Rating: 
Summary: An Outstanding Work of the History of Doc Holliday
Review: A true work of any historical person requires a lot of research.Karen Holliday Tanner not only uncovers a lot of research that disproves the "Fairy Tale" of Stuart Lake but uncovers facts unknown till now.Doc was a Southern Gentleman.How a person is raised,their family life,religious beliefs,whether they have a higher education background are factors that shape a man.
Thus it is appropiate this is titled "A Family Portrait".Ms Tanner explains in detail how all these factors and the life he had to live due to TB evolved into the person he had to become----not the life of Dentistry he wanted.Of course Doc was his own worst enemy towards the recovery of his TB.
Anyone who reads this and does not see a throughly researched book (such as reviewer Mr Warren----who must be clueless to excellent writing or beholding to Stuart Lake)has missed out on the closest to the truth as we can get on Doc Holliday.
If reviewers like Mr Warren can do better than a relative of Doc's then write the book and prove it.
Rating: 
Summary: A whitewash
Review: According to this, Doc Holliday didn't do anything. It sounded like a genteel relative proving that Doc was misunderstood and didn't do all the things for which he is famous. Very disappointing
Rating: 
Summary: A gifted story for history, biography, and genealogy buffs.
Review: American history brought to life with caring concern for the truth, Doc Holliday is seen as a human being not as an icon of the Wild West. Reads like a story but stands up well next to any academic effort; this book is full of source material gathered from John Henry Holliday's relatives by an afficionado of western lore and also a cousin of his. Our public library featured Tanner as author of the month of April and Tanner's writing style is similar to her speaking style--sprinkled with wry wit and based on fearless candor. She tells it like it was.
Rating:
Summary: The Real Doc Holliday
Review: Even today people want to cling to the notion that J.H. "Doc" Holliday was a famous, notorious gunfighter despite the myths not being proven or sources listed. Although Tanner spends most of her book telling readers the history of the well-to-do Holliday family of Georgia, she pieces together the life of Doc Holliday as best as possible with the documentation available, including presenting new information, if not evidence, of what may have actually taken place (such as the killing of Old Man Clanton and Johnny Ringo).Back in the 1800s stories were often-times embellished, especially in "the wild west" to placate people or to seek revenge. Additionally, this mis-information spread like wild fire throughout the country (much as it still does today); people love gossip and thrive on rumor (even "Wild Bill" Hickok was not the notorious gunfighter people made him out to be). Virtually every town in the West in the 1800s had at least one newspaper that told of the events occuring on a weekly, if not daily basis. Additionally, even back then, legal documents were filed, such as marriages, property ownership, court procedings, etc., all of which provide and, more importantly, can substantiate claims of events having taken place. Tanner clearly scoured these documents to prove, if not disprove, what Doc did or did not do during his time in the West as his family was left in the dark as to what he was up to, aside from infrequent written correspondence to his cousins. Unless we can go back in time we never know what REALLY happened, whether it be that Doc killed 15 people before arriving in Tombstone or . After reading the comments of several other reviewers who were disappointed with Tanner's book, they clearly did not read that the title is "...A Family Portrait." Tanner's book is just that: a family portrait of a man who became a western icon and legend; a man who grew up in a southern, aristocratic family that felt shame upon hearing of their beloved John Henry's western exploits (as would have been the case in ANY wealthy family) and thereby never spoke of his name. In that respect, the one disappointment in Tanner's work is the fact that a few famous tales were left out. Shedding light on Doc's true relationship with his cousin Mattie (what made her become a nun?) and those famous last words of his (if Kate was really with Doc when he died, did he really say, "This is funny"? which Kate claims is not what he said). All in all, a great read for Doc afficionados.
Rating: 
Summary: Not what it could've been
Review: Even today people want to cling to the notion that J.H. "Doc" Holliday was a famous, notorious gunfighter despite the myths not being proven or sources listed. Although Tanner spends most of her book telling readers the history of the well-to-do Holliday family of Georgia, she pieces together the life of Doc Holliday as best as possible with the documentation available, including presenting new information, if not evidence, of what may have actually taken place (such as the killing of Old Man Clanton and Johnny Ringo). Back in the 1800s stories were often-times embellished, especially in "the wild west" to placate people or to seek revenge. Additionally, this mis-information spread like wild fire throughout the country (much as it still does today); people love gossip and thrive on rumor (even "Wild Bill" Hickok was not the notorious gunfighter people made him out to be). Virtually every town in the West in the 1800s had at least one newspaper that told of the events occuring on a weekly, if not daily basis. Additionally, even back then, legal documents were filed, such as marriages, property ownership, court procedings, etc., all of which provide and, more importantly, can substantiate claims of events having taken place. Tanner clearly scoured these documents to prove, if not disprove, what Doc did or did not do during his time in the West as his family was left in the dark as to what he was up to, aside from infrequent written correspondence to his cousins. Unless we can go back in time we never know what REALLY happened, whether it be that Doc killed 15 people before arriving in Tombstone or . After reading the comments of several other reviewers who were disappointed with Tanner's book, they clearly did not read that the title is "...A Family Portrait." Tanner's book is just that: a family portrait of a man who became a western icon and legend; a man who grew up in a southern, aristocratic family that felt shame upon hearing of their beloved John Henry's western exploits (as would have been the case in ANY wealthy family) and thereby never spoke of his name. In that respect, the one disappointment in Tanner's work is the fact that a few famous tales were left out. Shedding light on Doc's true relationship with his cousin Mattie (what made her become a nun?) and those famous last words of his (if Kate was really with Doc when he died, did he really say, "This is funny"? which Kate claims is not what he said). All in all, a great read for Doc afficionados.
