Billy the Kid: His Life and Legend Paperback – January 1, 1997

by Jon Tuska (Author)

4.7 13 ratings

Was Billy the Kid the most romantic of Western desperadoes or a vicious killer? Ever since the Kid was shot by Pat Garrett in 1881, historians, storytellers, and filmmakers have been recounting and reinventing his life. In 1983 Jon Tuska published his first edition of Billy the Kid, and it was immediately recognized as the most accurate account yet produced. Choice called it A magnificent tour de force and a model for others who would study legendary heroes of the American West.

In this new edition, Tuska reexamines the Kid's life and legend, and he analyzes the numerous histories, novels, films, and other interpretations of the Kid. He points out the errors of earlier materials as well as those perpetuated in the last 12 years. As with the earlier volume, this is the last word on the Western figure who still captures the public imagination beyond all others. For public libraries and all students and scholars of the American West and American Popular Culture.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Billy The Kid: His Life And Legend is a tour de force of western scholarship, a carefully documented biography complete with bibliographical essays on historical scholarship, fiction, films, culture criticism, and a complete chronology of William Bonnie's life and death. Jon Tuska's careful scholarship and analysis of sources refutes the mythical embellishments that have surrounded Billy the Kid. He concludes that in order for such a legend to arise, it is necessary for a historical character to have qualities that permit ambiguous interpretations of his behavior. Billy The Kid is the definitive work on a legend of the American West by a gifted, painstaking scholar of western culture. -- Midwest Book Review

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Univ of New Mexico Pr (January 1, 1997)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 295 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0826317707
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0826317704
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.14 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.75 x 9.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #3,049,813 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #47,021 in Historical Biographies (Books)

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4.7 13 ratings

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Michael

Great book, but long winded in some areas

Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2019

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The first chapters about Billy's life were great and well researched. The chapters covering the inaccuracies of other Billy the Kid works got long winded and I struggled to get thru them. Also skipped the Billy the Kid in fiction and film sections.

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Chauncey Hood

This is one of the most expertly researched book I ...

Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2018

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This is one of the most expertly researched book I have ever read. This book should be the standard for real knowledge of 'The Kid'.

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Jeff M. Schwehn

Valuable Historiography

Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2013

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Mr. Truska's Billy the Kid: His Life and Legend contains a pithy biography circa early 1990's of William McCarty absent many questionable facts and conjectures. However, the true value of Truska's tome is his enumeration and examination of the histories, fictions, and motion pictures associated with shaping the story or narrative of "Billy the Kid". This historiography of Billy's legend is invaluable for researchers and future biographers who wish to pursue as accurate a picture as possible of post-Civil War frontier life in Territorial New Mexico, particularly Lincoln County.

2 people found this helpful

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Opera Man

A very good book.

Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2016

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A very good book about Billy the Kid. Very factual and well written.

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Mr. Leslie C. Gordon

Billy the Kid;His life and legend.

Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2012

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I found the book very informative and added a bit more knowledge about him to what I have read over the years.I would reccommend to anyone interested in William Bonney.

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Andrea Egger, author of Grave Accusations

Heavily researched. A MUST for Billy the Kid enthusiasts!

Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2000

Ever since I moved within an hour and a half of Lincoln County, New Mexico, where that famous jail that imprisoned Billy the Kid before his escape is now a tourist attraction, I've been enveloped by stories of this legendary killer and romantic guy. Jon Tuska adds more research and investigation in this new book. For Billy the Kid enthusiasts who really want to know more about the legend, the book is probably the most important one I've read. Tuska explores the man's life and death, historical views and fiction based on his life. One of my favorite parts is his description of how he escaped detection by the law once when he went to a friend's house and woke them from their bed. He got in bed with them, and they covered him up with covers, then got back in bed as if they were alone. When the law questioned them, it appeared they were alone! Talk about a threesome!
But the best aspect of the book for historians and perhaps for Tuska's future books on Billy the Kid is his determination that to get the true story of what happened during the Lincoln County War, researchers need to focus more on the actions of Alexander A. McSween and Susan Hammer McSween and answering questions like, what happened to the Fritz inheritance money? What happened to John H. Turnstall's numerous high investments? Tuska's work suggests Susan McSween's financial success might have come from extortion from the Fritz and Turnstall estate.
Tuska's theories ring true, and make the reader want more. From his suggestions, the reader almost anticipates another book from Tuska exploring these issues. Readers should follow Tuska's career and future writings about Billy the Kidd.

8 people found this helpful

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Jimalakirti

Billy the Kid: Historical Fact Separated from Romantic Ficti

Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2000

Billy the Kid was neither the most romantic of western desperadoes nor a vicious killer. He was, for his time, a reasonably well-educated young cowboy who went to work for legitimate rancher/businessmen who were in conflict with agents and friends of a local and state government that were so incredibly corrupt that even Governor Lew Wallace couldn't save him. He wound up being 'outlawized' by an equally corrupt and sensationalistic press. Ironically, he was the only participant in the Lincoln County War who was sentenced (railroaded) to hang. Ever since the Kid was ambushed by Pat Garrett in 1881, historians, storytellers, and filmmakers have depended primarily on Pat Garrett's self-serving 'Authentic Life of Billy the Kid'. Jon Tuska, basing his work on documentary evidence, separates what is known of the facts from the fiction about Billy to produce the most accurate account of Billy and the Lincoln County War. He then turns to the standard legendary elements and shows wherein they differ from known facts. Tuska goes on to critique the standard histories, novels, and films that feature Billy. I consider this book to be the standard against which all other Billy the Kid materials are to be measured.

3 people found this helpful

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Betty#61

I really liked this book

Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2016

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I really liked this book. Jon Tuska gives one another perspective on William Bonney. I am glad I bought the book. Good work!

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