hoping to murder Wyatt without being seen.

Wyatt Earp lived the rest of his life refusing to discuss his Dodge or Tombstone accomplishments. Also, he did not continue to ring up felony warrants and end up shot to death by a detective; Ike Clanton did.

Boyer and Waters criticize Earp for the vendetta against the Cowboys after Tucson(the train attack) but the vendetta ride clearly shows the character of Wyatt Earp.

Until Morgan was killed, Wyatt Earp had refained from an all out attack on his enemies who were constantly planning to kill him. He realized several things: the legal system was not going to avenge his brother's death; the right thing to do was to bring the full weight of justice upon the gang; He had the deadly ability to track down the cowboys and kill them.

This is why Wyatt Earp appeals to the American public; both yesterday and today. He did what need ed to be done. He compares with other American icons: George Patton, Teddy Roosevelt and Andrew Jackson to name a few. All of whom did the right thing and were severely criticized by the more passive persons of their time.

I enjoyed this book on Wyatt Earp even though I have read several others primarily because I like the author's writing style and presentation. He assumes that you at least have a familiarity on Wyatt and he interjects his take on various controversies and adds a perspective based on facts and sometimes, although less concrete, on a point of view that seems to complement what rationally occurred. In these cases, it virtually feels like he has stopped to talk to you about the controversy as opposed to writing a dissertation. An example is his periodic references to other authors such as when he refers to Paula Mitchell Marks (Live and Die in the West: The Story of the OK Corral) who wrote a book with a fascinating sociological point of view. Barra challenges her when he references her comment that the judge presiding over the charges against the Earps and Holliday after the OK Corral fight was biased in favor of the Earps, Barras points out that judges are always biased in favor of those that enforce the law unless they are proven to be grossly negligent thus her point of view, in his opinion, is not relevant. Thus the book is not just a retelling of the facts and that is what makes it most interesting. The book covers the early days, Tombstone, Earp's post Tombstone career where he continuously seems to be a speculator looking for the big investment while times change around him particularly in regards to gambling, betting and saloons and the author has a very relevant look at Earp and the movies with an excellent review of all the Earp films, their misrepresentations and some detail on why many distort the real story, such as John Ford's desire to sell a movie and not necessarily a straight history. One nugget that I enjoyed was reading about Wyatt's offer of peace with Ike Clanton after the severe wounding of his brother Virgil that was reportedly turned down by Clanton. This, which I have not read before, would reinforce that Earp was not a rash man but one who acted with straight forwardness and deliberation. Only after the murder of his brother who was shot in the back and after Clanton and Frank Stillwell appear near the train station in Tucson as the wounded Virgil prepares to departs does Wyatt start his vendetta ride. Some previous reviewers note that the book has several errors, and there certainly may be a few, but I wish each would name some of them to justify their complaints. In doing so, that would provide constructive criticism and allow for reference checks and perhaps more debate. The story of Tombstone, like the Earps, will never die and Tombstone is still a fascinating place to visit, virtually a living history, with lots to see, like the original Birdcage Saloon. It may be out of the way but anyone fascinated with the west and the story of the OK Corral (or the alley next to Fly's studio to be more accurate) will find the trip and town a rewarding experience.

"Inventing Wyatt Earp" is a major contribution to the literature of Old West. It is not, nor is it intended to be a biography based on groundbreaking research, and those who come to the book with that expectation are certain to be disappointed. It is, rather, a book of first-rate analysis and assessment whose main virtue is the clear-eyed, even-handed, critically probing intelligence the author applies to the appraisal of his material. Mr. Barra is possessed of a formidable analytical mind, and the questions he poses and answers he assays, however provocative at times, are reasonably well-considered. Wyatt Earp has over the years become a figure of debate and controversy. He is likely to remain one into the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, much of that debate has more recently betrayed a tone of strident and petty hysteria--much heat, little light--a tone that Mr. Barra's book serves effectively to counter. One needn't agree with the author's every assertion to appreciate the value of his book. "Inventing Wyatt Earp" may not be the Last Word on its subject, but I suspect that Allen Barra would not want, nor did he intend it to be. Forgive the many typos. Attend to the meat of the book. There is much there to be thoughtfully digested.

"Inventing Wyatt Earp" If you are looking for the authentic story of Waytt Earp, this is not your book. But that was not the intent of the author Allen Barra. Barra, a sportswriter from New Jersey has taken on the difficult task of trying to explain the myth and legend of an American Icon. I recommend this book for collectors of Wyatt Earp literature. Not for the historical value, but for the detailed explanation of the process of myth making and legend building. Enjoy. Jim Groom

It's not very often that you get to read the biography of a famous western character, such as Wyatt Earp, that is as well researched and as well presented as this one. The author obviously did his homework. He should also be applauded for his insightful analyses, particular where only scant, biased, or conflicting information is available. Rather than embellishing the story, or presenting it as he hoped it might have happened, he attempted to reason out the most likely scenario based on the character of the various participants. For example: Is it really reasonable to assume that Wyatt Earp, after being a highly respected lawman in Wichita and Dodge City, Kansas, where he scrupulously avoided the necessity to kill anyone, would suddenly go to Tombstone, Arizona and become a stage robber, thief, and eventually an outlaw killer. Not likely.

