The Newton Boys: Portrait of an Outlaw Gang [Paperback]

Willis Newton (Author), Joe Newton (Author), Claude Stanush (Author), David Middleton (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up

Portrays the misdeeds of the notorious early twentieth-century bank and train robbers. The Newtons' story was made into a movie starring Matthew McConaughey, Ethan Hawke, and Julianna Margulies.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Roaring '20s-era bank robbers Willis and Joe Newton were the subject of a 1976 documentary film by Stanush and Middleton; this oral history--based, they say, on the same interviews--offers an unusual portrait of Texas and the Southwest, especially because of the brothers' belief in the essential corruption of business and government institutions. The book, dominated by older brother Willis, is unwieldly, but should interest Texas history buffs. "We wasn't thugs like Bonnie and Clyde . . . we was just quiet businessmen," declares Willis of the four-brother gang; he goes on to explain how his initial false imprisonment on a theft charge led him to disregard the law. Joe, on the other hand, "was kind of following the leader." In 1924, after many successes, the gang's $3 million Illinois train robbery led to their capture. Amid the book's wealth of detail about their movements and tactics emerges some homespun wisdom; Willis declares that prisons are more schools for crime than for reform. Willis died in 1979 at 90, and Joe died in 1989 at 88; the informative epilogue indicates that some more authorial interpolation might have made for a smoother read. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

". . . history and autobiography in a compelling format." -- Midwest Book Review

"A good book. More than that. A fine book." -- Neshoba Democrat

"Compelling, sometimes hilarious, reading." -- Books of the Southwest

"Oral history at its best." -- The Dallas Morning News

"The book is a rollicking read and even more quirky than the film version of the Newtons' story." -- Texas Monthly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 332 pages
• Publisher: State House Press, Austin, TX; 1994 stated 1st print edition (January 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880510162
• ISBN-13: 978-1880510162
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #800,250 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Katie's Review of "The Newton Boys", May 20, 2001

By 

Katie (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Newton Boys: Portrait of an Outlaw Gang (Paperback)

I thouroughly enjoyed reading this book. In it it gave a fascinating first hand view into how the Newton brothers entered the life of bank and train robbers. The story was written based on a number of interviews with Willis and Joe Newton. The brothers discussed their feelings on how they were viewed, and how when there was ever any robbery, the Newton brothers were the number one suspects. I also enjoyed the humor in which the brothers were able to look back on thier escapades and run ins with the law. Some of the best parts of the book, I think, were when the Newtons described how they outsmarted the law, and escaped from prisons numerous times. The decriptions in the book provided vivid detail into life during the turn of the century. Each brother described in the book had very different interests and tastes, from Willis, a strong headed boy who was smart and determined,to Jess, the lazier of the brothers. In all, this book provided me with new insight into an era that has long since passed, and into the lives of criminals. I thought this book was an excellent read.

4.0 out of 5 stars The Newton Boys, October 28, 2011

By 

Alexandra (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Newton Boys: Portrait of an Outlaw Gang (Paperback)

The reason I bought this is that I was from a small town in the book and heard of the bank robbery over the years. I enjoyed the book as well as the movie. The Newton gang were just good ole boys until they turned robbers. Good true story.

5.0 out of 5 stars interesting, November 30, 2010

By 

csm - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Newton Boys: Portrait of an Outlaw Gang (Paperback)

I loved this movie. I am not into violence so this was refreshing to watch a type of an "outlaw" movie without all the blood and guts. Rented it first then bought it (Amazon cuts out a lot of the movie on their rentals I found out). All the Newton boys were lovable characters. Have watched it many times.