Wyatt Earp »

Wyatt Earp remains one of the Old West's most iconic figures-perhaps the most famous lawman who ever lived. He has become the ultimate symbol of the stern, righteous, brave, and principled deputy. Over the years, countless books, articles, movies, television shows, and Web sites have burnished this image. As marshal of Tombstone, Arizona, he brought rustlers, robbers, and gunmen to justice or was occasionally involved in shootouts, most famously in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Yet, Earp was only a lawman for a total of about 6 of his 80 years. Among the many other occupations he tried were refereeing boxing matches, saloon-keeping, mining, racehorse ownership, gambling, and real estate speculation. It is as a lawman that Earp is remembered, however, despite strong evidence that he was sometimes involved on the wrong side of the law. In Wyatt Earp, discover the man behind the deputy star.

Legends of the Wild West brings to life the fascinating history, lore, and culture of the great American frontier from west of the Mississippi River to the wide expanses of the western prairies and deserts. Each volume is a compelling portrait of the best-known frontiersmen, women, and settlers of the West.

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up–Compelling, sometimes controversial, the lives of these high-profile figures have been wellsprings for speculation and rumor. Here, extensive and thoroughly documented research dispels the myths. Each of the 10- to 12-page chronologically arranged chapters contains a few smaller, boldly captioned sections, such as “In Search of a Wife” and “Deceived Again” in the “Courtin’ and Marriage” chapter of Davy Crockett. Though the volumes have several authors, a fluid, straightforward writing style is a series mainstay that makes the figures and the era come alive. The sepia-toned illustrations, most of which are period photographs, corroborate the texts effectively. This is top-notch nonfiction.

1 Wyatt Earp's Early Life 7

2 Becoming a Lawman 21

3 Tombstone 36

4 The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral 49

5 On the Move Again 66

6 The Final Years 80

Chronology and Timeline 96

Glossary 99

Bibliography 100

Further Resources 102

Picture Credits 104

Index 105

About the Author 110