One of the things I particularly liked about this book was that the author also took great pains to set the frontier region of Southeastern Arizona and the various participants in the Tombstone saga in perspective and in the context of their times. Stated differently, I find it difficult to consider Wyatt Earp as the enforcer for the corporate interests in Tombstone as some of his detractors would have us believe. The Earp brothers would have laughed their head off at such a ridiculous assertion.

True, Wyatt Earp did break down and kill a few people in and around Tombstone, but if you examine the character of those killed, as this author did, you'll find that they were robbers, thieves, and killers who lived their lives on a wide open frontier and were unable or unwilling to accept any constraints upon their actions. In fact, they might not have been able to even grasp the concept.

Based upon my reading of these events, Wyatt Earp's biggest mistake was that he tried to apply the same methods used in the Kansas cow towns in Tombstone. What he seemingly failed to realize was that in the Kansas they were dealing with honest, hard working drovers, letting off steam at drive's end, while in Arizona they were dealing with "cow-boy" outlaws and killers. The methods that worked in Kansas when applied in Arizona simply made matters worse. Even then, Earp didn't take to killing anyone until he and his brothers had been threatened with death on sight. And he really didn't take any drastic action until after an attempt had been made on his life and his brothers Virgil and Morgan had been shot from ambush, Virgil maimed and Morgan killed. I suspect that most western lawmen of the time would have done the same.

This is a great read and sets the record straight about Wyatt Earp. I can't help wondering, though: Why didn't they proof-read the book before they published it? (That's the difference between four stars and five)

I have read every single book available on W. Earp and this is the book to read if you only one book. While the author adds little in original research he does a convincing job of sorting through the prejudices of the many Earp Historians. The book is well referenced with loads of interesting footnotes. I also enjoyed the author's personal asides on why he believes one Earp story over another. Maybe one of the reasons I liked this book so much is that,after reading the many diverse Earp books, I had reached many of the same conclusions as the author. Also well written and easy to read.

At 62, I've enjoyed a life-long interest in the `Wild West'. In fact the topic of Wyatt Earp is a favorite. While not a historian, I feel justified in claiming a comfortable familiarity with the subject. It's this familiarity that brings both favorable and unfavorable remarks.

On the favorable side, the author provides a clear understanding of the times and relationships that were a part of the legend of Wyatt Earp. His description of Tombstone, its surrounding area, and how the `Cowboys' fit in with the general population is very well written; perhaps the most clearly stated I've ever read. For this reason alone I find the book worthwhile.

My problems with the book are accuracy. I will cite 3 examples of many:

1. There are two sections of photographs accompanying the text. In the first section there is a photograph of Morgan Earp with the caption "Morgan - 1887". This is an obvious error as Morgan Earp was murdered in Tombstone in 1882, just months after the street fight that has come to be called "The gunfight at the O. K. Corral".

2. On page 105 the author, in a description of the `Cowboy' John Ringo, refers twice to the Texas killer `John Wesley Harding'. Anyone remotely familiar with the history of the West knows the last name was `Hardin' (no `g').

3. On page 114, 3rd full paragraph, the author states "In September, the Grand Hotel, Tombstone's finest, opened on the corner of Allen Street and Fremont". Both Allen Street and Fremont Street run parallel to one another. The Grand was situated at `Allen and Fifth'.

As mentioned, there are other errors I've run across, both grammatical and substantive. I find it hard to assign substantive errors to anyone other than the author. Grammatical errors; they could be anyone's work. But substantive errors belong to the author. And for this I grade the book rather low.

I think this is a great book because Allen questions EVERYTHING. While the book may not be a collectors item, it is certainly one of the best history books I have read, primarily because of how Allen questions everything and attempts to show how history is distorted. For example, the story went from what Earp said, to what Earp did. Also, some stories are "true, plus or minus a lie or two". Allen goes on to say that many historians are puzzled as to why Earp became so well known, where as Bill Tilghman's exploits were must bigger and Tilghman's character much warmer. Buy this book and get ready for some heavy history

Great read. Could not stop reading but had to so the story would last. The author knew his Earp & was well armed with the FACTS. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in knowing Wyatt Earp & his times & family. Now I have to order the movie "Tombstone"!

Having read Lake and Tertwiller, it was interesting to see the development of the legend from a mixture of lives, Virgil Earp, Bat Masterson, Wyatt and others that have come to represent the Earp legend today. Great read but inexplicably filled with simple typos.