Customer Reviews

Outlaw Years, The: The History of the Land Pirates of the Natchez Trace

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Most interesting history of the "development" of the Natchez Trace. A step back in time to when development included high risk to life and family. Good read for history information.

Have you ever loved reading a book so much that you put off finishing it as long as you could? I just did. As I got to the last chapter, I'd read just a few pages each day, savoring every word.

"The Outlaw Years" by Robert M. Coates is the story of four different bands of "land pirates" who stalked the Natchez Trace from 1800-1835 - the Harpe, Hare, Mason, and Murrell gangs. It is the most suspense-filled, eye-opening, thrill ride I've been on in years. The Harpe brothers could be called America's first serial killers ... fascinating and a bit frightening at times.

I picked up the book by chance at a shop in Natchez during the Christmas holidays. The cover is not eye-catching (what's that old saying about a book and its cover), but the subject seemed interesting. It's a reprint of a book first published in 1930, so it is not "politically correct" by any stretch of the imagination. If you're easily offended by rough language, don't bother.

But if you want to know how hard life was back in the "good ol' days" - or if you think that today's political corruption would shock our high-minded ancestors - give this book a try. You will not be disappointed. As for me, I'll be reading it again.

Oh, the bibliography at the end is priceless for any historian.

First this book has an interesting literary pedigree. The author is a member of the "lost generation" writers---Hemingway; Stein--who became a famous art critic. He wrote the book at the suggestion of Malcolm cowley (critic and promoter/"discoverer" of William Faulkner ).

Second the book expressly notes it is not intended to be a scholarly academic history ; rather it is a popular history drawn from various accounts and presented in a readable entertaining style.

The book itself is very well-written in an original fresh highly readable form. There is a detailed bibliography included for those interested in delving more deeply into the historical facts presented.

The fact that the book is in print 80 years later is a testament to its strength as history well told.

Found this informative, but would have liked a little more proof about the subject pirate, Sam Mason. Most of the material
seemed to be recollection and heresay. However, there was such a person and he did fall into bad repute. There was enough
recording from newspapers, government records to give a rough outline of Mason's activities. Barb Balas