<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: A more realistic look at the life of a real western lawman
Review: A fun vacation read. Anecdotes from a real wild west lawman -- who didn't do a lot of shooting and killing but somehow managed to be in the action none the less. It reminded me a little of the excellent Dustin Hofmann film, Little Big Man.
Rating:
Summary: A more realistic look at the life of a real western lawman
Review: A fun vacation read. Anecdotes from a real wild west lawman -- who didn't do a lot of shooting and killing but somehow managed to be in the action none the less. It reminded me a little of the excellent Dustin Hofmann film, Little Big Man.
Rating: 
Summary: very surprising book
Review: given the title, i was prepared to be unfavorably amused by this book but wound up thoroughly charmed by the direct and often witty descriptions and characterizations by this bona fide turn of that century wild west lawman, who, one must assume, was just as tough and unyielding as the 'hard cases' for whom this work is titled.harkey's plain style and simple accounting of the events develops a remarkable bond of trust with the reader, and i came away almost with a casual sense of familiarity with some of the most savage and desperate bad men produced by that savage and desperate era. recommend it very highly for anyone who would like to get a highly entertaining -- but pretty much unvarnished -- picture of life on the edge at that time.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting but incomplete
Review: I had to buy this book years ago. I bought 6 copies. One for each of my Zumwalt relatives (Father In Law, Brother In Law, Sister In Law, one for each of our two kids and of course one for us.) . Keeping in mind I married a Zumwalt girl. If you remember from the Chapter titled "Mean as Hell", Mr. Hall was killed by Mr. Zumwalt. That was my wifes Great Grandather. What was not made clear is that the Hall brothers were friends with the Zumwalt brothers. Due to some cattle rustling talk, the Hall brothers threatend to kill the Zumwalts on sight. There was a confrontation and needless to say it wasn't the Zumalts to hit the ground. Irony was that Hall was wearing the shirt that Zumwalt had bought him on his last birthday...The Zumwalts lost their ranch in the resulting trial..cost of courts/legal/ and lawyer fees. Mr. Zumwalt was aquited as the bottom line is Hall's threat ,as well as, went for his gun first..That was the way it was back then. From my understanding Mr. Zumwalt had informed Mr. Harkey that he was a liar and to not cross paths with him again or he would live to regret it. Over the years, I listen to this story over and over and never tire. One wonders that IF Mr. Harkey may have embellished a bit...It still makes good stories. Enjoy, as it is the old west as it was.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting but incomplete
Review: I had to buy this book years ago. I bought 6 copies. One for each of my Zumwalt relatives (Father In Law, Brother In Law, Sister In Law, one for each of our two kids and of course one for us.) . Keeping in mind I married a Zumwalt girl. If you remember from the Chapter titled "Mean as Hell", Mr. Hall was killed by Mr. Zumwalt. That was my wifes Great Grandather. What was not made clear is that the Hall brothers were friends with the Zumwalt brothers. Due to some cattle rustling talk, the Hall brothers threatend to kill the Zumwalts on sight. There was a confrontation and needless to say it wasn't the Zumalts to hit the ground. Irony was that Hall was wearing the shirt that Zumwalt had bought him on his last birthday...The Zumwalts lost their ranch in the resulting trial..cost of courts/legal/ and lawyer fees. Mr. Zumwalt was aquited as the bottom line is Hall's threat ,as well as, went for his gun first..That was the way it was back then. From my understanding Mr. Zumwalt had informed Mr. Harkey that he was a liar and to not cross paths with him again or he would live to regret it. Over the years, I listen to this story over and over and never tire. One wonders that IF Mr. Harkey may have embellished a bit...It still makes good stories. Enjoy, as it is the old west as it was.
Rating:
Summary: Very Entertaining and informative
Review: I read this book several months ago. I was especially interested in the chapter pertaining to Judge Brice as he was a distant cousin of mine. This book answerd a lot of questions about his background. A very enjoyable read even though I don't generally like publications of the western type genre.
Rating:
Summary: very surprising book
Review: More than fifty years ago I read Dee Harkey's account of his experiences as an old time western lawman, and "Mean as Hell" still sticks in my memory as the best account of what it was like to wear a badge in the old days. I give this book five stars not as a literary composition but as a highly intertaining account of how things really were in the heyday of the wild west. It is fast and easy reading, written in colorful language as it was spoken. As you read Harkey's writing you are soon magically transported into another era that will never return. You find yourself not just reading about his exploits, but living his experiences with him. I feel as though his unique unsophisticated writing style has expanded my own life experiences to include an important part of history that occurred long before I was born. Not many writers can do this.If you want to actually experience the old west, read this book.
<< 1 >>
| 
