No comments about Borderman: Memoirs of Federico Jose Maria Ronstadt.

No comments about Alaska: Reflections on Land and Spirit.

3 comments about Tombstone's Early Years.

1. This old book was written back in 1950 with a definite bias in favor of the Earps as utter heroes, and the cowboys deserving of everything the Earps cared to dish out. It was hardly such a black and white case as that. One particularly glaring error is when Myers describes the pistols used in Tombstone (Colts with cylinders that swing open to the left side of the gun frame, (like modern revolvers). WRONG! Try Paula Mitchell Marks book "And Die in the West" for a far more well researched study of old Tombstone.



2. John Myers Myers had a comfortable way of relating Western history. He would take his time leading up to his tale, giving pertinent background for his main story, setting the tone and the context for what was to come. He then would launch into his tale like a grizzled, wise old-timer, complete with rambling, colorful asides that might seem to diverge from his story, but often proved to be surprisingly pertinent in the end. He never forgot that "Story" is the most important element in his-story, and his folksy style was uniquely suited to the Western histories that he wrote.
   Tombstone's Early Years is a fine little history of that town "too tough to die". Myers began the story with Ed Schieffelin, the prospector who was told by soldiers that all he would find in that dangerous part of the Arizona territory was his tombstone. Instead, he found a claim of silver that made him a rich man, and he christened that claim Tombstone. Soon, others flocked to the region in search of their dreams of silver wealth, and the town of Tombstone grew up around the rough mining camp that was established there. Myers worked his way slowly from there up to the chaos and lawlessness that engendered the Earp/Clanton feud for which Tombstone is best known. While this feud and its climax at the OK Corral shoot-out are the heart of his story, he never lost sight of the town itself and the regular citizens who watched it unfold, whose lives were affected by it, and who rooted for one side or the other.
   The feud between the Earps and the Clanton Cowboy gang has always been associated with controversy, and even now, at nearly a century and a quarter removed from the events, there are still strong partisans for both sides, who bring great passion to their positions. Myers was firmly in the Earp camp with his interpretation of the history. He did not make Wyatt and his brothers out to be pure, white-hat heroes out of old dime westerns, but he definitely made it clear on which side of that largely lawless divide he believed that the right laid, and it was not with the Cowboys. If you are a passionate Clanton Gang advocate, this might negatively color your opinion of Myers' book. Everyone else should find Myers' handling of the subject to be first rate, both in his storytelling and his research.
   In the final sentence of the book, Myers wrote, "the great thing about Tombstone was not that there was silver in the veins of the adjacent hills, but that life flowed hotly and strongly in the veins of its people." Myers did a great job of capturing the feel of that hot blooded passion that fueled the town and the legend, and everyone who loves true tales of the old west should give his book a read.
   
   Theo Logos



3. This is a straightforward, popular history of Tombstone, Arizona, from its founding as a silver mining center in 1880 up to its demise when the mines began to close a decade or so later. Using primarily information gleamed from local newspapers published throughout the 1880s, Myers traces the development of the town and its better known (and often unsavory) characters, including Doc Holliday, Johnny Ringgold (Ringo), Luke Short, and, of course, Wyatt Earp and the Clanton gang. He puts to rest some myths, such as the story that Jenny Lind and Lotta Crabtree sang at the Bird Cage Theatre. And of course he spends quite a few pages dealing with the famous "fight at the OK Corral"; although he is thorough here he does make some minor errors (Holliday died in 1887, not 1895 as Myers says, and Earp was a sheriff in Tombstone, not a U.S. Marshal). The book is meant for the general reader (there are no footnotes, but an excellent index is included), and at this it succeeds admirably: it's as entertaining as it is informative.

No comments about Home Places: Contemporary Native American Writing from Sun Tracks (Sun Tracks, Vol 31).

No comments about Births, Deaths, and Marriages from El Paso Newspapers Through 1885 for Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Indian Territory.

No comments about Experience Jerome: The Moguls, Miners, and Mistresses of Cleopatra Hill.

No comments about Phoenix in the Twentieth Century: Essays in Community History.

No comments about Hispanic Arizona, 1536-1856.

1 comments about Antigua California: Mission and Colony on the Peninsular Frontier, 1697-1768 (University of Arizona Southwest Center Book).

