A 21st Century Celeb in the 19th Century

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	• They Called Him Wild Bill: The Life and Adventures of James Butler Hickok Joseph G. Rosa University of Oklahoma Press, 1979 - 377 pages average customer review:based on 10 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

The ultimate biography about Wild Bill

While others seemingly do scant research about Wild Bill or they are unable to communicate, Rosa's "They Called Him Wild Bill" is simply the best biography about Hickok I have ever read. The book is documented with both a myriad of legal documents and newspaper accounts (the latter can certainly be misleading, as they can be today), and Rosa is a gifted author.

You might find that your conception about Wild Bill changes after you read this book. (And if you saw that "laughable" movie titled "Wild Bill" with Jeff Bridges playing Bill, you'll realize why I call that movie "laughable" if you do read this book.)

You might not care for Wild Bill if you read this book, or...

Well, read it and decide for yourself.

No one presents Hickok as does Rosa. Period.

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All You Wanted to Know -- And Then Some

Make no mistake, this is the most meticulously researched and likely the definitive biograhy of that great American archetype, William Butler Hickok, known to history as "Wild Bill." Mr. Rosa spent decades researching this book and his thoroughness and dedication show on every page. The real "Wild Bill's" life is full of holes, obscured by myth and legend, and to Mr. Rosa's eternal credit, he has done as much as anyone could to sift through that to close the gaps and bring to life a sharp picture of the real man. Also brought to life by Mr. Rosa is a cast of original characters, friendsand enemies alike, who crossed Wild Bill's path. Yet there is a cost to the reader: You too will sift through numerous lengthy documents, reminiscences, newspaper reports, and letters printed in type difficult to distinguish from the author's own text (editor's fault). These verbatim transcripts often seem interminable and are difficult to wade through at times. Much of that stuff could've been slipped into appendices or end notes. This is not a book for casual or easy reading but an absolute must for anyone interested in the real history of the American West.

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A 21st Century Celeb in the 19th Century

Having seen enough movies and tv shows featuring Hickok as character, I wanted to know the story behind the legend. This book does it. The author is an authority on Hickok and has written extensively about him. The book is clearly well-researched and heavily annotated. All that to the side, it is an entertaining read.

Hickok would have done as well today as he did back then. There was truth to his reputation. He was tough, brave, charming, funny and a peerless gunman. At the same time, he knew how to exploit his reputation and did so. That's what makes him so interesting today. Here is a person who knew the value of self-promotion and celebrity a century and a half ago before they became the science they are today.

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Excellent Book

Joseph G Rosa did a wonderful job in his research. The world, in an effort to depict Wild Bill as an exciting, rutheless, bloodthirsty gunfighter, has tainted the man behind the name. He was anything but bloodthirsty. His desire was to make things right, he was soft on the inside, behind those iron fists, was a caring, gentle man. Rosa did an excellent job as he gives us a true glimps into Wild Bill's world. He starts at the begining, when Wild Bill was just a child and goes from there to his adventures into becomming the gunfighter that we learn about reading this book, not the gunfighter Hollywood depicts, he was never that man. Anyone wanting to learn of the true west will enjoy reading this book.

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