Customer Reviews

Story of Cole Younger: By Himself (Borealis Books)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was a surprising book. I'm not sure what I expected of it. My exposure to this phase of history was mostly by way of Saturday afternoon movies and television westerns which I shared with my father when I was a kid. I was aware of the character Cole Younger and his "brothers"-they were usually not named-but the "bad guys" always seemed of limited dimension and intellect, avarice being their single most defining characteristic; that and, I suppose, a profound underlying wickedness that actually found satisfaction in doing evil. I had long since given up westerns and their "black hat/white hat" mentality, and probably wouldn't have given a book about Cole Younger a second glance in the ordinary way of things.

I found the autobiography, The Story of Cole Younger, tangentially when reading about the Civil War and its outcomes. A book I had already read on the James brothers made it quite clear that much of what happened before and after the war in Missouri and Kansas had set the tone for the later history of the "Wild West" and for the American character in general. It reminded me once more that history is not just a disconnected series of interesting vignettes, despite the fact that it's often studied, taught and written about in that fashion. History is a linear and multifaceted continuum that helps to structure, define and direct the present and the future in a much more profound way than most people realize. What was surprising about this book was the degree to which the author himself was aware of that fact.

Even more surprising was the erudition and insight with which Cole Younger wrote about his activities. I had expected a less literate individual, a flatter, less multidimensional figure than I discovered. It would appear that although he did not receive a great deal of education, he did receive some. It would also seem that he was a reader. He was made librarian at Stillwater Prison for many years, and I suspect made good use of the facility. While time in a 19th century prison may well have weighed heavily on many men, it would appear that Younger made good use of it. It would also seem that he was smart enough to realize that obeying the rules and conforming to the lifestyle would make his life easier and more satisfying than railing against the system. It was certainly central to his having been paroled rather than left confined until his death. It was also probably responsible for his having lived as long as he did (he died in 1916). Removed from a hostile environment and protected by the law itself, he lived considerably longer than others of the kind, as for instance Jessie James who died in 1882.

While I agree with some of the statements of Marley Brant, who discusses the author's personality and history and his relationships with his family and with the James brothers, I am not so certain that Younger was quite as intentionally devious as Brant suggests. I believe that in common with most mature people-the author was almost 60 when he wrote the book-Younger desired to appear in a good light. Certainly the lengthy philosophical summing up of life, both his own and life in general, suggests someone who has given the events that shaped the course of his personal history considerable thought. Certainly until he wrote his own thoughts down for posterity, nearly everything written about him had been penned by individuals with their own personal agendas, usually with a profit motive heading their list. While he may have fudged to make himself and his motives appear in more favorable light, I suspect that much of what he wrote he believed was true.

Whatever the case, I agree with Brant that Younger seems distinctly aware of his own place in events. His was a life forcibly shaped by where he was born, to whom he was born, by what happened to those he cared about, by his choice of sides in the Civil War and the cultural, moral and normative definitions that that choice signaled. Had the South won the war, he may well have achieved important financial and political status, as he himself suggested, while other disaffected young men in the North became the "bad guys."

Interesting too was the realization that my notion of the "wild west" and that of the time period were two different things. I doubt that I really gave much thought to the fact that Minnesota-Northfield and its environs-and other mid-western states had been the "wild west" at the time of the bank robbery. Raised in the mid-west themselves it was here the James and the Youngers as well as other disenfranchised and disaffected young men, enured to violence by their early introduction to warfare and catapulted into adult roles by virtue of the attrition among more mature men, made niches for themselves in a postwar environment and a frontier setting that was conducive to it. Just as after most wars when youths of 18 to 20 have lived a larger than life existence, post-civil war soldiers became "misfits and adrenaline junkies" as my husband Mark says. (He made the comparison with the WWII pilots who founded the Hell's Angels.)

