Publishers Weekly
03/27/2023
Legends of the Old West podcaster Wimmer debuts with a fascinating, multiangled account of a consequential season in the history of America’s western frontier. In a 90-day period from mid-June to mid-September 1876, three major events happened: the Battle of Little Big Horn, the murder of Wild Bill Hickok, and the Northfield Raid by outlaw Jesse James and his gang. Weaving these threads into a cohesive and entertaining narrative, Wimmer contends that 1876 was “the beginning of the end” for Crazy Horse, Red Cloud, Sitting Bull, and other Indigenous chiefs fighting the U.S. Army, and discusses how the advent of the telegraph turned Custer’s death at Little Big Horn into national news. Also making headlines was the James-Younger Gang, who terrorized bank tellers and stagecoach drivers across the West until they were hunted down by policemen and vigilantes in Minnesota. Wimmer vividly describes Deadwood, S.Dak.; Dodge City, Kans.; and other boomtowns where lawmen including Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson made their names, and even takes note of the launch of the National League of Base Ball Clubs, precursor to the modern MLB. Though Wimmer’s brisk pace leaves little room for digging into the details, he is an amiable and well-informed tour guide of the Old West. All readers have to do is saddle up and enjoy the ride. (June)
From the Publisher
"A fascinating, multiangled account of a consequential season in the history of America’s western frontier...[Chris Wimmer] is an amiable and well-informed tour guide of the Old West. All readers have to do is saddle up and enjoy the ride." —Publishers Weekly
"Narrative gold...a rousing read." —Booklist
"brisk and exciting...A lively survey of a watershed historical period and some of its defining figures." —Kirkus Reviews
June 2023 - AudioFile
Colonel Custer, Wild Bill Hickok, and Jesse James are iconic names in the history of the American West, and all gained their greatest prominence during the summer of 1876. That three-month span is the focus of this audiobook. Johnny Heller offers a solid narration. His slightly gravelly voice is perfect for the material. The author, Chris Wimmer, generally follows chronological order, so the text moves from one locale to another as he unspools the various stories. But listeners will have no trouble keeping the various themes straight. Wimmer's background includes numerous podcasts, so he was already used to writing for the ear. This is clearly evident in this long-form work. The audiobook is a fun and easy listening experience. R.C.G. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2023-05-02
How an extraordinarily eventful few months shaped American history and mythography.
In his first book, Wimmer, the host of the Legends of the Old West podcast, explores a series of dramatic moments during a key transition period in frontier colonialism. The author includes intersecting commentary on the context for “three major events…the Battle of Little Bighorn, the murder of Wild Bill Hickock, and the Northfield Raid.” Along the way, Wimmer teaches us about the roles of a number of well-known figures, including Sitting Bull, Wyatt Earp, and Jesse James. As the author explains, this work is not intended as a rigorous examination of a particular historical period but rather as “an entertaining journey through the pivotal events of the summer of 1876…intentionally lean and fast-paced.” Wimmer does deliver a brisk and exciting narrative along with a good deal of intriguing—if not especially original—analysis of various “legendary” tales. Especially vivid is the author’s account of the James-Younger Gang’s last bank robbery and its miserable aftermath. On the whole, Wimmer doesn’t render Indigenous perspectives with as much insight or sensitivity as those of Anglo-Americans, though the book begins with a chapter on Red Cloud’s military strategizing and thus reminds readers, to some extent, how the biases and enormous blind spots of traditional frontier mythology have been exposed over the last several decades. The author’s practice of continually shifting narrative attention between different historical events unfolding at the same time—for example, bringing to readers’ attention that the rise of a professional baseball league took place contemporaneously with the climax of several “Indian wars”—can sometimes seem a little strained, though the multifocal approach here is often rewarding and consistently engaging. The book includes a handful of relevant maps.
A lively survey of a watershed historical period and some of its defining figures.
