Book Notices

Historic Photos of Outlaws of the Old West. By Larry Johnson.

(Nashville: Turner Publishing Company, 2010. x + 206 pp. Hardcover, $39.95.)

For generations, outlaws of the old west have remained an uneasy affection in the United States. We are both compelled and made apprehensive by the myths the criminals embodied. Yet our fascination still remains. This is a book for those who are trying to understand the characters that are both legendary and less infamous.

Photographs depicting the likes of Jesse James, the Younger Brothers, Billy the Kid, and others are accompanied with stories that may be new to the reader. Johnson has collected images of bustling towns, notorious criminals, and the western stage on which their drama was played. Johnson’s research denounces certain myths of the outlaw but still manages to embrace what Americans view as the West; a raw arena of new populations, towns, and the characters that helped define an era. The images will lead from fascination to surrealism as portraits of fallen outlaws challenge the almost near immortality the bandits and their reputations have instilled.

Arena Legacy: The Heritage of American Rodeo.

By Richard C. Rattenbury.(Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2010. xiv + 416 pp. Cloth $65.00.)

From its earliest days as a spontaneous contest between cowboys to its fanatic following in contemporary times the rodeo has been a regular part of American culture for well over a hundred years. Richard Rattenbury has written an impressive volume documenting the historic culture that embodies the spirit of the American West. A combination of his well researched and expansive writing with a massive showcase of collections from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum has been made into a great read.

Rattenbury captures the growth of this sport by showcasing the men, women, and venues that defined the rodeo. As a curator of history at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, his access and knowledge of rodeo apparel and equipment helps to add the expansive visuals to Arena Legacy. The book is a tribute to a western American sport and will be appreciated by rodeo fanatics and western enthusiasts alike.