What made it an especially intriguing time was that things were changing and changing rapidly, as Cole and his brother Jim discovered after 25 years in prison. They were paroled after 1900, and plunged into a 20th century world that had made them essentially historical figures. One of the stipulations in their parole was that the brothers could not use their notoriety to make themselves side-show characters for a curious audience. This was a time when real cowboys and real Indians were appearing in Wild West shows, most notably Wild Bill's and beginning to find employment in early western movies. So different was the early 20th century from that of the post-Civil War period, that those who had made a name for themselves during the war were a source of considerable wonder. The change in expectations and life styles caused so sudden a transition that Jim Younger committed suicide after only a short period of freedom.

I found the book very enlightening, quite believable and wonderfully entertaining. Although the author of the modern introduction points out there are points where the story is probably more fabrication than truth, it's still well worth reading for anyone interested in the Civil War Era, (pre-, during, and post,) and in the transition between 19th and 20th century life.

I must recommend this first hand account of Cole's own story. It is not the only story but must always be the most important source and story of someone's life. I would have given this book a 5 as I would have several other books of this time period were it not for the "out-of-place" intro. Someone must have decided that it was important to censor and disclaim Cole's first hand account at the very front of the book. As I have done in the past, I taped these pages of attempted censorship together and noted to subsequent readers my advice on just skipping this questionable intro. Since my books usually get passed around a great deal I felt this was necessary to preserve the great and rare first hand account that Cole provided us of his life.

Cole Younger's autobiography doesn't answer all the questions. It creates more. For one thing, Cole Younger claims that the Northfield robbery, that landed him in prison for 25 years, was his first and _only_ robbery. This makes him either one of the world's most misunderstood innocents, or one of its most blatent liars.

Most authors and historians come down on the 'liar' side of the argument and, bearing in mind Younger was an admitted and convicted criminal, that's not unreasonable. However, I'm inclined to think there's more truth in his tale than is generally acknowledged. Most people just don't lie outright in autobiographies--they hedge and recolor and leave things out to make themselves look better. Reading Cole Younger's book, you can see him doing all these things, as well as avoiding outright statements of his own in favor of quoting other people who had favorable things to say about him, or quoting old statements of innocence he had made. Take the book for what it's worth and make your own judgements.

As to the writing itself... Cole Younger is no writer. The book is uneven and choppy, but parts are quite good. He has some moments of actually inspired prose. He includes the text of a lecture he gave in his later days at the end and it's quite good. Some of his war tales are well-told, but a bit scanty on details. He assumes you know the general stories and is often focusing on quelling lies, myths, and fabrications that had grown up around his story. In many of these cases he's probably being quite honest.

Though dubious history, this book is a valuable and intriguing look at the person and personality behind the historical figure.

Inside the mind of a Missouri guerrilla, that alone is reason to pick up and read this wonderful first-hand account of a sad and violent time on the Missouri-Kansas border. The events are real and the tempers do not quickly disappear. Both sides considered themselves in the right and some Confederates never truly surrendered though the cause was clearly lost. What happened to those men and women when the fighting was ended by officials? Read and find yourself drawn in to relate to those you may have previously despised.

This book was a great history lesson for me. Not only did it tell a great story, it filled me in with alot of unknown information about my Great Great Great Great Great Uncle, Cole Younger. I would like to say that Jesse James and the Younger Brothers had no relation to eachother. THEY WERE NOT COUSINS. THEY DID NOT EVEN ROB BANKS TOGTHER. HISTORY BOOKS HAVE BLURRED THE TRUTH, AND I WOULD LIKE TO CLEAR THAT UP. please read this book, it is a great one.

Having taken in "Jesse James Days" in Northfield Minnesota on several occasions I was interested in this book. I also live within 5 minutes of the places Cole talks about in the Minnesota part of this book.

I thought the first 90% of the book was informative especially the part that asserts that Jesse was not in Northfield.

I felt however, that the last 10% was a bit preachy and not necessary in the most part.

For all that he denied, he seemed more contrite than would have been required.

