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Rating: 
Summary: Good mix of history and myth-busting
Review: Frederick Nolan is one of the most prolific living writers on the economic strife in Lincon County, New Mexico commonly known as "the War".The Pat Garrett version of the War was almost entirely written by Roswell postmaster, Ash Upson, and was designed to improve Garrett's lot in the eyes of history as well as to further his political fortune. Consequently, Garrett's version has always been suspect amoung serious historical scholars although it is one of the most frequently quoted sources of "facts" related to the Kid. Garrett's seemingly singlehanded resolution of the problem by killing the Kid after the two primary proponents of the Regulator faction, John Henery Tunstall and Alexander McSween, were killed by members of the Murphy, Fritz and Dolan faction, is placed into historical prespective by Dolan's meticulous research and readable language.. Nolan's writing and research tracking the actual chronology of the War based on the Garrett version not only is designed to set the record straight historically; but also demonstrates the true facts giving rise to the War are at least as fascinating as the legends. The Lincoln County War has been referred to as the largest civil insurrection in the history of the United States, reaching right into the halls of Congress and the White House. Readers of Dolan's annotated responses to the Garrett version will appeal to serious history buffs and the casual reader of western history about one of the true legends of the old west. Robert Beauvais
Rating:
Summary: Good mix of history and myth-busting
Review: Frederick Nolan's annonations to Pat Garrett's famous book do an excellent job of debunking many of the oft-repeated myths about Billy the Kid. I especially like the fact that Nolan occasionally ranges beyond Garrett's book itself to discuss how these Billy the Kid myths have been portrayed by later books and films. His commentary also helps fill in some of the background details about the Lincoln County war. You should note that I said "details," however; if you've never read about the Lincoln County war, this work probably isn't the ideal introduction to that messy, complicated affair. Nolan mostly seems to assume his readers are already at least mildly acquainted with the major events, places and people involved in the Lincoln County war. I also sometimes found myself wishing Nolan had annonated a bit more extensively (there are some entire chapters -- albeit very short ones -- through which he offers no commentary). The book's layout, while reasonably clear and clean, sometimes leaves a bit to be desired, with Nolan's notes often falling on different pages than the original text he's commenting upon.
Rating: 
Summary: Garrett's killing of The Kid is suspect!
Review: I would like to begin by telling you that this was a great action packed book. It was very exciting. What I enjoyed most about this book is how Billy is always getting into truble. When he isn't robbing a bank he is getting chased by indians. The only critism I have about the book is it makes Billy seem like a hero. Billy wasn't really a hero he was an outlaw.
Rating:
Summary: "Billy The Kid"
Review: I would like to begin by telling you that this was a great action packed book. It was very exciting. What I enjoyed most about this book is how Billy is always getting into truble. When he isn't robbing a bank he is getting chased by indians. The only critism I have about the book is it makes Billy seem like a hero. Billy wasn't really a hero he was an outlaw.
Rating:
Summary: Garrett's killing of The Kid is suspect!
Review: The simple fact that there are so many other facts about the killing of Billy The Kid besides Garrett's story makes me wonder if he really killed The Kid at all. I really think that Garrett simply wanted the reward money for himself (which he was denied) and to use this event to help him further his political career. Seems to me it did not work since everything he did afterwards seemed to fail for him. Truthfully, I think we will never find out the truth except that Garrett will be remembered as the man who killed The kid by those who believe Garrett's story. I for one as with many other Historians think that Garrett's story is not totally truthful.
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