Life of John Wesley Hardin As Written by Himself

Rating:
Summary: Well-written autobiography of a cold-blooded killer
Review: As John Wesley Hardin wrote his autobiography he was, presumably, trying to present himself in a favorable light; shading things to make himself look good. That said, he still comes off as an utterly cold-blooded killer without conscience or a twinge of remorse. This makes the reading all the more interesting as he isn't holding back or trying to apologize for, or justify, the things he did.

The story is very well-written (Hardin was a lawyer when he wrote it, during the brief time he survived once he was released from prison). As authentic western adventures go, this is a top-rate book. Hardin tells of cattledrives, chases by posses, encounters with the law including Hickok, and shootouts.

Rating:
Summary: The Real Deal
Review: Being from East Texas I'd heard a lot of stories of John Wesley Hardin. The first book I read was John Carlos Blake's "The Pistoleer," which is excellent. I bought the autobiography immediately afterward and compared the two. Wes Hardin writes very honestly and never appologizes for his actions. Being on the run from the age of 15 until he went to prison in his mid-twenties he always felt he had no choice and was only defending himself given the political climate of the reconstruction era in Texas. It is a narrative and you can almost imagine John Wesley Hardin sitting across from you in a smokey saloon and telling you his story over a game of poker and a big bottle of whiskey. This is a must for any western history buff; especially a native Texan.

Rating:
Summary: An angry young man, armed and dangerous.
Review: Hardin begins his narrative by acknowledging that he is very much a product of a particular time and place, a particular culture. He does not see any reason why he should attempt to transcend that, let alone apologize for it. He accepts himself for what he is and expects everyone else to do the same. He is above all a man of violence, ready and able to resolve all conflicts with physical - if necessary, deadly - force. Raised in Reconstruction Texas, he finds plenty to fuel his resentment, including carpetbagger politicians from the north and newly emancipated slaves appointed as police officers (an unquestioning racialism was part of his heritage). Nor is it in his nature to run from a fight. When he hears that Wild Bill Hickok, then Marshall of Abilene, has threatened to kill him if he ever sets foot in the town, what does he do? Goes immediately to Abilene of course, to face him. I would have been inclined to go anywhere but.

Tough, fearless, uncompromising and cunning (at one point, he pretends to cry, in order to throw his captors off-guard) with an uncontrollable temper, he became the most formidable gunfighter of the Old West. How many men he killed no one knows for sure. Not even he knew. It was at least 20, probably 40 or more.

His life story has the strengths and weaknesses common to all autobiographies: it is the authentic voice, but it tells us a selective and heavily slanted story. It remains an invaluable primary source and should be required reading for anyone seriously interested in the history of the American West. Although not great literature, it is well written. The Western Frontier Library edition is good, with a useful introduction and postscript, but I would have liked a few footnotes, to save me having to go online for explanations of 'headright' and 'galluses', etc.



Rating:
Summary: Great read.....for any old west fan
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I fancy myself an amatuer old west historian who actually knew very little about Hardin (just the rumors). And while the book is somewhat self-serving (he never seemed to kill a man that needed killing - at least not in his eyes) - it is a great read. It seems he was half filled with hate which was fueled by his temper, while the other half was chock full of loyalty to friends and family. I think in today's world, JWH would have either been a homicidal maniac or a productive, loyal citizen (with some anger management classes). Let me step down off my soapbox, so you can get to reading....I am currently reading Dark Angel of Texas (JWH)...so far, so good.

Rating:
Summary: As autobiographies go, this is a good one
Review: The original manuscript of this book was discovered after John Wesley Hardin's death. He was shot in the back of the head while standing at the bar in the Acme Saloon by John Selman in El Paso on August 19th, 1895. This book was published a year later by Smith & Moore Publishing in Sequin, Guadalupe County, Texas. It sold, in paperback, for fifty cents each.

Hardin was one of the real, genuine hard cases, in those days. It is said that he killed at least a score of men. By some accounts, it was at least 40.

Hardin was born in 1853, the son of a Methodist preacher, who proudly christened him after their faith's founder. No doubt he was expected to follow a spiritual path. It was not to be. He killed his first man, a freed negro who was full of his new freedom, and was going to chastise Hardin with a club out of anger for losing a wrestling match to the boy and his cousin the day before. Hardin killed him with a revolver.

Texas was administered at the time--immediately after the War between the States--by Northern carpetbaggers, and Hardin's life as an outlaw commenced.

He was captured, eventually, in Florida by Texas Rangers and brought back to Texas where he served time in prison. He was obviously intelligent and more literate than the average. After his release, he became a lawyer, and so his autobiography reads well, with probably no more self-justification and self-aggrandizement than most autobiographies.

It is said that he had his pockets lined with leather, so that he could carry his pistols without wearing out his clothing. Not a carry method conducive to the idiotic Hollywood myth of the "fast draw."

John Wesley Hardin was a dangerous man with an ungovernable temper. His story, as told by himself, is more literate than most and highly readable. How well it adheres to the absolute truth is anyone's guess.

I found it most interesting.

Joseph Pierre
author, Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance

Rating:
Summary: A glimpse of history
Review: This was an interesting book, if the reader is trying to get a feel for what life was like in some areas of rural Texas after the Civil War. I didn't read it expecting a book by a polished author, so the somewhat stilted writing didn't bother me. But I do live in the area where John Wesley Hardin traveled during his life and know it was a rough period in history.

After finishing the book, it wasn't the numerous killings that effected me, but more of a realization of how and why many people were so angry during reconstruction. The book shows the point of view from the perspective of people who felt they definitely had grievances against the authoritative northern backed policies. John Wesley Hardin backed his extreme views with his gun.

There were several other interesting things in the book, such as: the loyalty of rural families, the struggle to earn a decent wage, the difficulties of traveling over large areas, the excessive drinking and gambling, and finally, the way he managed to survive so long while being hunted, (knowing exactly who to trust, who would help him, and who to stay away from).

Thus I came away with far more from the book than just reading about a notorious outlaw. I read about a time in Texas told by a violent man who lived through much of it. And as he slipped back into his old way of life, in saloons and gambling around other dangerous men, he paid the same price as his victims.


Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: You couldn't find a more interesting character than Hardin but his own account is written in a common and stilted style that zaps all excitement from it. Hardin should be grateful to James Carlos Blake's historical fiction "The Pistoleer" to put him in the proper light.