I cannot comment on the veracity of Younger's autobiography but much of the text is taken up with a plethora of excuses that he could not have been involved in such 'n such a robbery or murder. These excuses range from "I was somewhere else" to "sitting up all night with a sick friend" and even "I was attending prayer meetings". It sort of beggars belief to me.
One is consequently given to wonder how he and his brother managed to aquire such notoriety as Western outlaws and bank robbers on the basis of heresay alone. Younger only really owns up to one robbery; the Northfield Mn. Bank. He couldn't actually deny that ill-fated affair since it became his nemesis and he was shot to pieces and captured during the event and the subsequent chase.
He gives little insight into his childhood, youth and formative years and, as one who learned his trade (bank-robber that is) as one of Quantrill's Raiders he is decidedly shy and unforthcoming in relating the details; apart from the final robbery. I would have preferred a more honest and forthright account of how possibly (probably) war corrupted his morals and subsequent persecution from Union law-makers and enforcers pushed him into a life of crime. Sadly Mr. Younger is clearly in denial of his role as a bank robber, therefore none of the expected excitement and hoped-for action is served up here. I simply do not buy his holier than though, "I had nothing to do with it" approach.
In fact the telling is very disjointed and clumsy. He starts by relating events in the middle of his Civil War years and flips from event to event in a random, complicated manner. Lots of names appear that he assumes the reader will not be confused by, unfortunately it was confusing.
The whole dreary tale is terminated with a copy of a speech he would make when he was released from prison. A banal, pious and pretentious presentation promoting honesty, patriotism and religion and containing quotes from all manner of worthies from Shakespeare to Reno (a quirky Wild West poet). A fitting end to an unentertaining and unedifying book.
His writing is good from a grammatical standpoint and there are no glaring typos, or mis-prints. Big plus points for Kindle book reviews.

This is a unique look at the life of Cole Younger. There are many movies and books about him and Jesse James. He makes a compelling case for what he did and didn't do and who was there when they happened. His style of writing is also very interesting. He had a high school education which was exceptional at that time. This is a great read for those interested in the Civil War era. I was interested because he was part of my family. In 1969 I asked my Grandfather about him since he saw him at the family picnics during the early 1900's. Mostly all he would say was that Cole Younger was there and "We didn't like him much." My uncle was a boy at the time and he heard my Grandfather comment; "There's that outlaw again." So you can see even in the family his negative reputation was well established.

Good reading,
I have just finished reading this story. I enjoyed reading about this era from someone who was actually there. Like Younger says, there have been so many books written on this subject he wants to tell the truth. I can see how most of these books were written for the money and not to worry about facts. Would like to hear Frank James story if it exist, any one know??
I was suprised by what Cole said in this book about several things. I would have to disagree with some of the other reviews here. I dont really think Cole was lying. However, I think he didn't tell some things so as to not incriminate himself. I will have to reread, but I dont remember he said Northfield was his first bank robbery. I remember he said he did not commit a bank robbery in Missouri. As far as trying to protect Frank & Jesse in Northfield, Frank maybe but Jesse would have been long dead by the time he wrote this.
Anyway I found it good reading. The relationship between the Younger & James gangs are a lot different than what I had believed. Also, he never said he only knew Frank in the service. He said that's where they met.

The memoir of Cole Younger is fascinating to say the least. Mr. Younger was a man of great intelligence with an extensive vocabulary. The book is well written and informative, however, I do not believe this memoir to be as truthful as Mr. Younger claims. He asserts in the book that Frank and Jesse James were not part of the group that robbed the bank in Northfield, Minnesota. He also claims that the Northfield raid was the only robbery he ever participated in. He even goes on to claim that he only knew Frank James in the army during the civil war, and that he only met Jesse James once and did not like him, and friends prevented him from "shooting it out" with Jesse at that time. Mr. Younger is obviously a man who is very loyal to his friends, and I believe he was "covering" for Frank and Jesse to keep them from being indicted for murder.

The book is, as I said, fascinating and very much worth the read.