Customer Reviews

The Real Deadwood: True Life Histories of Will Bill Hickock, Calamity Jane, Outlaw Towns, and Other Characters of the Lawless West

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you're a rabid fan of "Deadwood," the TV series, as I am, this is a book you should avoid. I'm sure the author is a fine fellow and a talented writer, but...this book is extremely disappointing. It's an hour's reading, and that includes plenty of padding--15 pages, for instance, on frontier medicine and plenty of stuff that has nothing to do with Deadwood. The book is vastly underresearched--a simple Google search will tell you a lot more about Deadwood. It shows signs of being hastily written. (Publisher to writer: "Hey write us something about Deadwood. We can capitalize on the TV series." Writer to publisher: "How soon do you want it?" Publisher: "Yesterday.")

The only thing in the book that's really interesting are four or five photographs--of Hickock, Calamity Jane, Seth Bullock. If you want to see them, don't bother to buy the book. Instead, search Google images under "Deadwood." Or try some other book.

If you're looking for a fast, easy read about Deadwood with little detail, insight, or depth, this is the book for you. The book offers nothing new or interesting for those of us already familiar with Deadwood's history.

I also consider the strong tie in to the HBO series (which is, by the way, my favorite show) generally ill advised. The positive aspect of doing so is the author makes it clear early in the book that the series is not completely factual, the writers, producers, etc. do not intend for the show to be completely factual, and the book addresses some of these characters, events, situations presented in the series, and "corrects" the facts. Unfortunately, in a few cases, the author discusses fictional characters/situations from the series, it's important to understand the context and details of the reference, the context and details are not included in the book, so only readers who've watched the series would understand the references. I'm sure there are a lot of people interested in Deadwood and it's history who haven't watched or have no interest in the series. Overall, I found the constant references to the series annoying. I love the series, I wanted to learn more about the real Deadwood, I didn't want to read about the series, I didn't get what I wanted or thought I'd get from this book.

I figured this book was going to be an easy, one-day read. I was right. If you're looking for a complex history of Deadwood, look elsewhere. If you're looking for in-depth biographies of all of the colorful characters that passed thorugh the town, look elsewhere. If you're looking for a primer on Deadwood, and an easy summer read, and a bit of reality vs. tv show...this is the book for you.

I enjoyed it. I'd recommend it to friends (with the caveats stated above). I think it's worth the ten bucks it costs (new). If you can find it used, even better! Had it cost twenty, I'd have recommended getting it from the library.

One person reviewing this book wrote that if you're a fan of the Deadwood television series, you should avoid this book. Let me go a little bit further. If you've got any sense at all, avoid this book. It's easily the fluffiest 128 page book you're likely to read this year (or next). The content in the book could fit in a high school student's term paper, and I suspect that is actually how the book may have originated.

It's filled with lots of information that seemed lifted from various web sites I've seen, although I suppose that it is possible that various web sites may have lifted their content from this book, although why anyone would do this, I can't begin to contemplate.

To be perfectly clear, avoid this book. It is a clear attempt to cash in on the popular Deadwood TV series. (The series started in March 2004. This book came out in August 2004.) Go to your local Borders or Barnes and Nobel to glance at a copy before you decide to buy it.

If you are a fan of the TV series, "Deadwood: Stories of the Black Hills" is a far better choice.

If you are into getting down as close as you can to the real history of the town and it's periods of boom and bust, then I highly recommend you consider, "Deadwood: The Golden Years." (Published in 1981, 23 years before the TV show.)

Dissappointing. Not enough about the characters. Too much reference about the television series.

This was a very quick read, and not a very detailed book. I would wish the book to go into more detail, and not have so many references to "Deadwood" the HBO show. If I wanted to know all that, I would watch the show.

I would not recomend buying this book. It does not go into detail at all, is very basic, and leaves you hanging.

Once you find a part that actually interest you, it comes to an abrupt end and seems like some of the pages detailing the story fell out.

The book give more insight to the tv show Dead wood....I wish they would not have canceled it....Any way I enjoyed the book quite a bit..and found the grave of one of them...here in St Louis....

While I doubt that Oxford will write the definative text about one of Americas Toughest Towns soon. So I guess that this slim volume will have to do! Altogether a good effort about a subject that is very popular due to the HBO Series.

I found the book ti be informative, interesting and entertaining. There were a few parts that were a bit "dull" but all in in all in was a good book. I enjoyed the photos and captions of the various people that shaped Deadwood. I would recommend this book.

I purchased this book because I wanted some history on Deadwood. I thoroughly enjoyed the series on HBO and wanted some more information. Very informative. Great pictures.