Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life by Robert Marshall Utley.
A historian retells the life of Henry McCarty, also known as Henry Antrim, Kid Antrim, or Billy Bonney, separating romantic myth from fact. The author describes Billy's justification of his actions as a reaction to the corruption he observed in the political and judicial systems of the early West. RC 31561.
Buffalo Bill: The Noblest Whiteskin by John Burke.
A candid exploration into the legend of the flamboyant Indian fighter and showman, William F. Cody. The author debunks some of the extravagant claims made for Buffalo Bill, attributing them to dime novelists, but readily grants the hero the physical skills that made him famous. RC 53698.
Forty Years on the Wild Frontier by Carl W. Breihan and Wayne Montgomery.
Covers well known western subjects and personalities such as the gunfight at the OK corral, Wyatt Earp, and Doc Holliday. People and events are presented in a new light based on family journals inherited by co-author Wayne Montgomery. These reminiscences also include such related subjects as Apaches, coal mine strikes, and the tragic Ludlow Massacre. Some strong language. BR 6421.
The Gunfighters by James David Horan.
Accounts by eyewitnesses and gunfighters shatter many myths and reveal the truth behind some bullet riddled lives. Includes such desperadoes as Billy the Kid, Wild Bill Hickok, and Kid Curry. Old West series. RC 10719, BR 4459.
Kit Carson: A Portrait in Courage by M. Morgan Estergreen.
Biography of the wiry man who became a legend of the Old West. Based on unpublished notes and primary source materials, the biography includes interviews and letters from Carson's family and friends. RC 18968.
The Lawmen by James David Horan.
The story of the men who tried to preserve law and order in the Old West, based on eyewitness accounts, newspaper reports, memoirs, and other primary sources. Stresses the reality of the careers of Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, Bill Tilghman, and others over the myths that have sprung up about them. RC 16513, BR 4732.
The Life and Legacy of Annie Oakley by Glenda Riley.
A portrait of the legendary sharpshooter and archetypal western woman. Explores the life of this complex personality who overcame shyness and poverty to become an international star in Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show. Evaluates her influence on the development of feminism. RC 42941.
Lives and Legends of Buffalo Bill by Don Russell.
A detailed study that strips away the myths to reveal a hardy and daring plainsman who became a dashing showman and producer.RC 13616.
Sam Bass by Wayne Gard.
This is the true story of a Hoosier farm boy who became one of the most famous train robbers of the Old West. Sam left Indiana for Texas to pursue his dream of being a cowboy. Disillusioned with ranch and trail, Sam began gambling and stagecoach robbing. Eventually Sam and his gang turned to trains. They stole $10,000 in gold in one robbery alone. WOD 310.
True Tales of the Old-Time Plains by David Dary.
Stories about people, animals and events that capture the romance and adventure of the Old West. Includes Buffalo Bill, Kit Carson, the Dalton gang, Abraham Lincoln, and Frederic Remington, once a Kansas sheep ranch owner and later a renowned artist. RC 15952.
The Wild, Wild West by Peter Lyon.
An expose of several nineteenth century Western heroes, depicted as worthless drifters, robbers, and killers. Includes stories of Bat Masterson, Wild Bill Hickok, Jesse James, and Wyatt Earp. WOD 882, BR 1485.
Wyatt Earp: The Life behind the Legend by Casey Tefertiller.
A balanced portrait of a renowned frontier lawman, whose exploits helped form the modern image of the Old West. Traces his career as a prospector, gambler, and marshal of Tombstone, Arizona, where he became a legend in the gunfight at the OK Corral. RC 45609.