Jesse James Soul Liberty, Vol. I, Behind the Family Wall of Stigma & Silence

by Eric F. James

Overview

Authorized historical biography of the family of Frank & Jesse James, 1799-2000, drawn from primary family sources. Includes family photos, letters, documents, memoirs, interviews, genealogy, source citations, notes, and index. First of five volumes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780985746902
Publisher:	Cashel Cadence House
Publication date:	10/04/2012
Pages:	412
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.94(d)

About the Author

ERIC F. JAMES is a co-founder of the James Preservation Trust with Judge James R. Ross, Jesse's great-grandson. Eric also is the archivist of the Joan Beamis Research Archive that produced the first genealogy of the Jesse James family, Background of a Bandit, published by the Kentucky Historical Society. Eric supervised the exhumation of Jesse's twin children, Gould & Montgomery James, reuniting them with their parents per the wishes of their mother, Zee Mimms-James. Since 1997, Eric writes & publishes the official website for the Jesse James family, Stray Leaves.

Table of Contents

Prologue: A Heritage of Silence

Chapter 1: Some Kind of Outsider

Chapter 2: Talented, but Erratic

Chapter 3: Goodland

Chapter 4: An Independent Free Man

Chapter 5: The Highest Mental Culture

Chapter 6: Only a Large Soul Can Do This

Chapter 7: Breaking Barriers

Chapter 8: Underrated Men & Unleashed Feminists

Chapter 9: All for the Underdog

Chapter 10: Useful Unto the Lord

Chapter 11: No One in Our Family Backs Down

Chapter 12: Destiny on the Run

Afterward: Unto the Third Generation

Appendix: Descendants of John M. James & Mary "Polly" Poor

Acknowledgments

The Author

Illustrations

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Editorial Reviews

Western Writers of America

The extended family of the James outlaws has unjustly been ignored by historians. The abundance of the accomplishments of the James family is more than enough to mitigate any stigma attached because of the outlaws. This family has led the way for social justice in many fields. They have been leaders in law, business, church, education, and the arts...The research and writing are outstanding and there is a wealth of photos. There are excellent notes, bibliography, and family charts. The book is very highly recommended.

Wild West History Association

Most longtime outlaw-lawman aficionados have probably read a number of books about Jesse and Frank James. Those books probably included Background of a Bandit by Joan M. Beamis and William E. Pullen and Jesse and Frank James: The Family History by Phillip W. Steele. Chances are you think you know a lot about the family of America's most famous bandits. However, if you think this-- think again-- you have seen only the tip of the iceberg.

Jesse James fanatics are going to be delighted with all the new material and serious historians are going to wonder how they have missed so much for so long...

If you have any interest in the James gang and their history this book is a "must-read". And do not skip the notes; there is a wealth of material to be found in the notes and the bibliography is a gold mine. Four more volumes of the James family history are to follow this book. I eagerly anticipate all of them.

The James-Younger Gang Journal

The author points out that there is a paradox for the family of Jesse James. America celebrates the outlaws yet has stigmatized the outlaw's family. This has led to a wall of silence within the family. The author goes on to say that the James family lived lives that are ordinary and the abundance of their accomplishments is more than enough to mitigate any stigma. In fact, the accomplishments of this James family are very impressive. Members of this family have built churches, schools, businesses, and communities. They have achieved high professional standards and they have frequently taken a stand for religious, social, and personal tolerance...In summary, this is one of the best books I have read in a long time. I did not want to put the book down. It reads a lot like the family sagas written by Howard Fast and John Jakes.

From the Publisher