Billy the Kid Books

philamopolis · Veteran Member

Billy the Kid Books

Webmaster · Senior Member

Welcome to the forum. Aside from your post, I got your email as well, so I'll just go ahead and reply to you here. I listed the books that you asked about and I'll give my opinions on them and rate them (four **** being the best):

The West of Billy the Kid -For one who is studying Billy the Kid, you can't do without this book, a definite must have. I suggest reading this one first so you have a good foundation on the history of Billy the Kid before you tackle other books. ****

The Illustrated Life & Times of Billy the Kid -Another good one, but there are some minor inaccuracies. ***

Billy the Kid a Short & Violent Life -A good one as well, but some of the info is a little outdated. Utley is a good historian on Billy the Kid, but his specialty is in the Indian Wars which he has devoted most of his research. ***

The Real Billy the Kid -Miguel Otero’s biography on Billy is based on Pat Garrett's book "The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid," so that there tells you something. The interviews he had with survivors of the Lincoln County War aren’t too reliable. The book offers those who knew Billy their views and opinions on him and is worth reading, but as being historically accurate, it's not a good resource for beginners. **

Billy the Kid: Outlaw of the Wild West -I'm not familiar with this one.

Billy the Kid: The Story-The Trial -Is this the fictional novel? There is little to nothing known about the trial of Billy the Kid, because the records (if any were even taken) of the trial are lost. So I don't know how accurate this book can be due to lack of documentation.

Antrim Is My Stepfather's Name: The Boyhood of Billy the Kid -This is a good and one of my favorites. It's based on the early childhood of Billy the Kid during his Silver City and Arizona days. ****

Such Men As Billy the Kid: The Lincoln County War Reconsidered -I did read this one a long time ago, but my memory of it is very fuzzy. So obviously it didn't make that much of an impact for me. So because of that I can't really give it a fair review, but from what I recall it was basic. ***

They Knew Billy the Kid -Stay clear of this one. This book has inaccurate recollections and short stories about Billy the Kid from unreliable sources. *

Billy the Kid by Jon Tuska (I heard this is one of the best) -It was an okay book. Just like Ramon Adams’ biography "A Fitting Death for Billy the Kid," the first quarter of this book is a biography and the rest is about Billy the Kid in press, other biographies, fiction, and film. Some of the info is inaccurate and just based on Tuska's personal opinions and interpretation and then some of it is informative. In my opinion this book would be better for more experience Billy the Kid researchers and I would recommend you reading it when you learned more about Billy the Kid (or least after you read Fred Nolan’s biography). ***

Pat Garrett's Authentic Life of Billy the Kid -If you want to know about the legend and myth of Billy the Kid this is the book to read. If you want to know the truth -don't read this one. I would read this book AFTER you learned about the true life of Billy the Kid and when you do read this book, read the Fred Nolan version. It's Garrett's book, but with commentary notes by Nolan. *

The Sage of Billy the Kid -Another book based on the legend of Billy the Kid and just like with Garrett's book, I would read this AFTER you learned the true history on Billy the Kid. *

Book on Brushy -Stay away from any books about Brushy Bill Roberts. If you really want to learn the truth about Billy and to read "accurate" books as you say, you don't need to fill your mind with false information.

Whatever Happened to Billy the Kid -Again, stay away from this one as well. Like I said you don't need to fill your mind with false information if it's the truth you are seeking.

Well, that's my views on the books above. I have been researching Billy the Kid for 15 years and have read just about every book I could get my hands on and I have to say out of all those books I've read, Frederick Nolan's "The West of Billy the Kid," "The Lincoln County War" and "The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid, by Pat Garrett with Commentary Notes by Frederick Nolan" are the best and I highly recommend you reading them first. Hey....there's also my website, have you checked it out yet?

Again, welcome to the forum.

-- Edited by Webmaster at 12:36, 2004-08-23

philamopolis · Veteran Member

Thank you for your detail reply, you have been more then helpful for my search of Billy the Kid books. I recently found your website and have been visiting it and reading your extensive research as well as various posts. I have read your writing's the the link's writing about Brushy Bill and to be honest I don't know what to think. I hope Brushy Bill wasn't the Kid! I hope the Kid did die when history says he died. Is there anything you could share with me other then what you wrote about Brushy vs. Billy that you could add?

I have another question, I'm a big fan of the Wild West and the figures that were apart of it. Another figure I love to read about is Wild Bill Hickok. However like the Kid's books there's a lot of inaccuracies and fabricated material. That is why I chose only to read the books by Joeseph G. Rosa, he published four books on Hickok's life. I won't even read another book of Hickok. There's no point to me. I'm wondering if you have an idea why one person hasn't done the same for Billy the Kid (like the ultimate author for him) Is there anyone out there that has written a "Kid" book that you would say is the ultimate author (ie: The West of Billy the Kid, author)?

In the coming months of purchasing the various Billy the Kid books would you mind if I have a specific question I could ask you it? Also I'm not sure how imformative you are, in other words would you know as much of Billy the Kid then anyone (like an historian?) do you have any contact (email address etc.) of Billy the Kid authors and such?

Thank you for all your help hope to here from you.

Webmaster · Senior Member

You're welcome....I'm glad to be of help, that's what I'm here for.

You asked about a notable biographer/historian on Billy the Kid and that would be Frederick Nolan. I can't think of anyone who has spent more years researching Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War than him. No doubt, he's an authority on the subject.

I'm a long time Billy the Kid enthusiast and although I do have interests in other areas and subjects in history, I sleep, eat, drink, and breathe Billy the Kid. So after 15 years of research (and still continuing), I assure you I’m above average on my knowledge regarding Billy the Kid and could be of assistance to you in your study and what I can’t answer I can find someone who can.