Rating:
Summary: The Real Doc Holliday
Review: Even today people want to cling to the notion that J.H. "Doc" Holliday was a famous, notorious gunfighter despite the myths not being proven or sources listed. Although Tanner spends most of her book telling readers the history of the well-to-do Holliday family of Georgia, she pieces together the life of Doc Holliday as best as possible with the documentation available, including presenting new information, if not evidence, of what may have actually taken place (such as the killing of Old Man Clanton and Johnny Ringo). Back in the 1800s stories were often-times embellished, especially in "the wild west" to placate people or to seek revenge. Additionally, this mis-information spread like wild fire throughout the country (much as it still does today); people love gossip and thrive on rumor (even "Wild Bill" Hickok was not the notorious gunfighter people made him out to be). Virtually every town in the West in the 1800s had at least one newspaper that told of the events occuring on a weekly, if not daily basis. Additionally, even back then, legal documents were filed, such as marriages, property ownership, court procedings, etc., all of which provide and, more importantly, can substantiate claims of events having taken place. Tanner clearly scoured these documents to prove, if not disprove, what Doc did or did not do during his time in the West as his family was left in the dark as to what he was up to, aside from infrequent written correspondence to his cousins. Unless we can go back in time we never know what REALLY happened, whether it be that Doc killed 15 people before arriving in Tombstone or . After reading the comments of several other reviewers who were disappointed with Tanner's book, they clearly did not read that the title is "...A Family Portrait." Tanner's book is just that: a family portrait of a man who became a western icon and legend; a man who grew up in a southern, aristocratic family that felt shame upon hearing of their beloved John Henry's western exploits (as would have been the case in ANY wealthy family) and thereby never spoke of his name. In that respect, the one disappointment in Tanner's work is the fact that a few famous tales were left out. Shedding light on Doc's true relationship with his cousin Mattie (what made her become a nun?) and those famous last words of his (if Kate was really with Doc when he died, did he really say, "This is funny"? which Kate claims is not what he said). All in all, a great read for Doc afficionados.
Rating:
Summary: Finally, the truth is uncovered!!
Review: First off I would start by saying I am a Doc Holliday fanatic.
Mrs. Tanner has uncovered legal police, and court documents never seen before to create the truth behind the legend and the man. If you are on the side of the fense that believes Doc Holliday was a cold blooded, savage killer this book in not for you. However, if you are setting out to discover the TRUTH about him, this will be your first and only stop.
In truth, Doc was nothing more than a southern gentleman, who set out on his own, and never first seeked violence. However, if he was backed into a corner, yes, he would shoot first, as would anyone else. I hope more people can read this and dismiss all the fabrication, and fiction produced about this man for the last 120 plus years. May the TRUTH behind the legacy, and the man live forever!!
-Brian
Rating: 
Summary: Misleading waste of time
Review: I acquired this book because it was supposed to have the extra insights into Doc Holliday's early life that his other biographies lacked. It was clear that Ms. Tanner had this information but was unwilling to reveal anything she felt might reflect badly on the Holliday family that had not already appeared in print. The things that have already appeared in other sources, she goes to great lengths to excuse, regardless of whether any excuse is needed. It does reveal the sources of Doc's early prowess with weapons and cards, while making excuses for the family having owned slaves for pages on end which was ridiculous, considering the times and the area. While shedding light on a few items from his childhood, the book goes on to white wash Doc's life from the time he went West. His years in the West are described at such a high-level as to make the story hard to follow. Most of the well known stories about Doc in the West are either not mentioned or brushed aside as being without foundation but she doesn't mention why they're without foundation. Ms. Tanner has no problem going into opposition with information from the people who actually knew Doc during his time in the West and talked about him when it was fresh in their minds and replacing it with family hearsay, handed down verbally for over a hundred years. It takes away what I've always thought was one of Doc's best traits, loyalty and replaces it by saying that all the things that made Doc Holliday famous were either done in self-defense or because Wyatt Earp told him to. There are several hand-drawn maps which, between the hand-writing and the small scale to which they were reproduced, are unreadable without and sometimes with a magnifying glass. Another reason I bought this book was because of the pictures it contained. It turned out that over half of them were of obscure relatives whose picture (or name for that matter) would not have made it into print if it weren't for a relative of whom they were ashamed, becoming famous.
Rating:
Summary: Good book
Review: I enjoyed the reading. I typically never finish a book unless it has fully captured my attention, and this one did. This was my first book that i have read on Doc Holliday and i would have to say it was a good one! The only problem that i saw was that the author seemed to try to be clearing his name more than telling his story, but other than that, excellent!
Rating:
Summary: Doc Holliday: A Family Portrait
Review: I thought that this book was incredibly informative and I learned many things about Doc Holliday that I didn't know. It was easy to understand, had great pictures, and I loved it.
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