Gunfighters

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-This fascinating collective biography profiles some of the most notorious gunslingers of the American West. The introduction defines a gunfighter as "someone who killed an equally armed opponent but not during the commission of a crime." Consequently, individuals such as Jesse James, the Dalton Gang, and Kid Curry are not included. Chapter one provides the background history-the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the doctrine of "Manifest Destiny," the role of the West in the Civil War, and what came to be known as the code of the West. The remaining text is devoted to each of six famous gunfighters: James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok, Ben Thompson, Wyatt Earp, John Wesley Hardin, William H. "Billy the Kid" Bonny, and Tom Horn. The well-documented text flows easily and is inviting. Vintage photos, reproductions, and pen-and-ink drawings complement the narrative. In addition to the consulted works, an annotated list of further reading is appended.-Eldon Younce, Harper Elementary School, KS Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|