Join Books.org — it's free

Book cover of Jesse James: I Will Never Surrender
Crime, Regional Biography, United States - 19th Century - Pioneers & The Old West, Biography - General & Miscellaneous

Jesse James: I Will Never Surrender

by Jeff Burlingame
Available on Bookshop Write a review

Books.org participates in affiliate programs including Bookshop.org and the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.

Log in to track your reading progress.

Overview

Gads Hill, Missouri, was a tiny, peaceful town until Jesse James and his gang decided to commit the first peacetime train robbery in Missouri history. After robbing the train of thousands of dollars, the bandits left a note for the newspapers proclaiming their act "The Most Daring Robbery on Record." Many towns, trains, and banks fell victim to the James-Younger gang. Although he was a criminal most of his life, Jesse James became a legendary figure in American history.

Synopsis

Gads Hill, Missouri, was a tiny, peaceful town until Jesse James and his gang decided to commit the first peacetime train robbery in Missouri history. After robbing the train of thousands of dollars, the bandits left a note for the newspapers proclaiming their act "The Most Daring Robbery on Record." Many towns, trains, and banks fell victim to the James-Younger gang. Although he was a criminal most of his life, Jesse James became a legendary figure in American history.

VOYA

Authors of this series use primary and secondary sources to place well-known American figures in the context of events in the United States during their lifetimes. Each book begins with the description of a significant incident in the person's life. While giving readers insight into how the person was perceived by others who lived at the same time, the authors also present interesting trivia to engage readers. Jesse James, a cold-blooded killer, often wrote to newspapers claiming his innocence. Fictionalized accounts of his daring robberies became fodder for popular dime novels, adding to the perception of him as a folk hero. Other titles in this series include Billy the Kid, Dolley Madison, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Harriet Tubman, John Brown, and Johnny Appleseed. Short and visually appealing, these books should attract reluctant readers and serve as a starting point for reports. Each book provides a bibliography of recent books, as well as Web sites that can be accessed for further information. Included is a chronology highlighting not only important dates in the person's life but also important historical events that contribute to a better understanding of the subject of the biography. Reviewer: Chris Carlson

Reviews

There are no reviews yet. Log in to write one.

Editorials

VOYA - Chris Carlson

Authors of this series use primary and secondary sources to place well-known American figures in the context of events in the United States during their lifetimes. Each book begins with the description of a significant incident in the person's life. While giving readers insight into how the person was perceived by others who lived at the same time, the authors also present interesting trivia to engage readers. Jesse James, a cold-blooded killer, often wrote to newspapers claiming his innocence. Fictionalized accounts of his daring robberies became fodder for popular dime novels, adding to the perception of him as a folk hero. Other titles in this series include Billy the Kid, Dolley Madison, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Harriet Tubman, John Brown, and Johnny Appleseed. Short and visually appealing, these books should attract reluctant readers and serve as a starting point for reports. Each book provides a bibliography of recent books, as well as Web sites that can be accessed for further information. Included is a chronology highlighting not only important dates in the person's life but also important historical events that contribute to a better understanding of the subject of the biography. Reviewer: Chris Carlson

Children's Literature - Greg M. Romaneck

Jesse James has come down through the ages as an almost mythical figure in the Old West. In reality, much of the Jesse James legend is based upon exaggerations, misdirections, and even press releases authored by James himself. In this well written and illustrated biography, Jeff Burlingame provides readers a clear and concise look at James' life. As Burlingame notes, the outlaw tendencies in Jesse James, his brother Frank, and those who rode with the gang that eventually formed, lie in the Civil War. The James family was caught up in the maelstrom that was the war in the Missouri/Kansas region. There, unlike the Civil War that most people think of, terrorist raids, brutal murders, and enforced evictions of thousands of people from their homes was the norm. After years of such violence the post-war era offered little for men such as Jesse James. Choosing robbery as a vocation, Jess James led a series of gangs often featuring his brother Frank and his cousins the Youngers. Over the years James stole tens of thousands of dollars, killed innocent bystanders, and carefully orchestrated a campaign of feigned innocence. In the end, James was murdered in his parlor by Bob Ford, a man who pretended to be interested in joining James' gang but then shot him in the back of the head as he stood on a chair re-hanging a mirror. Yet, despite or perhaps because of James anti-social tendencies, his story remains a fascinating one for readers with any interest in the American West or the study of crime. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck

Book Details

Published
March 1, 2010
Publisher
Enslow Publishers, Incorporated
Pages
128
Format
Hardcover
ISBN
9780766033535

More by Jeff Burlingame

Similar books