Customer Reviews

Wyatt Earp: The Legend...The Man...The Untold Story (The gunfighter chronicles series)

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4 star:		(1)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Matt Braun is usually known for stories rich with historic detail and realism. This book reads more like the movie "Tombstone" (a great movie on its own) and lacks that historical bite. He has a different take on Wyatt Earp than many, which is OK, in that he doesn't place him on the pedestal that most others place him. It's fairly obvious, from other references to Wyatt and his brothers, that he doesn't hold them in very high regard.(Especially in his Luke Starbuck novel "Tombstone") In this story the characters seem to be written as cliches of themselves and the lack of insight to their characters makes it hard to feel for them and become involved in the story. From an author who was able to effectively portray John Wesley Hardin as a "Noble Outlaw", I guess I expected more.

Contrary to reviews I had seen of this book, it is turgid, flat, and poorly written. I could have bought it's like off the supermarket shelf. While it sticks, for the most part, to the facts, it is not entirely accurate. It's characterizations of the characters is one dimensional, to say the least, and creates not one bit of excitement in the reader. I am forcing myself to finish only because I have a keen interest in Wyatt Earp and the history of the period.

Enjoyed this book very much. Braun has a great way of mixing fact with fiction. Read the Biographys and then enjoy this book

Matt Braun has a reputation here in the UK for writing 'faction' westerns where he novelises historical fact. This book is a fine companion piece to his "Doc Holliday", being a fictional account, based on recorded history, of the cowboys v lawmen conflict in 1880s Arizona climaxing with the deadly shootout at the OK Corral and its bloody aftermath. The book is very close to truth but also a fine piece of writing - a good read which brings each scene to life and has good believable dialogue. Highly recommended.