Inventing Wyatt Earp: His Life and Many Legends

by Allen Barra

Book Overview

On October 26, 1881, Wyatt Earp, his two brothers, and Doc Holliday shot it out with a gang of cattle rustlers near the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona. It was over in half a minute, but those... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786705620
• ISBN13: 9780786705627
• Release Date: November 1998
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf Publishers
• Length: 426 Pages
• Weight: 1.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Top notch take on the Wyatt Legend.

I have read around 20 books on Wyatt Earp and this might be the best book ever written on WE and that speaks plenty when you have most that are not well put together and base their writings of info that has been false on the title subject. Easily a reread in the future

Highly Readable and Entertaining Account of Wyatt Earp

I enjoyed this book on Wyatt Earp even though I have read several others primarily because I like the author's writing style and presentation. He assumes that you at least have a familiarity on Wyatt and he interjects his take on various controversies and adds a perspective based on facts and sometimes, although less concrete, on a point of view that seems to complement what rationally occurred. In these cases, it virtually feels like he has stopped to talk to you about the controversy as opposed to writing a dissertation. An example is his periodic references to other authors such as when he refers to Paula Mitchell Marks (Live and Die in the West: The Story of the OK Corral) who wrote a book with a fascinating sociological point of view. Barra challenges her when he references her comment that the judge presiding over the charges against the Earps and Holliday after the OK Corral fight was biased in favor of the Earps, Barras points out that judges are always biased in favor of those that enforce the law unless they are proven to be grossly negligent thus her point of view, in his opinion, is not relevant. Thus the book is not just a retelling of the facts and that is what makes it most interesting. The book covers the early days, Tombstone, Earp's post Tombstone career where he continuously seems to be a speculator looking for the big investment while times change around him particularly in regards to gambling, betting and saloons and the author has a very relevant look at Earp and the movies with an excellent review of all the Earp films, their misrepresentations and some detail on why many distort the real story, such as John Ford's desire to sell a movie and not necessarily a straight history. One nugget that I enjoyed was reading about Wyatt's offer of peace with Ike Clanton after the severe wounding of his brother Virgil that was reportedly turned down by Clanton. This, which I have not read before, would reinforce that Earp was not a rash man but one who acted with straight forwardness and deliberation. Only after the murder of his brother who was shot in the back and after Clanton and Frank Stillwell appear near the train station in Tucson as the wounded Virgil prepares to departs does Wyatt start his vendetta ride. Some previous reviewers note that the book has several errors, and there certainly may be a few, but I wish each would name some of them to justify their complaints. In doing so, that would provide constructive criticism and allow for reference checks and perhaps more debate. The story of Tombstone, like the Earps, will never die and Tombstone is still a fascinating place to visit, virtually a living history, with lots to see, like the original Birdcage Saloon. It may be out of the way but anyone fascinated with the west and the story of the OK Corral (or the alley next to Fly's studio to be more accurate) will find the trip and town a rewarding experience.

Barra brings out an excellent bio of Wyatt Earp

With Casey Tefertillier's book ( Wyatt Earp, the life behind the legend) and this book, Wyatt Earp is clearly explained and researched in an excellent way. Mr Barra does an excellent job in this book,particularly in two areas: First, Mr Barra gives a very good insight into Judge Spicers decision in the Tombstone trial and number two; Mr Barra gaves a very good explanation on why Wyatt Earp still an important figure in US History. Excellent book for someone asking the question,Why is the shoot out at tombstone something to remember? Kudos for Mr Barra

THE LEGEND LIVES ON - WITH NO END IN SIGHT

Mr. Barra has achieved his objective in this, another look, at the life and "legends" of Wyatt Earp. His work appears to be fairly "middle of the road" although one can sense a little bias as to its being a pro-Earp work and not anti as seems to have become the "politically correct" way to be. Has always amazed how in hindsight, our history and the people in it, have always ended up being one-dimensional. As the years have passed, and we have become more cynical in our views of that past, there are always scores of "historians" and others willing and eager to give us the true picture. Well, in many ways, there may not ever be a true picture. The information and materials that are needed to shine new light on the subject, may no longer exist. Each of us has to use our own instinct as to how we weigh and analyze these findings. Whether you agree with some, most, or all of Barra's efforts, it is a very entertaining look at one of the "old West's" most recognized names. Mr. Barra's writing is one that will keep you glued to your spot. You won't put this one down until you reach the finish. No, not a finish, for as my review title implies "the legend and the man live on".

