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Critic's Corner
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The Wild West: 365 Days Most of us think of the Wild West as the geography and lore of the trans-Mississippi United States during the 1800’s. The Wallis’ point out that it is with an examination of the events between 1830 and 1930 where we get a more complete picture of the Wild West. Within these 734 pages, the authors capture the personalities, battles, treaties, innovations, and migrations that sprang from the call of Manifest Destiny. In doing this they bring the real Wild West to life as never before, revealing fact and myth in all their glory. Michael Wallis is a bestselling author and has published sixteen books, most of which focus on aspects of the American West. His works include “Billy the Kid,” “David Crockett: The Lion of the West,” and “Route 66: The Mother Road.” Suzanne Wallis has collaborated on three books with her husband, Michael, and has been published in a variety of magazines and newspapers. The daily entries found at the top of these pages are generally not connected to the tale told by the main text and images, but constitute a separate running diary of incidents or events that occurred on specific dates. Also included throughout the book are photographs from Robert McCubbin. McCubbin, publisher emeritus of “True West Magazine” and a founder of the Wild West History Association, was the obvious choice to provide from his vast collection of American old west photographs all the delightful images gracing these pages. Hunters and trappers came to the west in the early 1800s, after Lewis and Clark returned from their expedition. Large numbers pushed into the Rocky Mountains and beyond in search of beaver pelts and other valuable furs. The west would not have gained its “wild” reputation without these colorful characters. You’ll read about James Pierson Beckworth, Jedediah Smith, and famed mountain man Jim Bridges. Then there is the story about the mountain men’s summer rendezvous. Wow! In 1821, Missouri trader, William Becknell opened the storied Santa Fe trail. For 60 years countless traders, soldiers, settlers, and large caravans of freight wagons made the 780-mile journey from Westport on the Missouri River to Santa Fe. The buffalo or bison, monarchs of the plains, roamed freely in massive herds. This was before the buffalo hunters came and slaughtered the great beasts by the thousands. I discovered a great deal about these shaggy animals I’d never read before. Every hero, bandit, cowboy and Indian Chief you might think of has a place within these pages. I particularly enjoyed reading about John Charles Fremont, the Great Pathfinder. This interest stemmed from the fact that my third Great Uncle, Mountain Man and Sea Captain, George Nidever, fought with Fremont during the Mexican war. One of the men who struck it rich during the California gold rush was Levi Strauss, a Bavarian immigrant tailor who opened a dry goods firm in San Francisco. It was here that Strauss and his business partner Jacob Davis first developed the work pants that came to be known as “blue jeans or Levi’s.” Too many personalities are depicted to name all of them, but some favorites were; Sam Houston, aka the Raven, David Crockett, Kit Carson, Wyatt Earp, and Judge Roy Bean, the hanging judge. The equally fascinating stories of people you’ve never heard of like James Henry Lane, the first U.S. Senator from the free state of Kansas and commander of a brigade of fifteen hundred volunteers who led a rampage of terror and mayhem in the slave state of Missouri. Two bands of citizen scouts made up much of Lane’s forces, the Jayhawkers and the Redlegs. These raiders were every bit as blood thirsty as Quantrill’s raiders. Famed Indian Chiefs parade throughout the book; Crazy Horse, Chief Joseph, Geronimo, Black Kettle, Cochise, Sitting Bull, and Spotted Elk all have stories to tell. After reading their tales I’m curious as to how all those old Cowboy and Indian movies of my childhood got history so confused. Be assured, if you have a favorite Wild West Outlaw, you’ll find his and/or her story here. Often these are presented with some truths the early day writers failed to mention. You won’t want to miss the gold strike at Sutter’s Mill in California, tales of Tombstone, Wichita, Dodge City, The Alamo, The Boomer Sooners of the Oklahoma land runs, all have their place here along with old Alfred Packer, the Cannibal of Slumgullion Pass. The authors have included just about everything and everybody who had anything to do with creating the saga of The Wild West. Savor the stories and enjoy the ride through true American History as presented by Michael and Suzanne Wallis. Copyright 2011, Patricia Ann Jones Buy The
Wild West: 365 Days Patricia Ann Jones is a published writer and has recently retired from her position of 18 years as a reviewer for the Tulsa World newspaper. To comment on this review you may email pattij777@aol.com.
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from Amazon.com
