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The Authentic Life of Billy, the Kid
The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid
Author: Pat F. Garrett
Reputed to have killed his first man at the age of twelve, William Bonney went on to gun his way into Western legend as Billy the Kid. When he was killed at the age of twenty-one, the Kid was famous throughout the country as the boy who, so he boasted, had killed a man for every year of his life. — This is the story of William Bonney as told by t...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780806111957
ISBN-10: 080611195X
Publication Date: 10/1974
Rating:
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 6

3.5 stars, based on 6 ratings
Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio CD
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed The Authentic Life of Billy, the Kid on
Helpful Score: 1
Billy the Kid lived a pretty wild, eccentric life! Well, at least according to Pat F. Garrett, who I think exaggerated quite a bit. The entire account felt a bit melodramatic and I think Garrett was prone to stretching the truth a bit just to make himself look like a special hero for shooting Billy the Kid. I wouldn't mind reading a more factual biography of Billy the Kid because it didn't feel as if this book was entirely accurate. The book made for an quick read because the chapters were short, however it was a little hard to get through because it was boring in some spots.
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paxtonholley avatar reviewed The Authentic Life of Billy, the Kid on + 67 more book reviews
This book is interesting. I'm a huge Billy the Kid fan and I read most things I can get my hands on about him. This one is the original. Written by the man who shot him. It's a fascinating look back at the late 1800s and one view of the Kid's life. The actual "facts" in this book are questionable, but it's a good read nonetheless.

And it's just cool knowing you are reading something written not even a year after The Kid was gunned down.

Definitely worth it for Old West history fans or fans of The Kid. However, it's written a little more dryly than western books of today.


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