Wyatt Earp; Fable of a Lawman

Allen Barra's book is a welcome extension to Casey Tefertiller's biography of Wyatt Earp. To fully understand why Earp has gripped both American movie makers and the public for the past 70 years, both books must be read.The major strength of the book is the new perspective on the growth of Earp's legend; why writers, directors and producers chose to alter the truth of Earp's life for the various limp story lines developed during the 1940s and 50s, which most people began to accept as fact for the next thirty years. Readers with a passing interest in Earp will enjoy Barra's detailed chapters about the impact of the Earp legend on American culture and the background information about the two new movies about Earp; "Tombstone" and "Wyatt Earp", which still show up regularly on television and video stores.Another important part of the book is the investigation of Glenn Boyer and Frank Waters; two writers, who have written many books condemning Earp as the villan in the clash between the Earps and the Cowboys in Tombstone. Several simple facts support the contention that the Earp Brothers were on the right side. When the Earps met the Clantons in the famous gunbattle; they confronted the Cowboys face to face in the light of day.They did not plan a night ambush as the Cowboys did when they wounded Virgil Earp and killed Morgan Earp or when Stillwell met the train to California at night hoping to murder Wyatt without being seen. Wyatt Earp lived the rest of his life refusing to discuss his Dodge or Tombstone accomplishments. Also, he did not continue to ring up felony warrants and end up shot to death by a detective; Ike Clanton did. Boyer and Waters criticize Earp for the vendetta against the Cowboys after Tucson(the train attack) but the vendetta ride clearly shows the character of Wyatt Earp. Until Morgan was killed, Wyatt Earp had refained from an all out attack on his enemies who were constantly planning to kill him. He realized several things: the legal system was not going to avenge his brother's death; the right thing to do was to bring the full weight of justice upon the gang; He had the deadly ability to track down the cowboys and kill them. This is why Wyatt Earp appeals to the American public; both yesterday and today. He did what need ed to be done. He compares with other American icons: George Patton, Teddy Roosevelt and Andrew Jackson to name a few. All of whom did the right thing and were severely criticized by the more passive persons of their time.

Examination of the building of Wyatt Earp's legend.

The life of Wyatt Earp was a microcosm of the taming of the Wild West. As a teenager, he traveled in a wagon train to California. During his eventful lifetime, Wyatt worked as a buffalo hunter, lawman, shotgun guard, gambler, and prospector, among other occupations. Earp has been billed as the embodiment of the heroic town tamer of western legend, the ultimate straight arrow and straight shooter. He has also been accused of being an embezzler, a horse thief, a pimp, a con man, and a murderer. In 1881, Wyatt was a participant in the most famous shootout in the history of the American west: the Gunfight at the OK Corral. In the aftermath of the fight, Wyatt's brothers were both shot down from ambush, Virgil crippled for life and Morgan slain. In a bloody vendetta, Wyatt took the law into his own hands to avenge his brothers, firmly establishing himself in the pantheon of Wild West legends. For the remainder of his life, Wyatt Earp alternated between trying to live down and trying to promote his own legend. He attempted to reap financial rewards deriving from his fame, unsuccessfully endeavoring to sell the story of his life to the movie studios. Wyatt could never turn a profit from his exploits; however, since his death in 1929, his legend has grown, with numerous biographies, movies, and television shows capitalizing on his fame. Allen Barra is best known as a sports writer, with numerous articles in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal to his credit. "Inventing Wyatt Earp" is Mr. Barra's effort to place the life of Wyatt Earp into the context of the legends and myths that arose around him. The mythologizing of Wyatt began during his lifetime and has continued to grow to the present day. Barra does a good job of illustrating how Wyatt's life shaped and was shaped by the legend, offering valuable insights and providing some tidbits of little known information. Barra brings some fresh perspectives to the study of Wyatt Earp's life. As an illustration, early writers ignored or were ignorant of the fact that Josephine Sarah "Sadie" Marcus, Johnny Behan's mistress and Wyatt's wife in later life, was present in Tombstone. Since her presence was discovered, most authors attributed much of the animosity between Earp and Behan to Johnny's jealousy over Sadie. Allen Barra offers a differing and interesting analysis on Sadie's involvement with Wyatt during her Tombstone stay, and on the significance of Sadie's residence in Tombstone on the Earp-Cowboy feud. The chroniclers of Wyatt's life tell his story filtered through their personal biases and the prejudices of the time in which they write. For example, until the 1960s, Wyatt's story was usually seen as a heroic saga wherein Wyatt Earp the Lawman represented the forces of order versus the forces of disorder, "a clash between good and evil in a primeval setting." During the era of the Vietnam War, and student protests against authority, Wyatt was generally s