Whoa, pardner! Sit y'self down for some good ole storytellin' 'bout the wild, wild West. Western writer Phillip W. Steele and country-music artist John D. LeVan have combined their talents and interests in true stories of the Old West in this exciting narrative and accompanying audiocassette. Steele's book tells the true story of Jesse James, the Daltons, John Wesley Hardin, Gunfight at the OK Corral, Belle Starr, and Billy the Kid. LeVan's original songs are not only entertaining but also based on the true history of these personalities and events.

Standoffs, saloons, and sunsets spring to mind when one envisions the rough and tumble early days of the American frontier.

Western movies are full of images of swaggering outlaws brought to justice by valiant lawmen shooting them down in daring gunfights before riding off into the sunset. In reality it would not have happened that way. Real lawmen did not simply walk away from a gunfight--they had to face the legal system and justify shooting a civilian in the line of duty. Providing a more realistic view of criminal justice in the Old West, this history focuses on how criminals came into conflict with the law and how the law responded. The process is described in detail, from the common crimes of the day--such as train robbery and cattle theft--to the methods of apprehending criminals to their adjudication and punishment by incarceration, flogging or hanging.

For many years, movie audiences have carried on a love affair with the American West, believing Westerns are escapist entertainment of the best kind, harkening back to the days of the frontier. This work compares the reality of the Old West to its portrayal in movies, taking an historical approach to its consideration of the cowboys, Indians, gunmen, lawmen and others who populated the Old West in real life and on the silver screen. Starting with the Westerns of the early 1900s, it follows the evolution in look, style, and content as the films matured from short vignettes of good-versus-bad into modern plots.

This collection of fifty outlaw tales includes well-knowns such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Frank and Jesse James, Belle Starr (and her dad), and Pancho Villa, along with a fair smattering of women, organized crime bosses, smugglers, and of course the usual suspects: highwaymen, bank and train robbers, cattle rustlers, snake-oil salesmen, and horse thieves. Men like Henry Brown and Burt Alvord worked on both sides of the law either at different times of their lives or simultaneously. Clever shyster Soapy Smith and murderer Martin Couk survived by their wits, while the outlaw careers of the dimwitted DeAutremont brothers and bigmouthed Diamondfield Jack were severely limited by their intellect, or lack thereof. Nearly everyone in these pages was motivated by greed, revenge, or a lethal mixture of the two. The most bloodthirsty of the bunch, such as the heartless (and, some might argue, soulless) Annie Cook and trigger-happy Augustine Chacón, surely had evil written into their very DNA.

A state-by-state review of the history of outlaws and outlaw activity in the Old West.

This work provides factual accounts of women of the Old West in contrast to their depictions on film and in fiction. The lives of Martha Calamity Jane Canary and Belle The Bandit Queen Starr are first detailed; one discovers that Starr was indeed friends with notorious bank robbers of the time, including Jesse James and Cole Younger, but was herself primarily a cattle and horse thief. Wives and lovers of some of the West's most famous outlaws are covered in the second section along with real-life female entertainers, prostitutes and gamblers. Native Americans, entrepreneurs, doctors, reformers, artists, writers, schoolteachers, and other such respectable women are covered in the third section.

The Outlaws of the Wild West: 150+ Westerns in One Edition stands as a monumental anthology that explores the allure and the multifaceted nature of the American West through its most emblematic genre: the Western. Within its pages, readers are treated to a diverse array of literary styles, from the rugged realism of pioneer life to the mythmaking narratives of outlaws and heroes. This collection, unparalleled in its scope, showcases the evolution of Western literature over time, presenting seminal works alongside lesser-known gems, offering a comprehensive insight into the genre's development and its lasting impact on American culture. The inclusion of works by celebrated authors such as Mark Twain and Jack London alongside those by niche writers ensures a rich and varied reading experience, encapsulating the broad expanse of the Western narrative landscape. The collective backgrounds of the anthology's authors provide a vivid tapestry of the American literary canon. From Twains razor-sharp wit to Londons raw depiction of adversity and survival, and Cathers evocative portrayal of frontier life, the anthology spans a critical period in American history. These authors, hailing from diverse walks of life, bring authenticity and depth to their depiction of the West, reflecting the socio-political landscapes and cultural shifts of their respective eras. The anthology not only commemorates the traditional Western but also underscores the genres role in exploring themes of identity, conflict, and the American dream, echoing the complexity and contradictions of American society itself. The Outlaws of the Wild West: 150+ Westerns in One Edition offers readers an unparalleled opportunity to dive deep into the heart of American literary heritage. It appeals not only to aficionados of the Western genre but also to those keen on exploring the narratives that have shaped American identity and mythology. This anthology opens up a dialogue among a wide array of voices, each adding its unique perspective to the vast, untamed landscapes of the American West. As such, it is an essential read for anyone looking to grasp the full spectrum of American literary output, offering an educational journey through time and across the plains, mountains, and deserts that have inspired generations of storytellers.

True stories of nineteenth-century crooks, con artists, and quacks—including the man who “sold” the Brooklyn Bridge. Gunslingers and outlaws weren’t the only ones who made the West wild. The nineteenth century was the golden era of riverboat gamblers, crooked railroad contractors, and filthy-rich medical quacks. These crooks made a living deceiving people who took a stranger at face value and left their doors unlocked. Throw in some get-rich-quick schemes and a generous mixture of whiskey and there was never a shortage of suckers. Conman George Parker was able to stay in business for forty years by “selling” public structures such as Madison Square Garden and the Statue of Liberty. He even “sold” the Brooklyn Bridge as often as twice a week. For most, the Salted Gold Mine or the Magic Wallet cons were enough to satisfy their greed. However, the more ambitious grifters tried the Big Store, an illegal underground betting parlor like the one seen in the movie The Sting. With an honest-looking face and a lack of morals, these scammers played a big role in giving the frontier its lawless reputation—and this book tells their stories.

True stories of the Land of Enchantment's most infamous crooks, culprits, and cutthroats.