"This might be the best Billy the Kid book to date." —Fritz Thompson, Albuquerque Journal
In this revisionist biography, award-winning historian Michael Wallis re-creates the rich anecdotal saga of Billy the Kid (1859–1881), a young man who became a legend in his time and remains an enigma to this day. In an extraordinary evocation of the legendary Old West, Wallis demonstrates why the Kid has remained one of our most popular folk heroes. Filled with dozens of rare images and period photographs, Billy the Kid separates myth from reality and presents an unforgettable portrait of this brief and violent life.
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Billy the Kid: The Endless Ride
"This might be the best Billy the Kid book to date." —Fritz Thompson, Albuquerque Journal
In this revisionist biography, award-winning historian Michael Wallis re-creates the rich anecdotal saga of Billy the Kid (1859–1881), a young man who became a legend in his time and remains an enigma to this day. In an extraordinary evocation of the legendary Old West, Wallis demonstrates why the Kid has remained one of our most popular folk heroes. Filled with dozens of rare images and period photographs, Billy the Kid separates myth from reality and presents an unforgettable portrait of this brief and violent life.
"This might be the best Billy the Kid book to date." —Fritz Thompson, Albuquerque Journal
In this revisionist biography, award-winning historian Michael Wallis re-creates the rich anecdotal saga of Billy the Kid (1859–1881), a young man who became a legend in his time and remains an enigma to this day. In an extraordinary evocation of the legendary Old West, Wallis demonstrates why the Kid has remained one of our most popular folk heroes. Filled with dozens of rare images and period photographs, Billy the Kid separates myth from reality and presents an unforgettable portrait of this brief and violent life.
Michael Wallis, author of The Best Land Under Heaven and the best-selling Route 66 and Billy the Kid, has published nineteen books and won numerous awards and honors. He is a popular public speaker and voice actor and lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Table of Contents
Preface xi Personal Introduction xiii Map: Billy the Kid Country xviii Prologue: Quien Es? 1 Once upon a Time 5 On the Trail 13 Wichita 19 Brotherhood of the Gun 27 Contagious War 35 Pulp Fiction 41 Silver Threads Among the Gold 51 Land of Little Time 59 One Step over the Line 71 Gone on the Scout 81 Saddle Tramp 91 Kid Antrim 99 First Blood 109 At Large 119 Banditti 127 Seven Rivers 139 Billy Bonney 151 Eye of the Storm 159 Dream Killers 167 The Unfortunate War Spawns the Myth 181 Endless War 193 Firestorm 209 Devil or Angel 219 El Chivato 233 Epilogue: Billy's Never-ending Ride 249 Notes 251 Bibliography 297 Acknowledgments 309 Index 313
“Wallis writes clean prose, occasionally enlivened by a particularly lovely turn of phrase . [C]ountless books have been written about the infamous outlaw, and this is surely one of the best." -Publishers Weekly Starred Review