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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Utley does a good job., February 2, 1999
For more than 100 years, Billy the Kid has caputured the imagination of various writers of American prose. Most have attempted to fit Billy's personna within the context of good vs evil. Revisionist writers have depicted Billy as a nondescript, somewhat retarded backshooter with homicidal tendencies. Protectors of the "good" Billy the Kid have placed him against the backdrop of corrupting influences which overwhelmed his innate innocence through no fault of his own. Utley has presented a portrait of Billy balanced between these two views.Utley's "Billy" is a devious yet complex personality whose childhood provides clues to explain his "twisted" existence - an existence shaped by the violent aspects of the American frontier. Billy the Kid's legend was formed during the Lincoln County War although his active participation was limited to 45 months, quite a bit less than many major players. Despite this, Billy manages to command the center stage whenever the Lincoln County War is featured in books, plays, and films. Lincoln County, New Mexico territory attracted adventurers, vagabonds, hustlers and criminals in substantial numbers. Some of these new settlers fought against the established way of doing business by County and Territorial officials and their cohorts. Thus, began the Lincoln County War which was played across a broad panorama by arrogant, greedy, and ruthless persons some of whom had acquired property and monies by illegal or despotic tactics. Greed and power are a common thread throughout America's history and this tale is endlessly fasciinating without the tragic circumstances surrounding Billy the Kid. Utley cites four reasons for the Lincoln County violence: (1) Ambition; (2) Alcohol; (3) Firearms; and (4) Stubborness - The Code of the West. These issues, when transposed on an isolated and primitive area, proved a powder keg which erupted into the Lincoln County War. Utley does a good job of blending the participants and critical events including Billy the Kid's disjointed activities during the War. Utley writes in a logical and matter of fact manner although his writing is devoid of tidbits that add to a reader's interest. The bibliography gives a half-hearted pat on the back to Mullin, congratulates Fulton, and gives due notice to reliable entries listed in books by Burns and Garrett. Utley's footnotes are excellent, quite informative, and very easy to locate. The photographic selections are excellent but should have been spread throughout the book rather than placed in one section. Utley does use faulty reasoning from time to time. He believes the murder of Sheriff Brady was more cold blooded than that of Tunstall, as if one can weigh cold-blooded murders. He mentions that Billy was guilty of robbing the mails, a federal offense. Utley based his conclusion on the uncorroborated testimony of a third party even though the government files show no evidence of this crime being committed by the Kid. In addition, Billy was interviewed by a government agent investigating that particular crime and was exonerated. Utley isn't sure about Billy's place of birth although he concedes it was probably in New York State. If Utley had checked further he would have found out the Kid identified New York State as his birthplace. (On January 10, 1881, Billy the Kid told Robert Cameron, a government agent, he was born in New York City and was a "graduate of the streets") One comment by Utley is more serious. He claims Widenmann wrote Billy's deposition which was given under oath to Frank Angel, a government investigator. With very little research, Utley could have determined that Billy authored his own statement by comparing his known handwriting on Hoyt's bill of sale (10-24-78) and on Billy's letter to Wallace (03-20-79) with the questioned deposition. (It would be more likely that Billy authored Widenmann's statement) Billy the Kid was considered "very schooled" based on the standards of that time and place. Utley claims that corruption and violence remains embedded in American culture, surfacing periodically to find ambiguous expression in legends such as Billy the Kid who continues to ride boldly symbolizing a national ambivalence toward corruption and death. Utley's heavy handed prose aside, this places an unfair burden on Billy the Kid. He is usually the centerpiece of stories about the Lincoln County War and is considered the catalyst for most of the violence that occurred. It is little wonder Billy's life is composed of myths. After all who would pay money to read about Henry McCarty (aka Billy the Kid)? Aristophanes once said, "Perhaps death is life." This is never more evident than with the legend of Billy the Kid.
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