1. When missionaries came to colonize California, it was to Baja California "Antigua California" that they came. This is the story of the Jesuits who persevered in a barren, waterless, resource poor place. But the really great thing about the book is that it is the whole story of the pioneer mission period: it is also the story of the aboriginal peoples who were the targets of the Jesuits, and of the people (mostly Mexican) whom the Jesuits hired and brought along to handle and create daily life-soldiers, sailors, artisans, laborers. For once, a comprehensive history truly is. Using original eighteenth century materials (church records, diaries, letters, reports) the author has tracked down the movement of individuals, their genealogies, their careers, their contributions. More than most, it is a book of portraits of real people, pieced together sympathetically from scattered and scanty records. For a scholar, the book is eminently useful: full of maps, chronological tables of people and places, explanations of systems and bureaucracies. For the history buff, it is a dream of readability and detail. Highly recommended.

5 comments about History of the Lincoln County War.

1. This book is a great description of the events surrounding the Lincoln County War, which is an absolutely fascinating case study of lawlessness in the American West. Although the author's bias is clear--and probably warranted--the entire series of events is well documented and the writing very accessible. To his credit, the author refuses to fall into the trap of making Billy the Kid--who was just a minor figure--the star of the show. Billy remains a background figure almost throughout and the real players in the drama are made memorable. This book does rely very heavily on excerpts from the self-serving letter writing campaign going on during the events.



2. Living in New Mexico for a few years, I was always interesting in the Lincoln County War and the true story of Billy the Kid. This book starts from the beginning and does a great job of explain why things happen. It paints a overall picture of Billy the Kid. It is very objective and fact based. I would high recommend it to anyone interested in reading about how the old west really was-not some John Wayne Western.



3. As someone who has long been interested in Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War, I purchased this book as a means of learning the details and history behind as well as the causes and effects of this notorious chapter of history in the American West. I was not disappointed. Through the use of original letters and first-hand accounts, Fulton is meticulous in his details and does an outstanding job of revealing the connections between each historical figure involved as well as elaborating on the personal motivations and interests of same. My only gripe would be that the book is a bit dense in some spots; however, what accurately researched comprehensive chronicle of history isn't?
   
   If you are looking solely for a light read on the travails and exploits of Billy the Kid, this is not for you. If you are genuinely interested in the history surrounding the Kid's world (he was but one figure on a much larger stage) and the political corruption, violence, and relationships that shaped it, then Fulton's book is a true gem.



4. For those of you who are interested in a detailed (almost to a fault) and historic account of New Mexico's Lincoln County War (LCW), this book belongs in your library. It is one of the more accurate accounts of the events before, during, and after the LCW. Fulton clearly did his homework before attempting to provide a historical record. The author is fairly unbiased in his approach, although he distinguishes criminal activity at both the blue collar and white collar levels, siding mostly with the underdog, i.e., the have nots which are generally Mexicans. As with most wars, no one side is completely without guilt.
   
   The extent to which the individual participants have been researched and presented is indeed impressive. The author has shown how minor characters such as cow hands, cattle rustlers, and store clerks played into the intricate design and manipulation of the major characters who capitalized on their political position and social status. The war was not so much a series of gun battles as it was an effort to win the hearts and minds of the New Mexico populace. It could also be viewed from a perspective of Mexican-American rights on the early frontier.
   
   The book has a couple of shortcomings, however. Foremost is that the subtitle is "A Classic Account of Billy the Kid", but don't believe it. In this book, Billy the Kid is seldom mentioned in the great scheme of the War except toward the very end. This subtitle appears to be an attempt by the publisher to grab your attention and sell copies. Second, the author died before the book was finished and there are places where one can distinguish a loss of continuity in the final writing.
   
   Nevertheless, the book has its merits and should be read by anyone interested in New Mexico history, the struggles of cattlemen and Mexican-Americans, the influence of the military in the Southwest, or white collar crime and corruption and the quagmire encountered by those who attempt to enter the legal and political arena in order to do something about it.
   
   K.J. Schroeder



5. This book was a great read from start to finish! Its fascinating account of the Lincoln county war is amazing and it does give all the facts on Billy the kid! There is enough on Billy the kid in this book to satisfy your inquiries into the Kid! Most of the focus is on the war though and all it's participants. You will not be disappointed!