Western Outlaws
The “Good Badman” in Fact, Film, and Folklore

This well-illustrated book (21 photos) about outlaws of the American West is an introductory work, intended for the general reader, with additional resources that may be used to explore this subject even further. Far from being a straight recital of the outlaws’ misdeeds, this book seeks to understand the overall role of the outlaw in American cultural history, and to identify those qualities that elevated the “good badman” to legendary status. It focuses on the motives behind the creation of American outlaw heroes and the ways in which those ideals have been expressed in the popular media.

The standard against which many outlaws have been measured is that of Robin Hood, the world’s “classic” outlaw. Hence, we begin with a look at his legend for clues to recurrent themes in American narratives. Outlaws included here are those who achieved Robin Hood status over a period of time and in a variety of media. Some of the characters and situations you will explore are:

            •  The Robin Hood Legend

            •  Joaquin Murrieta: A California Robin Hood

            •  Jesse James: From Guerrilla Fighter to Outlaw to American Hero

            •  Billy the Kid: The Making (and Faking) of History

•  Pat Garrett, Lawrence Murphy and John Murphy and John Tunstall:

The Supporting Cast

            •  Butch Cassidy: A Dubious Robin Hood

            •  The Good Badman vs. the Bad Badman

Combining accurate, well-documented research with an easy-to-read text, the author successfully bridges the gap between the scholarly and the enthusiast publication. The annotated bibliography is especially useful.

 
Steckmesser, Kent L.  164 pages (PB)                          Price $ 17.95