As a direct descendant of Sheriff William Brady, this is fascinating reading of my family history. It also serves as a historical gold mine for early Western history buffs and genealogists.
Based on my own findings through the years, I was never convinced in other writers' claims of his corrupt dealings during that time in Lincoln County, so I'm relieved that this author confirms what I've suspected, especially since he clearly lays out historical evidence in his copious citations. I was constantly flipping back and forth between the text and footnotes. The narrative does read like a textbook, however, so it's not something one would zip through, but why would you want to, especially if you'd really like to do a bit of follow up research yourself by checking out some of his references. Like I said, it's a gold mine.
I've always wondered about the sort of man Brady was, and this book helps clarify that he was indeed an honorable individual and loyal public servant, an Irish immigrant who dedicated his life to his family, his community, and his adopted country. 4 stars.
Based on my own findings through the years, I was never convinced in other writers' claims of his corrupt dealings during that time in Lincoln County, so I'm relieved that this author confirms what I've suspected, especially since he clearly lays out historical evidence in his copious citations. I was constantly flipping back and forth between the text and footnotes. The narrative does read like a textbook, however, so it's not something one would zip through, but why would you want to, especially if you'd really like to do a bit of follow up research yourself by checking out some of his references. Like I said, it's a gold mine.
I've always wondered about the sort of man Brady was, and this book helps clarify that he was indeed an honorable individual and loyal public servant, an Irish immigrant who dedicated his life to his family, his community, and his adopted country. 4 stars.
