Billy the Kid cover art

Billy the Kid

The Endless Ride

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Billy the Kid

By: Michael Wallis
Narrated by: Todd McLaren
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About this listen

 From the best-selling author of Route 66 comes this long-awaited biography of one of America's most legendary folk heroes.

Award-winning historian Michael Wallis has spent several years re-creating the rich, anecdotal saga of Billy the Kid (1859-1881), a deeply mythologized young man who became a legend in his own time and yet remains an enigma to this day. With the Gilded Age in full swing and the Industrial Revolution reshaping the American landscape, "the Kid", who was gunned down by Sheriff Pat Garrett in the New Mexico Territory at the age of 21, became a new breed of celebrity outlaw. He arose amid the mystery and myth of the swiftly vanishing frontier and, sensationalized beyond recognition by the tabloids and dime-store romances of the day, emerged as one of the most enduring icons of the American West: not to mention one of Hollywood's most misrepresented characters.

This new biography separates myth from reality and presents an unforgettable portrait of this brief and violent life.

©2007 Michael Wallis (P)2007 Tantor Media Inc. Americas Historical Murder True Crime United States Crime Old West Wild West Gilded Age Funny Latin American Mexico Biography Mythology

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Critic reviews

"Wallis writes clean prose, occasionally enlivened by a particularly lovely turn of phrase....[C]ountless books have been written about the infamous outlaw, and this is surely one of the best." ( Publishers Weekly)
All stars
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So much filler. The performance is good but 80% of this book has little if anything to do with Billy the Kid.

Irritating

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really enjoyed this story. it was so interesting to hear some of what could be the truth in the story of who billy the kid really was

great telling of the story

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Excellently narrated. Although the book isn’t solely about The Kid. It gives an interesting account of the times and events which occurred during Billy the Kid‘s life. Definitely recommended.

Interesting listen.

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Considering how short the life of Henry or ‘William’ was, it makes sense a lot of the book is about the parentage past and early years if Billy The Kid and his family. Considering how little I knew of him, and how much I’ve heard that seems to have been false narratives, this clears up the surprisingly simple yet huge life and legacy of the man itself. A man who stands by his words and actions, a tragic antihero, and a man to admire in many ways. A good book and narrative. Had hoped for a bit longer of a conclusion about his legacy and his peers and rivals after his death, but still a good book.

The Kid lives on.

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The narrator has a friendly, easygoing voice, and delivers the account in an interesting, listenable manner. We all know the story, if only from films or folk songs. Here the author tries to distinguish between fact and fiction, but bearing in mind the circumstances surrounding Billy's life, and the unverifiable integrity of the accounts available, by the end we are still none the wiser. We may be swayed by compelling cross-referencing, and impressed by certain "reliable" detail, but we will never really know the truth. If Billy the Kid fascinates you, then you will enjoy trying to decide what is, and what is not, likely to be true.

Listener-friendly, easygoing account

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