As for that documentary I was speaking of earlier, it was part of a mini-series on gunfighters on The Learning Channel called “Gunfighters of the West: Billy the Kid” narrated by Brian Dennehy by Non Fiction Films Presentation of a DVTV Productions for The Learning Channel. Another good documentary show was a series called “The Real West” narrated by Kenny Rogers, and they did a segment on Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War. They sometimes rerun that series on the History Channel. I don’t know if you can purchase these shows on VHS or DVD, but if you visit the channels' websites you may be able to find out.

philamopolis · Veteran Member

Another book I came across if you could give me your opinion on is:

Alias Billy the Kid, the Man Behind the Legend by Donald Cline

Thanks.

philamopolis · Veteran Member

I was just reviewing your info on the books and you said the second book I should get is The Lincoln County War. (I just want to make sure you meant Such Men as Billy the Kid: The Lincoln County War Reconsidered) I only ask this because I did a search and there are other Lincoln County War books I just want to make sure were on the same page.

Thanks again.

Webmaster · Senior Member

I didn't like Donald Cline's biography on Billy the Kid at all. It was not only inaccurate, but anti-Billy the Kid. I wouldn't recommend it.

The book I was recommending was "The Lincoln County War: A Documentary History" by Frederick Nolan. Another good book on the Lincoln County War is "Violence in Lincoln County" by William Keleher.

philamopolis · Veteran Member

This is for the webmaster:

You said that your interested in other historical figures and events. Do you mind if I ask what those are that you know about.

Thanks, appreciate it.

Webmaster · Senior Member

Well, Billy the Kid is definitely my specialty, but I do have interests in a variety of history subjects, particularly women’s history in the West, California Gold Rush, the Klondike, The Donner Party tragedy, Mountain men, The Johnson County War, and Wild West Shows. As for individuals, its Wyatt Earp, Butch & Sundance and John Wesley Hardin but my knowledge on them is by no means anywhere near the same level as Billy the Kid. History is my hobby and it’s about all I read, so I’m always learning and studying something new.

philamopolis · Veteran Member

Hi, thank you for your reply, I'm envious, I'm 20 years old and I really want to learn all aspects especially of America in the 19th. C. You mentioned Wyatt Earp, I actually just made another Wyatt Earp post in the west forum. Anyway do you know a lot about the books etc. If you could give titles, similar to what you did for Billy the Kid for me and is there an ultimate Earp historian/authority?

Have you seen Wyatt Earp (1994) Kevin Costner, 3 hr. 11 min. I seen it and the biography, I couldn't believe how historially accurate it is do you have any comments on the authenticity of the film and how did you like it?

Its one of my favorite films.

Thanks again.

Webmaster · Senior Member

Actually, I just responded to your other post on "The Old West" forum under the "Wyatt Earp" thread. There you'll find books that I recommended on Wyatt and my opinion on the Wyatt Earp movie. It was a good Western and the most accurate one made on Wyatt, but due to my personal opinions on Costner, I couldn't thoroughly enjoy the movie.

You're at a good age to study history, because you never stop learning about it and it takes years of research to really know and understand a subject. It's also nice to see someone of your age interested in history, most hate it and don't care.

JettRink · Veteran Member

The only book I read on Billy is the Fred Nolan one. The problem with this
book is that there are so many characters in it, I still have to keep re reading
it.
I find the webmasters comparison to Young Guns and the truth the best to
straighten things out.

philamopolis · Veteran Member

Hey, Marcelle, I was wondering as we have been corresponding about old westerners. I was wondering if you know of any old time 'mountain men' 'frontiersmen' plainsmen' I only know of three, Hugh Glass, Kit Carson, Daniel Boone, I was hoping maybe you know of anymore? Or any books, websites and such.

Thanks.

philamopolis · Veteran Member

Hi again, I am in the process finally this month to buy my first three Billy the Kid books, for the information you havegiven me I thank you.

My question is about Pat F. Garrett's book. I've found two of the available. One was re-published in 1974 as a paperback. Its to my knowledge Nolan's notes aren't in this one, do you know?

Lastly, signifcantly I was wondering if you could explain a few of the details differing both of the books. With and without Nolan's notes. Is the book twice as long? Does it have notes beside the pages/below the pages/is it part two of the book. In other words is Garrett's book one and Nolan's notes book two?

Thanks.

Webmaster · Senior Member

"Pat Garrett’s The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid, An annotated edition with notes and commentary by Frederick Nolan" is a newly published book (2000). It's basically Garrett's book, but with footnotes by Nolan on the side of the page. The book isn't any longer and if you're planning on reading Garrett's book I suggest you get the Frederick Nolan edition. Here's a copy of the book on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0806132272/qid=1094262376/sr=1-6/ref=sr_1_6/104-8507027-0743130?v=glance&s=books

As for mountain men, a good website is http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/amm.html.

philamopolis · Veteran Member

Thanks for the link, I actually just found another link, sorry if anyone has posted this before:

A Great informitive site of some of the most adventurous and known Mountain Men:

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/HNS/Mtmen/

philamopolis · Veteran Member

Hey Marcelle, You have done amazing work on your website and with getting the truth out of Billy the Kid. As you've said you've worked with various people, Discovery etc. You've obviously been doing research outside of books on Billy the Kid and you have been doing it for 10 plus years. I commend you. My question to you is, after all these years of research do you ever want to write your own Billy the Kid Biography. If you do I think it would be remarkable.

Webmaster · Senior Member

Thank you for your compliments, it's always nice to have your work appreciated and recognized. I have thought about writing my own biography on Billy the Kid, but there are so many good biographies out there already, that I want to come up with something different.